
WWE star Roxanne Perez looks to make history in match for NXT Women's Championship at Vengeance Day
Roxanne Perez will have a chance at history on Saturday night when she takes part in a fatal four-way match for the NXT Women's Championship at Vengeance Day.
Fresh off a Royal Rumble where she rewrote the record books by being the longest-lasting competitor, Perez will compete against defending champion Giulia, Bayley and Cora Jade to become the first three-time NXT women's champion in the brand's history. The only other two-time champions were Charlotte Flair and Shayna Baszler before they were called up to the main roster.
NXT general manager Ava Raine made the title match a fatal four-way after Jade's win over Bayley on the final show before Vengeance Day. Perez told Fox News Digital in a recent interview she was "upset" that Raine cut her chances of possibly making history but was "focused" on the ultimate goal.
Perez and Bayley have feuded in recent weeks, and it came to a head when the young women's superstar dressed up as one of Bayley's older gimmicks just to be a thorn in her side.
"It's so much fun," Perez said. "Did you see the look on her face when I came out as her little old 'Hugger' Bayley? I think I got to her. She may have got me after, but I think I definitely got to her. But it's been very fun."
The 23-year-old said going up against Bayley was a dream that she had thought about since she was younger.
"I feel like I kind of manifested this since I was a kid. In the past few years, I've been saying I want to step in the ring with Bayley. She's one of my dream opponents, dream matches," she said. "But now I'm finally realizing I got to prove to her that 'The Prodigy' is just a little better, it's way, way better."
Perez won the NXT Women's Championship for the first time on Dec. 13, 2022, and held it for 108 days before she lost a six-way ladder match at NXT Stand & Deliver 2023. She regained the title at Stand & Deliver 2024 against Lyra Valkyria.
Giulia defeated Perez at New Year's Evil back in 2025 as the former Stardom and Marigold star made her impact felt on NXT.
Perez explained to Fox News Digital what having the NXT Women's Championship meant to her.
"Means everything to me," she said. "I think winning it the first time, I definitely solidified myself as one of the best wrestlers that WWE has. I solidified myself as 'The Prodigy.' And it was the first title I won in WWE, my first singles title. Every single thing, every hurdle, every hard thing that I went through to get here, that proved to me that every single thing was worth it.
"I don't think that there's one girl on that roster that loves that title more than me, that wants the title more than me. So, that's exactly why I'm going to become a three-time NXT women's champion, and I'm going to take the women's championship straight to RAW, straight to SmackDown, and maybe, if I decide to vacate it, somebody else will have a chance. But I don't know. I think it belongs to me. Giulia's just holding it for now."
Here's how the rest of the card will shape up to be:
Vengeance Day will take place in Washington, D.C., starting at 6 p.m. ET.
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Shotzi Blackheart: WWE's Ron Killings controversy 'shows you how much power the fans do have'
Shotzi Blackheart is one of the many wrestlers happy to see Ron "R-Truth" Killings make his unexpected return to WWE this past Saturday. The past couple of months have been chaotic for WWE regarding talent releases and contract expirations. Blackheart received her walking papers in early May, making her the first of many eventual casualties from the WWE roster. However, no departure had as large of an impact as Killings' brief exile before fan outcry led to his surprise return at WWE's Money In the Bank main event. Advertisement Debate on the legitimacy of Killings' release has raged throughout the wrestling community since WWE CEO Paul "Triple H" Levesque claimed that it was "all part of the show." Appearing in-studio Tuesday on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show," Blackheart, 33, expressed how much inspiration a situation like Killings' can give to a veteran wrestler like herself. "I do think that they actually let him go," Blackheart said. "I just feel like [that] because, also at the same time, Carlito and Sarah Logan, [WWE] told them that their contract wasn't getting renewed. So I think it would be really messed up of WWE to capitalize on that, too. 'I think the fans got him [to get re-signed] back, and that just shows you how much power the fans do have. I think that's really cool ... it's amazing. Yes, he's 53, [but] that just gives us hope that I could be 53 years old and be put in some crazy storyline, right?' Killings' unexpected saga has already bled into "WWE Raw." In a viral segment on Monday, he declared that he'll no longer be known as "R-Truth," the persona Killings wrestled under for the past 17 years. Advertisement Prior to her own release, Blackheart said she did her best to find her lane within the WWE universe. 'I was really hopeful that I was going to get something on 'SmackDown,'" Blackheart said. "They told me I would possibly be working with Chelsea [Green] in something. I was pitching some storylines with her. It was just week after week, they were like, 'Oh, we're going to move it back.' Then it wasn't until around [WrestleMania 41] where I was like, 'Maybe they're not going to renew my contract.' So it started to get real around then.' Blackheart remembered feeling a strong mix of emotions when she sat idle during that time. In an effort to remain positive, the former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion said she'd convince herself that WWE's creative team would eventually use her again, so she continued pitching ideas left and right. Blackheart returned to NXT this past December after an ACL tear took her off WWE television in early 2024. Upon her arrival, she was told it'd only be a two-month stint with NXT before her main roster return. But that return never came, and Blackheart instead was sitting around alone at home when the call came that she was no longer needed in WWE. Advertisement 'Part of me was like, 'OK, I need to get ready for this because my contract is going to be up and I don't get those 90 days to figure out my stuff and get bookings lined up, get merch lined up,'" Blackheart said. "So I also have to think, 'OK, what am I going to do if they don't re-sign me?' I was kind of just in the mode of, 'Get to work.' 'Unfortunately, that's just how it is. I probably will never know why they released me, but WWE doesn't owe me anything. That's showbiz, right? They just didn't think that I was money, and that's OK. I can take that." Shortly before her release, Blackheart cut an emotional self-produced promo, highlighting her lack of utilization in WWE. The shoot-style promo was good enough that people around her worried whether it was the reason she was released. Blackheart herself doesn't believe that was the case, though. Advertisement Although the wounds are still relatively fresh, Blackheart didn't want to waste time and put her career on hold following her WWE departure. She made her GCW debut this past Sunday, competing against Matt Tremont and Jimmy Lloyd in a three-way deathmatch. Blackheart claimed she made as much money in her two days back on the independent circuit as she'd make in a week with WWE. 'I was like, I need to work as soon as my contract is up. That's me hustling, though," Blackheart said. "That's me, including what I've sold online and meet-and-greets, [plus] payout for my matches, of course. I know that it's not going to be like that forever. 'When you first get back on the indies, everyone's so hyped, so everyone wants to buy your merch and [support] you. I know that won't be forever, but it felt good that I can make it on my own." Whether the next chapter of her career continues to come on the independent scene or elsewhere, Blackheart made it clear that no doors are being closed on her options moving forward. Advertisement "I would love to be back in WWE. I loved working there," Blackheart said. "I didn't love not working there. It was only when I wasn't being used that I was unhappy, but any time I was being used, [it was a] good time. [I] loved the locker room, loved everyone I was working for. That's just it. I just don't want to go back and not work. 'I love TNA, I love AEW. AEW [could be a next step] for so many reasons. I love their freedom. I have a lot of friends there who are doing really awesome things. I've heard many stories of how [AEW owner] Tony [Khan] treats talent. I do love that he really cares for his talent. That is super important to me."


Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
WWE Superstar Details Horrific Injury As They Face Months Out Of Action
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. WWE RAW superstar Zoey Stark has revealed the full extent of the brutal knee injury she suffered during the May 19th episode of RAW. In a video posted to social media, Stark confirmed she underwent major surgery to repair a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The video showed the moment she was injured during a triple-threat qualifying match for Money in the Bank. Stark landed awkwardly after attempting a missile dropkick and had to be carried out of the arena by WWE medical personnel. Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for Stark, who was sidelined with a similar knee injury in late 2021 while in NXT. That injury also required surgery and kept her out of action for approximately nine months. Before this latest setback, Stark had been the last remaining member of the "Pure Fusion Collective" faction on RAW. Her partners, Shayna Baszler and Sonya Deville, had both been released by WWE earlier in 2025. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Stark first signed with WWE in 2021 and found early success in NXT, winning the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship with Io Shirai (now IYO SKY). After being called up to the main roster in the 2023 WWE Draft, she was immediately placed in a high-profile storyline. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, served as the enforcer for WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus during her heated feud with Becky Lynch. Stark played a crucial role in that program, helping Stratus in major matches at Night of Champions and Payback. Stark's recent video update noted that her surgery, originally scheduled for two hours, ultimately took three and a half hours to complete. The video ended by teasing a further update, promising that fans will find out "What's next for Zoey Stark?" on the June 16th episode of RAW. Stark is someone who is liked within the locker room and a solid in-ring worker. Once she's back, hopefully, she returns to full strength and can continue to build on her career while on the main roster. It will be interesting to see if she gets a renewed push once she's back in action and what brand she will end up on once she returns. We wish her a speedy recovery. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.


Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Triple H Addresses Big Celebrity Potentially Making WWE In-Ring Debut
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H has addressed the possibility of seeing SummerSlam host Cardi B step into a WWE ring, admitting that if she wants to wrestle, it would be difficult to stop her. The multi-platinum selling artist will host the first-ever two-night SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 2nd and 3rd. Speaking to Billboard, Triple H was asked about the potential for her to get physically involved. Well, let me answer the second part of it first. So, can you see her ... I don't know if anybody can control Cardi B, let me just start with that. So if she wants to, I think it's going to be hard to talk her out of it. And then what can we expect? Who the hell knows. The one thing I know about Cardi is, whatever she's going to do, is what she's going to do. And you're sort of kind of just hanging on to the tiger's tail a little bit there. So she's a lot of fun to work with. Has been so far with this." He praised the collaboration, noting that Cardi B's genuine, long-time fandom makes her exciting to work with. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "She's excited to do it. I think, as everybody knows, she's a big fan and has, you know, talked a lot about the business over the years and all that stuff and comments on it a lot. So when you work with people like that, it's exciting. We'll see, we'll see where that goes. But we're thrilled to be working with her. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. MoreYou know, there's a lot of artists out there across so many different things now that are just, they're fans and looking to come in and do things with us, and we'll vet through them and try to figure out the ones that can do the most and be a positive for our fan base, and just help to expand the product out beyond the realm of just just wrestling fans, and get the rest of the world into what we're doing." This partnership has been years in the making. WWE was reportedly interested in having Cardi B involved with SummerSlam in 2021, but her pregnancy at the time prevented those plans from materializing. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.