Taya Valkyrie took to social media to issue a statement on her shocking WWE release. The former Franky Monet was among a multitude of names that included Scarlett Bordeaux, Ember Moon, Mia Yim, Nia Jax, and more released from the company on Thursday. Valkyrie only signed for the company earlier this year, making her NXT … Read more
WWE have reportedly released NXT Superstars Scarlett Bordeaux, Franky Monet and Ember Moon. WWE has released multiple performers from the company since last year and unfortunately continue to do so. Reports from multiple outlets such as Fightful and PWInsider state that the Moon, Bordeaux and Monet are no longer with the company. All three have … Read more
NXT 2.0 continues strong in its second week from a rebrand as the fresh talent continues to get air time. The show starts with the idea that all newcomers are here to make a name for themselves and we can’t deny that NXT is doing just that. At the start, we saw a backstage double … Read more
It is being reported that the advertised NXT Women’s Championship match slated for tonight’s launch of NXT 2.0 has been pulled from the show. The match was set for NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez to defend her title against Franky Monet. The report originally comes from Fightful Select who states that they have learned the … Read more
On the first episode of the revamped NXT Franky Monet challenges Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women’s Championship. The new-look NXT has seen the introduction of a colourful and vibrant logo along with a brighter, amphitheatre-style arena. The change has been met with reservations by fans but excitement by those involved. Recently WWE Hall of … Read more
Mandy Rose continues to have her eye on the team of Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. Since Rose’s return to the NXT brand, she has scouted both Dolin and Jayne and has been seen backstage conversing with them. As a result, the two have formed a new tag team. Dolin picked up her first win … Read more
This week’s NXT saw Gigi Dolin pick up her first win in NXT while Sarray had her winning streak end.
Credit: WWE
Dolin, with Jacy Jayne, faced Amari Miller and was able to put her opponent away with a killer of a finisher. The pairing of Dolin and Jayne had been teased in recent weeks when Mandy Rose made her surprise return to the NXT brand. Rose scouted out both Dolin and Jayne after they suffered losses. Although Rose wasn’t present tonight for Dolin’s win, she took to her Twitter to congratulate Hell’s Favorite and take credit for the advice she has provided.
Congrats @gigidolin_wwe on your victory! It sure seems like the advice is already paying off. ;) @jacyjaynewwe
In a post-match WWE Exclusive, Dolin and Jayne put the NXT women’s division on notice as they are ready to take over the brand.
To kick off this week’s show, Sarray took on Dakota Kai with her winning streak on the line. Kai is currently the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Title and will be facing the champion, Raquel Gonzalez, at TakeOver 36. It was originally scheduled to be Ember Moon to face Sarray, but it was announced before the show that Moon was not medically cleared to compete. Sarray’s first match was in April and had defeated such talent as Zoey Stark, Aliyah, and Zayda Ramier.
Sarray and Kai had a stellar match to kick off the show, but in the end, a huge kick in the corner kept the Warrior of the Sun down for a three count. During the match, Gonzalez arrived at the CWC. As Kai attempted to send a message to the champ using Sarray as the punching bag, Gonzalez appeared and chased her challenger out of the ring.
The champion took to the mic and said she is going to tear Kai apart and if she wanted a chance at the tile all she had to do was ask. She adds that Kai will never be Raquel Gonzalez and she will never have the title.
Other moments of the night included InDex going on their first date. Last week, even though Johnny Gargano defeated Dexter Lumis…InDex is stronger than ever. Indi Hartwell attempted to enjoy her time with Lumis out at a restaurant but both Gargano and Candice LeRae attempted to interfere.
The Robert Stone Brand was backstage as Robert Stone approached Franky Monet and Jessi Kamea who were watching the InDex date on a tablet. Stone went on about how he could take out Dexter Lumis and how he wasn’t that big of a deal. Monet clearly pondering what Stone had to say, left and told her stable she will see them later.
Lastly, Tian Sha was on tonight’s show, but Xia Li wasn’t with them. Boa had a one-on-one match with Drake Maverick, which he came out with the victory. Mei Ying spent the match standing at ringside which is different than her staying seated at the top of the stage. There was no mention of Li and she was not a part of the vignette that was also aired.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez are no longer tag team partners or even friends. In what the NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez thought would be a challenge for someone to step up to the plate, she did not expect her partner to be that person. On this week’s NXT, Gonzalez along with Kai made their … Read more
Jacy Jayne (formerly known as Avery Taylor) has made her NXT singles debut. She faced Franky Monet in a losing effort. Jayne was signed with WWE in February and had a couple of prior appearances for the company. In 2020, she lost to Jessamyn Duke on the short-lived RAW Underground and in September she was … Read more
The NXT Women’s Championship will be defended on tonight’s show as Raquel Gonzalez is set to face Xia Li. Li approached Gonzalez last week and essentially demanded a title shot. The match was then instantly booked. Will Li be able to dethrone Gonzalez or will the reign continue? Also planned for tonight’s show is Franky … Read more
Franky Monet was poised to have the encore of her world premiere tonight. Prior to her heading to the ring, a new face graced our screens as Elektra Lopez made her NXT debut. Lopez, formerly known as Karissa Rivera, was signed by WWE earlier in the year and had her class originally announced in February. … Read more
Are you prepared for Franky Monet’s encore to her World Premiere? Well if you’re not, it is time anyway. Monet’s first and only match so far in NXT was a few weeks ago where she defeated Cora Jade. Her opponent for tonight has yet to be announced. She has been meddling her way into the … Read more
Franky Monet has announced on this week’s NXT that she will be giving people what they want, and what they want is more Monet. Monet will have her encore performance of her world premiere next week. A few weeks ago after several appearances on NXT television, Monet made her in-ring debut where she defeated Cora … Read more
NXT offered up three women’s matches on this weeks show including the highly anticipated debut match of Franky Monet. This week’s match results were as follows: Franky Monet defeated Cora Jade Mercedes Martinez defeated Zayda Ramier Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart defeated Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez Monet took down Jade with a Glam Slam … Read more
This week’s NXT is going to have the in-ring debut of Franky Monet as well as two teams that have their eye set on the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles. Former champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will be facing Dakota Kai and NXT Women’s Title Raquel Gonzalez. Franky Monet has been in NXT for … Read more
The Warrior of the Sun has officially wrestled her first match in NXT.
Sarray is victorious in her first match for the brand. The highly anticipated match landed her across the ring from Zoey Stark. Stark has been impressive since joining the brand herself so this match-up already had the potential to be a good one and it did not disappoint. She puts away her first opponent with a spinning heel kick under the jaw, connecting with a forearm, and hitting a suplex to get the pin.
After the match, both Sarray and Stark showed excellent sportsmanship. Sarray helped up Stark who then raised her arm in victory. As Stark was making her way up the ramp she was attacked by Toni Storm. Stark defeated Storm on the pre-show of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver and it is clear that taking that loss isn’t sitting well with Storm. Sarray went over to help Stark and to prevent any further attack from Storm.
This was the only women’s match on the show this week but there were many women throughout the show. NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez was being interviewed and was asked about all of the eyes that have been fixated on her now that she is champion. She said to line all the challengers up and she will defeat them all until there is no one left standing.
Kai then focused on Martinez who called out Gonzalez last week. Martinez answered later on in the night and said she would go through Kai first so that there will be no one in her way to get to Gonzalez and the gold.
"If they want to step up, go ahead, light 'em up, and I'll take them down one-by-one, until there is NO ONE left standing." – @RaquelWWE
As for the former NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai, she had a sit-down interview with Beth Phoenix about her title reign and recent loss and what she sees for her future. They discussed the match from Stand & Deliver which led to Shirai saying that when the time is right she will get her rematch.
Phoenix asked her what was next in the meantime. Shirai says her body needs rest in order to face Gonzalez again. As she tries to explain possible time away from the ring, Franky Monet entered with her dog. Monet introduced herself to Shirai and says that she is such a fan of Phoenix who she has been watching since she was a kid.
Monet adds that she didn’t mean to eavesdrop but since Shirai is going to take some time off that she could fill her shoes as the top woman of the NXT women’s division. Shirai responds in Japanese and after Monet says she doesn’t understand Shirai says that she likes cats.
Lastly, we have The Way. Early in the night, Dexter Lumis took on LA Knight and Indi Hartwell appeared behind the barricade. This distracted Lumis to the point that he suffered a loss. Hartwell then tried to console him and get her kiss but The Way came and grabbed her off the apron and took her away from the situation.
Throughout the night Hartwell continued to be preoccupied with the thought of Lumis. Candice LeRae told her that she really needs to get focused and stop being distracted by boys. They need to focus on the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles. Not knowing that Hartwell had left her, LeRae was approached by the champions Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon. Once LeRae realized that Hartwell was no longer by her side, the tag champs attacked her and pulled her into the bathroom.
After being attacked, a disheveled LeRae would join her husband Johnny Gargano along with Austin Theory backstage. Theory was discussing a match that he was able to get booked in. They asked what happened to LeRae but she didn’t answer as Hartwell joined her stablemates. Hartwell says she ran into William Regal and was able to get them a tag team title match. Everyone but LeRae seemed thrilled by that announcement as she is left by herself.
What did you think of Sarray’s debut match against Stark? How about everything else that transpired for the women of the brand this week? Leave your thoughts below.
NXT is now on Tuesday nights and there is a lot to unpack already.
There was an advertised debut, two matches that involved the women including the main event, a lot of eyes on the new champion Raquel Gonzalez, and a surprise moment that was heartwarming to see.
The first match of the night was from an altercation that happened earlier in the day. Mercedes Martinez was heated because after she paired back up with The Robert Stone Brand a few weeks ago she didn’t get paid as she wanted. This was done because Jessi Kamea wasn’t able to compete. She approached Aliyah and Robert Stone backstage. When she wasn’t getting her money she choked Aliyah up against the way until Kamea entered. Martinez asked her if she wanted to step up to her. Kamea said no, she wanted to step on her.
Mercedes Martinez defeated Jessi Kamea
Despite the confidence that Kamea presented, the match was way shorter than it needed to be and Martinez was able to pick up the victory. After the match, Martinez went after Stone and Aliyah. Aliyah was able to escape around the barricade to the other side of the plexiglass but Stone wasn’t so lucky. Martinez held him up against the plexiglass until he gave her the money she was requesting.
As she was walking away checking her money, she stopped at the announce table and delivered a message to Raquel Gonzalez. Martinez has her eyes set on the new champion and wants to take the gold for herself as she states she is coming for her.
She isn’t the only woman that has her eyes set on Gonzalez. The debuting Franky Monet made a huge statement as she let the new champion know that she will be seeing her every Tuesday night. For a full rundown of what took place during Monet’s debut, you can click here to see the previous report.
After Monet and her adorable dog left the ring, a moment happened that no one was expecting. The new RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley and the new SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair joined Gonzalez in the center of the ring to celebrate their victories. Behind them on the screen was a photo of all three of them together. It was a beautiful and a fully realized moment of what we have witnessed this past week.
In a WWE Network Exclusive that was just uploaded, it shows Triple H being the proud papa as he takes photos with all three champions. Then after he leaves the three women to discuss their wins with one another and Ripley mentions that it is the start of a new era. They all agree and Belair says that the ones that came before them don’t have to leave but they need to make some space. Plus there is more coming behind them as well.
The main event saw an eight-person tag team match that pinned the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart along with Dexter Lumis and Bronson Reed against all four members of The Way.
Blackheart, Moon, Reed, and Lumis defeated The Way
This match had a bit of everything and was fun to watch. As the match starts to wind down to its finish, Indi Hartwell pretended to be knocked out in the ring as Lumis was trying to put Johnny Gargano to sleep. Once Lumis realized that Hartwell was “knocked out” he showed concern. As he goes to help her up, Austin Theory takes him out and Lumis spills to the outside. Hartwell then disposes of her own teammate Theory out on the other side of the ring. She then falls down again on the ring apron and Lumis picks her up to take her to the back. She picks her head up, winks, and smiles with a thumbs up. #Index.
Back to the action in the ring. Moon climbs on top of Reed’s shoulders and delivers an Eclipse on Theory. Candice LeRae then dumps Moon to the outside. Reed then fights off Gargano and Theory in the corner as he is perched up on the top turnbuckle. LeRae then tries to deliver a superplex to Reed as Blackheart shows up to place her on her shoulders and drop her on top of Theory. Reed then hits a Tsunami for the pin and the victory for his team.
Other women who made appearances on the show are Zoey Stark, Marina Shafir, and the announcement of Sarray’s debut.
Stark was seen backstage being interviewed about how she felt competing at her first TakeOver event. She says just four months ago she was living in Las Vegas trying to make ends meet. Now she has a huge victory over Toni Storm and has her eyes set on the NXT Women’s Title. Mercedes Martinez had something to say about that statement. Martinez says that she is the next in line for a title shot and that we shouldn’t be wasting our time on some rookie.
Shafir didn’t play any big part in the show but she was alongside her husband Roderick Strong. Strong turned in his resignation to William Regal who stated that he was always welcome back. What this may mean for Strong and if Shafir is going to play a part in it remains to be seen. Shafir was last seen in action alongside Zoey Stark in the Dusty Cup in January.
Lastly, Sarray will be making her long awaited debut next week. Sarray was signed a while back and because of the pandemic she wasn’t able to get to the United States. She is here now and the video hyping her debut from Regal seems to be big things on the horizon for this talent.
Now let’s get into the Winners & Losers of the week:
Although I am not loving the fact that Raquel seems to be a babyface all of a sudden, she 100% deserves this title win. Her recapping her history and how much she has grown showed that. Her interaction with the debuting Franky was great. And the big moment between her and Rhea and Bianca was something that I was not expecting in the slightest and made me emotional from all three wins this past week.
WINNER: Franky Monet
Good first impression of Franky. And for a change we have someone who is debuting who I feel has a good entrance and music to go along with it. The Torrie Wilson vibes are real. Going right towards the champ is good also and at the same time it doesn’t feel like she is necessarily jumping the line as Mercedes and Zoey both mentioned they have their eye on the prize as well.
WINNER: Indi Hartwell
Indi has so much talent. Both in the ring and her ability to make everyone laugh. I was fully expecting the Index moment and I am still good with it happening as it did. Her thumbs up was great and the WWE Network Exclusive that has come out is even better. She explained where she went missing was that she had to go to “medical” to be “cleared.” *wink wink* The Way is actually a stable where all four of them play their parts so very well.
It’s hard to pick a loser because everything was solid. But the constant jobbing that The Robert Stone Brand gets to be tiring. Kamea stands up to Martinez in the clip from earlier today to just lose in a minute. I didn’t expect her to beat Martinez but at least they could have had a solid match.
If RAW and SmackDown would start using their women as much as NXT does then it would be a lot more fun discussing the Winners & Losers of the week.
Franky Monet is officially on NXT with her dog and all. Monet (formerly Taya Valkyrie) was expected to debut on tonight’s NXT and with that debut, she went straight to the top. She had the look down and her music was fire as she made her way down to the ring to confront the new … Read more
The fall-out from last week’s TakeOver event, Stand & Deliver, is tonight on NXT’s new night. NXT will be on Tuesday nights from here on out and we have a new champion for the brand. Raquel Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai in the main event of Night One from TakeOver. Shirai held the title for over … Read more
