Blake Monroe (formerly known as Mariah May in AEW) may soon be showing a darker side on WWE NXT. The rising star has only recently debuted on the black-and-gold brand, but plans are reportedly already being discussed for a potential character shift.
According to Fightful Select, a heel run for Monroe has been brought up internally, with no exact timeline confirmed. However, the report suggests that WWE has long-term creative plans for Monroe on NXT television, and a turn to the dark side could be in the cards sooner rather than later.
Monroe made her in-ring debut for NXT at a live event on June 27, where she picked up a win over Laney Reid. She’s currently involved in a budding feud with the Fatal Influence faction, and is set to team with TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace against NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley at The Great American Bash on July 12. So far, Monroe has been positioned as a babyface in the storyline.
Before arriving in WWE, Monroe made waves in AEW under her real name, Mariah May. Debuting in late 2023, she was introduced as an over-the-top, sycophantic admirer and “understudy” to then-AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm. Initially a clear heel pairing, the duo’s act eventually became a fan favorite, morphing into more of a “tweener” dynamic.
May’s definitive heel turn came after she won the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament, securing a title shot against her mentor. After her victory, May viciously attacked Storm, declaring herself “The Glamour” and going on to win the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In: London. She eventually dropped the title back to Storm before departing AEW earlier this year.
If WWE does decide to pull the trigger on a heel turn for Monroe, it would mark a full-circle moment for the former AEW standout—revisiting the persona that helped her rise to prominence while giving her a fresh edge for WWE audiences.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more updates on Monroe’s future in NXT.
