It’s been a wild week in women’s wrestling: Mandy Rose was finally unseated as NXT Women’s Champion and then released the next day. Sasha Banks plots her next moves in professional wrestling after officially leaving WWE. Saraya will team up with a mystery partner next month. WrestleZone chats with Heather Monroe, and much more!
Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Mandy Rose Dethroned On WWE NXT
The reign of Mandy Rose has come to a complicated end.
Last week on WWE NXT, Roxanne Perez cashed in her title opportunity for the NXT Women’s Championship. After winning the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline just days before, Perez originally planned on carrying her title shot into New Year’s Evil in January. However, last minutes changes called for the match to culminate against champion Mandy Rose on the December 13 edition of NXT instead.
Perez and Rose battled back and forth, but “The Prodigy” stunned the defending champion with a Pop Rox (Code Red) to clutch the win. With this victory, Perez officially dethroned Mandy Rose’s monumental 413-day reign, just four days shy of placing second of all-time in NXT Women’s Championship reigns.
NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP!!!@roxanne_wwe dethrones @WWE_MandyRose on #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/fifLXxD8Qr
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2022
A Complicated Ending
While Roxanne Perez celebrated her first singles title in WWE, Mandy Rose received some shocking news. On Wednesday, the Toxic Attraction leader officially departed with WWE, as details of an internal dispute emerged.
Fightful Select reported that WWE released the former NXT Women’s Champion being “put in a tough position” with the nature of Rose’s exclusive content page on FanTime. While WWE provided more leniency with third-party platforms for their WWE Superstars in recent months, Rose’s content seemed to go outside the allowable parameters set in her contract.
Some explicit content had been leaked the week prior, which served as a catalyst to Rose’s release after WWE officials became more aware of her platform.
RELATED: Mandy Rose Has Made A Staggering $500K On FanTime Since Being Fired By WWE
Sasha Banks Done With WWE, Confirmed For Appearances In Japan
Sasha Banks’ future in professional wrestling has been met with mixed reports since walking out of the WWE alongside Naomi in May. Last week, the uncertainty finally eased.
Per Fightful Select, WWE granted the former SmackDown Women’s Champion her release from the company over the summer. Due to a condition of her release, though, Banks had to pause all wrestling-related appearances until January 1, 2023. With that clause coming to a close soon, Banks has already lined up her first wrestling booking in international fashion.
In late November, Sasha Banks, real name Mercedes Varnado, reached a deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling in late November, setting her up for a series of dates with the promotion. On January 4th, Banks will begin those string of appearances at NJPW’s biggest event of the year Wrestle Kingdom 17. Likely to assume her real name or recently trademarked name of Mercedes Mone’, Banks will not wrestle at the event, interest has grown in when her official in-ring return will commence.
With the recent news, three possible scenarios for her in-ring return have quickly emerged. After KAIRI and Tam Nakano battle for the IWGP Women’s Championship at Wrestle Kingdoms 17, the winner will reportedly go on to defend the title in San Jose, California in February. Many fans believe Banks may be appropriate challenger to stand in for the title’s first defense in the United States.
On the other hand, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that part of Banks’ deal with New Japan Pro-Wrestling warrants an appearance in STARDOM — their sister, all-women’s company. While no specific date could be, Stardom is planning a major show Stardom for the month of April.
Lastly, “The Boss” may soon land in All Elite Wrestling as well. Old rival Saraya (fka Paige) will soon team up with a mystery partner next month. There, they will take on AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker. While the identity of Saraya’s partner remains unknown at this time, fans have expressed their hopes for Banks to reunite with “The Glampire.”
Whenever and wherever Mercedes makes her next move will surely be a statement-maker.
READ MORE: Sasha Banks’ WWE Exit Was Negotiated This Summer, More Details On New Japan Deal
Saraya Gears Up For Second Match Of Her Comeback
Following Saraya‘s win over Britt Baker at AEW Full Gear last month, her next match is already in sight.
On the December 7 episode of AEW Dynamite, Baker challenged Saraya to a different kind of match this time. Accordingly, the former AEW Women’s World Champion offered up Saraya a chance to get back into some tag team action. Baker will team with her ally and current AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter. Saraya must now find a partner of her choosing to even the odds.
The respective tag team bout will take place on the January 11 episode of AEW Dynamite from Los Angeles, California.
"Good luck. You'll never beat me and @jmehytr." @RealBrittBaker @Saraya#AEWDynamite is LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/C42eCeHgqw
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 8, 2022
INTERVIEWS:
“The Killer Bae” Heather Monroe spoke with WrestleZone’s own Ella Jay about her acting ventures in Los Angeles, the challenges of the LA scene, moving twice in the last two years, forming Blonde Force Trauma with Ray Lyn, and much more!
All Elite Wrestling star Willow Nightingale appeared on the Grapsody Podcast to discuss signing with AEW, her future in Ring of Honor, a potential heel run, and more.
CCW Champion KiLynn King appeared on Putting You Over to discuss following her instincts, betting on herself, the possibility of NWA Empowerrr 2, Mickie James’ Last Rodeo, and more.
TJPW star Maki Itoh spoke with Steve Fall of Wrestling News Co. about how important AEW is to her, why she sings to the ring, WWE, Fantasy Matches, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, & MORE!
RESULTS:
Mission Pro Wrestling: Silver Belles 2 – December 10
- Pre-Show: Diego Renay defeated Joey Hyder (w/JP Harlow)
- Emmy Camacho defeats Jade
- MPW Cup: Casey Blackrose defeated Devin Carter
- Tiffany Nieves defeated Mystii Marks
- MPW Tag Team Titles, Candy Cane Lane Street Fight: Bougie Reality (Madi Wrenkowski & Rache Chanel) (c) defeat King Bees (Charity King & Danni Bee)
- Branden Vice, Jess E. James & Zakai Living defeat David Kidd, Don Juan & Jett Black
- Jazmin Allure defeated MJ Santana
- JP Harlow (w/Joey Hyder) defeated Simon Miller
- MPW Championship: Jennacide (c) defeated Janai Kai
