Latest news with #Women'sUnitedStatesChampion
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Superstar Who Was Released Set For In-Ring Return
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. Karissa Rivera, who WWE fans will remember as Elektra Lopez, is making her return to professional wrestling. This exciting news comes after she was released from her WWE contract in the early part of 2025. Rivera is a second-generation talent, as her father, Steve King, also wrestled. She began her own wrestling journey around 2017, working on the independent scene and even appearing for Ring of Honor (ROH) before signing with WWE. In WWE, she was known as Elektra Lopez on the NXT brand. She gained attention as "La Madrina," the godmother of the Legado Del Fantasma group. Alongside Santos Escobar and other members, she played a key role with her strong character. After her time with that faction, she had a short run as a singles wrestler in NXT. Now, House of Glory (HOG) Wrestling has shared the big news of her next move. They announced on the social media platform X that Rivera will make her HOG debut. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Kairi Sane wrestles Shayna Baszler as Asuka (R) reacts during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Kairi Sane wrestles Shayna Baszler as Asuka (R) reacts during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex BierensThis first appearance for HOG will happen during their special Puerto Rican weekend event. The show is set for Saturday, June 7, 2025, giving fans a specific date to see her back in action. This upcoming HOG match will be Rivera's first time wrestling in a ring in 2025. Her last match for WWE was back in December 2024. 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷 One of the hottest free agents in wrestling, Karissa Rivera (aka Elektra Lopez) will make her HOG debut Saturday, June 7th, at Mike Santana's #PuertoRicanWeekend !!! @elektralopezwwe 🎟️ TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW ⬇️ — House Of Glory Wrestling (@HOGwrestling) May 19, 2025 During that period, she took part in the tournament to decide the first-ever WWE Women's United States Champion. However, she did not get past the first round in that tournament, which was eventually won by Chelsea Green. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Now using the name Karissa Rivera again, she has a new chance to show her skills to wrestling fans outside of the WWE system. Having first started wrestling in 2017, many people will be watching to see how the former WWE NXT talent does in this new chapter. Her debut in House of Glory is a notable step. It will be interesting to see how she re-establishes herself on the independent wrestling scene. Perhaps, she can have a performance that gets the attention of other promotions, including TNA Wrestling, MLW, or AEW, to get picked up. No other bookings for her have been made yet. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Zelina Vega captures first singles title with emotional WWE Women's U.S. Championship Win
Image via WWE In a heartwarming moment on WWE SmackDown , Zelina Vega etched her name into history by winning her first singles title , defeating Chelsea Green to become the new WWE Women's United States Champion. The emotional victory marked a major career milestone for the LWO star and delivered one of the most memorable highlights of the night. After nearly eight years of dedication and ups and downs in WWE, Vega finally got her moment under the spotlight. She had come close to gold multiple times in the past, even briefly holding the Women's Tag Team Championship, but a singles title had always eluded her. Facing Chelsea Green, who had held the Women's United States title since its inception in December 2024, Vega rose to the occasion. Despite Green's attempts to retain her gold and help from her Secret Service at ringside, Vega overcame the odds. A perfectly executed Code Red secured her the pinfall victory, sparking an emotional celebration as she held the title high for the first time. Zelina Vega opens up on her title win In a backstage interview following her win, Vega struggled to hold back tears as she spoke about the moment she had dreamt of for years. 'I'm looking at it, and it doesn't feel real because this was something that lived only in my dreams - and now it's real life, and I'm holding it. It's crazy, y'know?' Vega said in an emotional post-match statement. Zelina Vega emotionally celebrates U.S. Women's Title win: SmackDown exclusive, April 25, 2025 The fan chants of "You deserve it" as she walked up the ramp clearly left a mark on her, with Vega admitting she wasn't sure if the fans still believed in her journey. The victory, she emphasized, was not just for herself, but for her family, friends, and her LWO brothers and sisters who had supported her through the ups and downs. The emotional impact of Vega's win resonated far beyond the SmackDown arena. Fans from around the world flooded social media and the WWE's official YouTube video celebrating her triumph with heartfelt messages. Many fans pointed out how inspiring it was to see Vega finally achieve singles success, especially given her personal story of resilience, including the loss of her father during 9/11. Some called it one of the most deserved title wins in recent memory, while others proudly celebrated her as a Boricua champion making history on the grand stage. With the Women's United States Championship now around her waist, Zelina Vega enters a new chapter in her career - with a target on her back. As the second-ever Women's U.S. Champion, her victory promises new rivalries and challenges, but for now, Vega and her fans are simply soaking in the long-awaited moment.
