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Vanessa Borne shows interest in taking part in NWA Empowerrr

Former NXT Superstar Vanessa Borne, real name Danielle Kamela, has shown interest in appearing for NWA Empowerrr. The all-women’s event is geared to take place on Aug. 28 and names are starting to be revealed on who will take part in the event.

Mickie James who is spearheading the event has also added on some incredible women to help her produce the event such as Gail Kim, Madusa, Jazz, and LuFisto. James has announced a lot of potential for the card so far that includes:

Women’s Invitational Tournament

Return of the NWA Women’s Tag Team Championships

Deonna Purrazzo will be defending her IMPACT Knockouts Championship

Kamille will be facing the winner of either The Bunny vs. Leyla Hirsch with her NWA Women’s World Championship on the line

While taking part in a signing at East Coast Autograph Auctions, Kamela had the following to say about her interest to appear for Empowerrr.

“I have and I think what Mickie [James] is doing is really amazing. I think what they’re [NWA] doing with the all-women’s pay-per-view is really cool and I never got to be a part of Evolution so I think — to think about competing in an all-women’s tournament like that is exciting and yeah, I would definitely consider doing that.” [h/t – Post Wrestling]

Kamela also spoke highly on many talents she worked with while in WWE. She held Kairi Sane, Mia Yim, Dakota Kai, and Serena Deeb in high regard.

“Oh man, there are a lot [of people I liked working with in NXT]. I loved working with Kairi [Sane] because I thought we could always tell the best stories and they were the most fun. She was willing to be playful but serious. I loved working with Kairi, Dakota Kai, always loved working with her. I thought we had really good matches and chemistry. There’s so many, I can’t — there’s no one I didn’t like not working with in NXT because they all brought something different but I would say that Kairi was one of my favorites, Dakota was one of my favorites, Mia [Yim], I had a few matches with Mia that I really enjoyed so, there’s so many great girls there that are so much fun to work with and they all bring something different and unique.”

“This picture is from the Mae Young Classic when I wrestled Serena Deeb and that was — actually that probably was my favorite match within NXT or you know, that umbrella because I think Serena is one of the best and this was when I was new in my career and she really just kind of helped me throughout that whole process of planning a match so I would have to say Serena Deeb is another one of my favorite competitors.”


Would you like to see Kamela be involved with Empowerrr? Join the discussion below and check back with Diva Dirt for new information on the upcoming event as it is disclosed.

Vanessa Borne speaks on her WWE release – original plans told to her about her main roster call-up

Former NXT Superstar Vanessa Borne has opened up recently in regards to her WWE release. Borne, whose real name is Danielle Kamela, had not been on WWE television since January 2020. After over 15-months of inactivity, Borne was released from her contract.

One of the biggest speculated rumors involving Borne was that she, along with Chelsea Green and Santana Garrett, were supposed to debut on the main roster as a trio. Recently, both Green and Garrett have both also been released from their WWE contracts as well. Green was part of the original cuts after WrestleMania in April whereas Garrett was part of the last releases less than two weeks ago.

While talking with PWInsider, Borne had the following to say about the main roster call-up news.

“When I was told [I was being called up], I didn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ I hadn’t been doing much in NXT, but getting that news after working so hard at the Performance Center, everyone at the Performance Center works their asses off, so when you’re told that information, you’re like, ‘All my hard work has paid off.’ I was excited, especially because Paul Heyman had brought me up and I look up to him when it comes to storytelling, his mic work, and he’s someone I want to be like. It was encouraging.”

She continued, “I had been in and out with Raw and SmackDown, and it was around March when my lease was up in Orlando, so I moved back to Arizona and that’s when COVID hit. They stopped bringing me to TV and they changed everything. Everyone had to navigate through that. I sat home for six months and that was tough. When COVID calmed down, they brought me back with Chelsea and Santana, and told us we were going to be in a trio, which I was super excited about. Anytime you’re working with others that closely, it’s fun. Being able to bounce ideas off each other and everyone thinks differently. We were excited and we all got main roster contracts, which was exciting. Things just never worked out and the idea got scratched. I feel like that happens a lot.”

After plans to be alongside Garrett and Green fell through, Borne was actually pitched to be a part of the now-defunct RETRIBUTION stable. The stable that had Mia Yim as Reckoning and Mercedes Martinez who dropped out and returned to NXT before revealing her new name to the audience.

“After that, I was called in and they had a pitch where I was part of RETRIBUTION,” she recalled. “I was excited about being on TV for something, but I had a lot of questions. I wanted to know what the group was about and how I fit in. I had some concerns because, during this time, there was stuff around the country with violence and we’re watching this unfold and it’s not pretty. I wanted to know if the group was mimicking that. I expressed those concerns, but ultimately, I wanted to do what I was told and tried to figure out how I could help. Within the week, I got a call from Mark Carano saying, ‘We’re not going to have you as part of RETRIBUTION and we’re going to pull your contract. You’re getting sent back to NXT.'”

After being told she was going to go back to NXT, Borne opened up to how that made her feel and also how her re-debut never pushed forward. Before being off TV and prior to her being told she was being moved to the main roster, Borne was in a tag team with Aliyah.

She further commented that she wanted to make sure that those in charge knew she wanted to be a team player and didn’t want anyone to think she didn’t want to participate. Borne wanted to make sure that she didn’t give the wrong impression.

 “It felt like I got kicked in the gut. I would never want them to think that I didn’t think an idea wasn’t good or that I didn’t want to participate. I would do anything and had done everything to that point. After we talked, I sent him a text that said, ‘I’m so sorry if I came across not wanting to be part of anything. I’m here to work. I’m willing to do whatever.’ He just said, ‘This is where we’re at.’ I still think back and kick myself and think I should have sat there, nodded, and been happy. I was happy, I might have just given the wrong impression. Lesson learned. Sometimes I tend to be blunt and I don’t know if that’s what came across when it came to asking questions or having concerns. Maybe that isn’t the reason and it’s something totally different, it just happened to fall in line with how everything went down. I put those two things together.”

She continued, “After I was back in NXT and had time to digest that, I was still happy to have a job. I spoke to Canyon and said, ‘I’m still in the game and willing to move back to Florida.’ We chatted and wanted to get me back at the Performance Center because I hadn’t been in the ring for nine or ten months. I eventually went to the Performance Center for two weeks to train, which was great. I was in the gym constantly and was in great shape. I felt like I was flying in the ring and didn’t miss a beat. During my second week when I was back in the ring, I ended up getting COVID. That was the last time I was at the PC because it rolled right into the holidays. This year rolled around and I hadn’t heard anything, so I needed to figure things out. I texted Triple H because I hadn’t spoken to anyone and no one had spoken to me. He connected me with a writer at NXT and we were going back and forth with ideas to get me involved. We had ideas that would work, but when you have other characters and storylines, it’s a giant puzzle. We never came to a final plan or anything. The last message I had sent over, I didn’t get a reply, and a week later I was released.”

Hopefully fans will see Borne turn up in another promotion and get back into a wrestling ring as soon as possible.

Check back in with Diva Dirt on any further news on Borne or any of the other recent WWE releases on where they may wrestle in the future.

Four NXT talents reportedly released: Vanessa Borne, Kavita Devi, Jessamyn Duke, and Skyler Story

It is being reported that WWE has released talent from their NXT brand. Of those talent’s four have been confirmed from two different sources. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp is confirming the releases of Vanessa Borne, Kavita Devi, and Jessamyn Duke. PWInsider is confirming the release of Skyler Story. Vanessa Borne is the biggest name on … Read more

Female stable was reportedly nixed in 2020 that included Chelsea Green

In a recent report from Fightful Select, they spoke with Chelsea Green since her WWE release and she talked about a female group that was planned in 2020. Green was part of the releases that took place this past week from WWE. She moved to SmackDown at the end of 2020 but suffered an injury … Read more

Winners & Losers: NXT 11/27/19

After a huge WarGames/Survivor Series weekend, there was a lot to unpack on NXT this week. Although we didn’t get an answer from Dakota Kai on why she turned on her best friend – Tegan Nox – she was in action against Candice LeRae. LeRae was part of Team Ripley who was left high and dry when Kai decided to take out Nox.

All three women have been really close friends which has caused LeRae to take the attack on Nox rather personal. Kai entered her match tonight with new music and a new theme marking her heel turn. The match between Kai and LeRae was a really good battle. The match ended in a DQ however when Kai hit LeRae over the head with Nox’s knee brace.

Kai stayed on LeRae after the bell rang and her intention was to clearly take her out of commission much as she did to Nox at WarGames. Rhea Ripley would rush down to the ring to stop the attack and cause Kai to retreat.

The second match of the night was Vanessa Borne taking on Xia Li to seek some retribution on what happened to her tag team partner Aliyah.

The match would be rather short as NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler along with Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke would make their way down to ringside. Li would be distracted for just a moment, but she would still secure a fast victory over Borne.

After Li put away Borne, Baszler and the other two would attack. Shafir and Duke would attack first as Li took them out pretty quickly. She would fight off Baszler at first but the numbers game was simply too much as they were able to take out Li.

Baszler would then boast about how she was the big star over this past weekend. She gloated that she took out both Bayley and Becky Lynch and did it at the same time. Enter Rhea Ripley. Ripley would make her way to the ring but by the time she entered the ring Baszler and the other two would be retreating up the ramp. Ripley took to the mic and asked for Baszler to return because she wanted to talk to her face to face.

Baszler would make her way back and stand on the ring apron. Ripley would congratulate her. She did defeat Bayley. She did defeat Becky Lynch. There was one woman she didn’t beat and that was Ripley. Ripley said the next time she battles Baszler it is going to be for the title and she suggested they do it right then and there. Baszler wasn’t having it as she made her way back up the ramp.

Here are your Winners & Losers of the week:

WINNER: Dakota Kai

https://twitter.com/TeganNoxWWE_/status/1199893219884044289?s=20

Overall Kai was a winner this week. Her heel turn is going to take some convincing to people as she is a natural babyface. For me personally, I think she is doing a great job to start. She may not have picked up the win in her match but she did cause the DQ. She stayed on LeRae as well after the match. My only complaint would be that she didn’t cut any type of promo, but hopefully, that will take place in the weeks to come.

WINNER: Rhea Ripley

Ripley pretty much confirmed that she is the number one contender for Baszler’s title which makes her a big winner. After the week she has had as well she not only deserves to get the title shot but she will most likely win. Something tells me it isn’t going to be right away though. Her promo with Baszler was really good also. I feel like they bring the best out of each other.

LOSER: Xia Li

Li may have won her match in a quick fashion much as she did against Aliyah but her being taken out afterward did her no good. It actually didn’t make much sense either besides for Baszler just to take someone out in order to cut her promo.

Final Thoughts:

Overall they touched on the fallout from WarGames and Survivor Series, but I feel like they could have done even more with the women this week. To be honest, I was worried for a moment we weren’t even going to get two women’s matches. The Kai and LeRae match was great and although I understand and accept why the match ended in a DQ I personally don’t like it when good matches end in that fashion.

I really enjoy Vanessa Borne and wish she was being used more than just a jobber. Her theme is great and so is her look. It was great to see her in a match tonight, but that alone wasn’t enough to make her a winner.

What were your thoughts on NXT this week? Who were your Winners & Losers? Let us know in the comment section.

Bayley & Sasha Banks take over NXT live event

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Last month, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bayley and Sasha Banks promised that they would defend their titles against competitors from all brands. That includes Raw, SmackDown and even NXT. As women of their word, the Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection made a surprise appearance at yesterday’s NXT Live house show in Largo, Florida. WWE posted … Read more

NXT: 09/26/18 – Making History

Hi everyone! Welcome to this week’s review of NXT. Tonight, Kairi Sane returned to in-ring competition against Vanessa Borne. The last time Kairi wrestled on NXT television, she quickly defeated Trish Adora before being confronted by Shayna Baszler. That night, Shayna promised Kairi that she would invoke her rematch clause soon enough. This evening, in … Read more

NXT: 08/08/18 – Out of Left Field

Hey guys! Welcome to this week’s review of NXT. This week, Taynara Conti and Vanessa Borne battled for the opportunity to participate in the second annual Mae Young Classic. Both women were involved in the inaugural tournament last year. However, Conti and Borne were respectively defeated in their first round matches. Based on that and … Read more

NXT: 07/11/18 – Battle Lines Drawn

Hi everyone! Welcome to this week’s review of NXT. Tonight, Vanessa Borne and Kairi Sane squared off in one on one action. The bad blood between Borne and Sane originally stems from two weeks ago, when Borne insulted Sane during an interview. Refusing to be deterred as a result of Borne’s mocking, Sane responded to … Read more

NXT: 06/27/18 – Goals for the future

Hi guys! Welcome to this week’s NXT recap. On tonight’s program, Candice LeRae and Lacey Evans squared off in one on one action. In addition to Evans and LeRae’s collision, we saw the resurfacing of Vanessa Borne, as she was interviewed by the NXT press earlier in the day. https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1012126876574404615 Borne started off her interview … Read more

NXT: 05/02/18 – Evans and Belair stand tall

Hi guys! Welcome to this week’s NXT review. On last week’s episode, we heard from numerous members of the NXT women’s division, all of whom made their claim as to why they should be the one to challenge Shayna Baszler. On this week’s episode, some of those women got the opportunity to prove themselves. In … Read more

NXT: 4/25/18 – Looking ahead

Hi guys! Welcome to this week’s review of NXT. On last week’s episode, we saw Candice Lerae and Zelina Vega make their NXT television in-ring debuts, with Candice securing the win. On this week’s episode, we found out who Candice’s next opponent will be, as well as who future opponents for Shayna Baslzer could be. … Read more

Nixon Newell makes her NXT debut

At last night’s (April 13th) NXT house show in Venice, Florida, international wrestling star Nixon Newell (competing under her real name Steffanie Newell) made her NXT debut when she teamed up with Dakota Kai in a losing effort against the team of Vanessa Borne & Reina Gonzalez. Stephanie Newell AKA @NixonNewell makes her NXT debut … Read more

Candice LeRae stands by Johnny Gargano as he leaves NXT

Tonight on NXT (Feb 21st), Johnny Gargano competed in his final NXT match after losing a Career vs. Title match against the NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas. Gargano’s wife Candice LeRae was by his side and helped even up the score by attacking and chasing away Almas’ business partner Zelina Vega to the back. No referee…The … Read more

NXT Redux (October 25th, 2017): And then there were four

Welcome all to the Women of Honor- no wait, the Impact Write- no no, hang on… NXT REDUX?!?! Goodness me, I really am a jack of all trades! So first off, apologies from the Diva-Dirt team for not posting a Redux for last week’s episode. They were busy with things and they didn’t have the … Read more

Mae Young Classic Review: Episode 1

Hola Diva Dirt readers and welcome to our first review on WWE’s historic Mae Young Classic tournament! Josue here and I’ll be kicking things off with Episode 1. Our first round of matches for this episode include: Kay Lee Ray vs. Princesa Sugehit Serena Deeb vs. Vanessa Borne Shayna Baszler vs. Zeda Abbey Laith vs. … Read more

WWE officially announces all 32 competitors to Mae Young Classic

Tonight via Facebook Live, WWE have officially announced the names of all 32 competitors to the Mae Young Classic: Representing Japan: Kairi Sane Representing United States of America: Tessa Blanchard Representing United States of America: Abbey Laith Representing Brazil: Taynara Conti Representing Germany: Jazzy Gabert Representing India: Kavita Devi Representing Australia: Toni Storm Representing Mexico: … Read more

NXT Redux (July 12th, 2017): Vanessa Borne makes her way to the Mae Young Classic

Welcome to this week’s NXT review. Last week we saw a dejected Billie Kay and Peyton Royce call out the rest of the locker room for not celebrating Billie’s birthday. An underwhelming birthday celebration has The #IconicDuo feeling DISRESPECTED… but it appears @AndradeCienWWE has woes of his own! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/MYK339u4B7 — WWE (@WWE) July 6, … Read more