Former AEW standout Mariah May has officially transformed into Blake Monroe — and she made that known in true star fashion. Ahead of this week’s episode of WWE NXT, May updated her X (formerly Twitter) handle to reflect her new identity, setting the stage for a high-impact reveal during the show.
Monroe, who debuted on NXT last week fresh off the expiration of her AEW contract, is wasting no time making waves. In a slickly produced video package aired on Tuesday’s broadcast, the newly-minted Monroe was introduced to the NXT Universe in a scene straight out of Hollywood. The segment featured her lounging in a bubble bath, as a news report-style voiceover narrated her arrival with lines like, “She’s beauty. She’s grace. And she will probably punch you in the face.”
Channeling both glamour and menace, Monroe exited the bath, got dolled up in high fashion, and dropped a towel in a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired visual cue to reveal a black outfit and fierce pose. A comic-book style animation then sealed the deal: Mariah May is no more — Blake Monroe has arrived.
Later in the night, WWE confirmed Monroe would be back on NXT next week to make things official by signing her contract. There’s no confirmed in-ring debut date yet, but fans won’t have to wait long to see when she steps between the ropes.
It’s worth noting that Monroe’s last match took place in March at AEW Revolution, where she came up short in a “Hollywood Ending” against Toni Storm. Now, with a bold rebrand and a target set squarely on Jacy Jayne’s NXT Women’s Championship, Monroe looks ready to make her next act her biggest yet.
The WWE women’s division just got a whole lot more glamorous.
In a jaw-dropping moment on this week’s episode of WWE NXT, former AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May officially made her WWE debut, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. With recent main roster call-ups like Roxanne Perez, Giulia, and Stephanie Vaquer leaving a talent gap in NXT, May’s arrival sets the tone for a fresh wave of women’s division shake-ups.
Surprise Arrival in the Midst of Chaos
As chaos unfolded during a segment involving new NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and a locker room-wide brawl on the entrance ramp, the lights at the WWE Performance Center flickered — a classic signal that something (or someone) big was about to happen. When they came back on, standing on a platform above the crowd was none other than Mariah May.
With the crowd erupting in disbelief and excitement, May delivered a short but powerful message: “Ladies, you can call me the next NXT Women’s Champion because the best women’s division in the world just got a lot more glamorous.”
A bold statement from a bold competitor — and one that immediately puts her in the title conversation.
AEW Exit, WWE Entry — Fast and Quiet
May’s transition from AEW to WWE was kept under wraps with impressive secrecy. According to Fightful Select, WWE locked her in on a multi-year deal and made every effort to prevent leaks — to the point where the other women involved in her debut segment were only informed about her presence moments before it went down.
Interestingly, WWE never referred to her by name on air, instead referencing her “glamorous” persona. While fans were quick to spot her identity, the broadcast maintained the mystique. There’s no confirmation yet on whether WWE plans to keep her real name — Mariah May (full name: Mariah May Mead) — or rebrand her with a new ring name, but signs suggest her established identity could remain intact.
No Burned Bridges in AEW
Despite making a high-profile jump to WWE, it seems May left AEW on good terms. Fightful noted that AEW insiders didn’t believe there was any heat or bad blood surrounding her departure. In fact, the promotion reportedly made a strong attempt to re-sign her but knew well in advance that she was likely WWE-bound. Her contract officially expired at the beginning of June, and she wasted no time making her next move.
Fans have long speculated about May’s desire to join WWE, especially with old social media posts highlighting her admiration for the company dating back to before she even entered the wrestling business. And now that admiration has turned into reality.
What’s Next for NXT?
Mariah May enters an NXT women’s division in flux — and primed for new stars. With Jacy Jayne freshly crowned champion and other big names moving up, May is stepping into a golden opportunity to instantly climb the ranks. Her past accolades — including the AEW Women’s Championship and the 2023 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament win — speak for themselves.
Whether WWE chooses to tweak her name or not, one thing is certain: Mariah May has arrived, and she’s ready to make NXT her runway.
Stay tuned to WrestlingNewsBlog.com for all the latest updates on Mariah May’s WWE journey and everything happening inside the NXT women’s division.
Another chapter appears to be closing in AEW, as “The Glamour” Mariah May has been officially removed from the company’s roster page — a move that almost always signals a wrestler’s exit from the promotion.
Though the update happened without fanfare earlier today, it doesn’t come as a complete surprise. Behind the scenes, whispers of May’s AEW contract nearing its end have been circulating for weeks. The buzz only intensified recently, with many within the industry speculating that she could be WWE-bound once free agency came into play.
Now, it seems those rumors may be turning into reality. According to Fightful Select, a source within WWE has confirmed that the company is expecting May to sign on in the near future.
May’s time in AEW, while relatively short, was impactful. After arriving with plenty of hype thanks to her international pedigree, she quickly made a name for herself in the women’s division, even capturing the AEW Women’s World Championship during her run. Her blend of charisma, in-ring ability, and character work made her a standout on AEW programming and a frequent talking point among fans and analysts alike.
If the reports are accurate and May is indeed heading to WWE, she’ll be the latest in a growing list of talent to make the leap from AEW to the Stamford-based giant. And with the depth of WWE’s women’s roster across Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, the possibilities for fresh matchups and storylines are wide open.
No official statement has been made by either AEW or WWE regarding May’s status, but all signs point to a major transition on the horizon for the former champ. Stay tuned — this is one move that could shake things up in a big way.
AEW’s women’s division breakout star Mariah May has been conspicuously absent from television since dropping the AEW Women’s Championship back to Toni Storm last month—and there may be more to her disappearance than just a post-title break.
According to the latest update from Wrestling Observer Radio, veteran journalist Dave Meltzer is reporting that WWE insiders are under the impression that May is eyeing a move to the company. “I know from people in WWE that she has been — they know she wants to go there,” Meltzer shared. While her contract details haven’t been publicly confirmed, Meltzer added that “everyone seems to think it’s this summer” when her AEW deal could be up.
Co-host Bryan Alvarez backed up the speculation, noting he’s heard similar buzz from AEW sources. It’s believed May signed a two-year deal when she first joined AEW, though the official debut came in November 2023—leaving the door open that the contract may have started earlier in the year.
Adding fuel to the speculation, May recently posted a cryptic Instagram Story with a motivational quote about “ending up where you’re meant to be,” tagged from Orlando, Florida—home base for WWE’s Performance Center. That subtle post didn’t go unnoticed by fans or industry insiders, including Meltzer.
This isn’t May’s first brush with WWE. She previously participated in a 2019 WWE tryout, where she was advised by trainer Sarah Stock to gain international experience—a suggestion May took to heart, eventually making waves in STARDOM before landing in AEW.
While it’s possible her current TV absence is simply a breather following a high-profile feud with Toni Storm, AEW President Tony Khan has a track record of quietly pulling talent from programming when he suspects they’re WWE-bound. Wrestlers like Ricky Starks (Saints), Rey Fenix, and Penta all saw reduced screen time ahead of their departures. Conversely, Malakai Black was used until shortly before his own exit.
At just 26 years old, Mariah May’s stock is rising fast, and her next move could be one of the biggest shifts in the women’s wrestling landscape this year. If WWE is indeed her next destination, we could be seeing the early stages of another significant defection in the ongoing talent tug-of-war between AEW and WWE.
AEW took advantage of Hollywood’s glitz and glamour on Thursday night, using the red carpet premiere of Queen of the Ring to add more heat to the already personal rivalry between Toni Storm and Mariah May. The premiere, held at AMC Grove 14 in Los Angeles, quickly turned chaotic when May ambushed Storm in the middle of an interview.
Storm, who stars in Queen of the Ring as wrestler Clara Mortensen, was speaking about her role in the film when May attacked her from behind. AEW official Christopher Daniels quickly intervened, preventing further damage, but the moment was enough to ignite emotions ahead of their highly anticipated AEW Women’s World Championship match at Revolution.
A furious May shouted at Storm, declaring, “You are nothing without me! I made you a star!” Storm, rattled but defiant, fired back after regaining her composure: “She’s ruined my moment. She’s ruined my red carpet moment. Bloody hell, look at me. Look at the state of me. Where the hell is she? Where is that b—-?”
AEW is branding their showdown at Revolution as “The Hollywood Ending,” a fitting name given the setting and drama surrounding their feud. This marks the third time the former allies will clash in the ring, with their previous encounters laying the foundation for what could be their most intense battle yet.
Storm’s role in Queen of the Ring only adds to the cinematic feel of this rivalry. The film, based on the true story of legendary wrestler Mildred Burke, hits theaters nationwide on March 7.
AEW Revolution airs live this Sunday from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, starting at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. Will this be Storm’s Hollywood triumph, or will May rewrite the script and take the title for herself?