Mariah May Breaks Silence On Shocking WWE Debut
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
"The Glamour" Mariah May made her official WWE debut. She did so with a surprise appearance on the June 3, 2025, episode of NXT.
This marked her first appearance for a major promotion since her contract with All Elite Wrestling expired at the beginning of June. May's last high-profile match in AEW was at the Revolution pay-per-view in March 2025.
There, Toni Storm defeated her in a memorable "Hollywood Ending" fight to win back the AEW Women's World Championship. Following that, May had been active on social media, indicating she was on vacation.
This now appears to have been a clever misdirection before her NXT arrival. She has reportedly signed a multi-year WWE contract.
Previous reports suggested WWE was very keen to bring her in and that the plan for some time was for her to start in NXT.
Aug. 25, 2024 – Mariah May holds the AEW Women's World Championship high after defeating Toni Storm at AEW All In London 2024.
Aug. 25, 2024 – Mariah May holds the AEW Women's World Championship high after defeating Toni Storm at AEW All In London 2024.
Lee South/AEW
During her unannounced NXT debut segment on June 3rd, it was noteworthy that WWE announcers never mentioned May by name. This has led to speculation about whether WWE intends to repackage her or assign her a new ring name, a common practice for new signees, despite "Mariah May" being her established and believed ring name.
Following her appearance, May also spoke in a digital exclusive released by WWE, where she stated, according to those who viewed it, "She is now home." This is a major get for WWE as she is extremely talented and hasn't even reached her peak. She has wanted to go to WWE for some time now, but the company wasn't interested in her. However, that all changed thanks to her tenure in AEW.
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
May first made a name for herself on the UK independent scene before a highly successful tenure in Japan with STARDOM. She joined AEW in late 2023, initially as the protégée of "Timeless" Toni Storm. Their storyline evolved into a heated rivalry after May won the 2024 Women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and defeated Storm for the AEW Women's World Championship at All In 2024 at Wembley Stadium.
It will be interesting to see whether WWE gets her on the Great American Bash card next month in Atlanta, which will go head-to-head with AEW All In: Texas.
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