Former Women’s North American Champion Blake Monroe seems to have officially been called up to the main roster from “WWE NXT,” as she’s being promoted as “coming soon” to “WWE SmackDown.” During Friday’s episode, a video vignette for “The Glamour” played, advertising her impending arrival to the blue brand.
The video, similar to her initial debut vignette on “NXT” when it came to the voiceover, showed various clips of Monroe in some of her recent matches on the developmental brand. Monroe lost a casket match against Women’s NA Champion Tatum Paxley on Tuesday’s edition of “NXT: Revenge.” Paxley shutting the casket lid seemingly sealed Monroe’s fate, as her call-up had been rumored for months.
Monroe, the former Mariah May in AEW, where she held the AEW Women’s World Championship, joined “NXT” in June, following her departure from Tony Khan’s company in May. Her WWE in-ring debut came at the Great American Bash when she teamed with Jordynne Grace to defeat Fatal Influence, but she turned heel on Grace the next night, kicking off her first official feud in the company. She won the Women’s North American Championship from Zaria, who was defending the gold on behalf of Sol Ruca, at Halloween Havoc in October.
Backstage News On Mass WWE Releases – WWE continues to deal with a major wave of roster cuts, with new information surfacing regarding the mass releases reported earlier and indications that more departures may still be coming.
According to ongoing updates, additional names are expected, suggesting the situation remains active behind the scenes. WWE has not yet issued a full official list, and efforts to confirm more releases are ongoing.
The timing of the cuts has also drawn attention. Several of the released talents were in Las Vegas just last week, taking part in WrestleMania 42-related events, including appearances and meet-and-greet sessions. That has made the situation more surprising given how recently they were involved in company activities.
There was also speculation involving Angelo Dawkins following a recent social media post. However, it has since been clarified that Dawkins, a member of The Street Profits, was not referencing his own status and has not been released.
Additional reports indicate that multiple talents were absent backstage at the SmackDown After WrestleMania taping on April 24, the same day the releases began. That detail has added to the sense that decisions were made quickly as WWE moved forward with roster changes.
Most of the departures are said to be standard releases, though some talents may instead be informed that their contracts will not be renewed. WWE typically applies 90-day non-compete clauses to main roster talent, while NXT talent generally receive 30-day terms. In cases where contracts are not renewed, deals are allowed to expire naturally.
There is also a distinction between releases and contract expirations, which has been a topic of discussion in previous situations, including the departure of Drew Gulak.
At this stage, the situation remains fluid, with more updates expected as additional names are confirmed in what has become a significant roster shakeup following WrestleMania 42.
WWE delivered a notable moment for its women’s division on the April 24 episode of WWE SmackDown, as Fatal Influence made a strong statement in their main roster debut.
The show took place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and featured a surprise development following WrestleMania 42. The faction, made up of Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid, had been a consistent presence on WWE NXT before making the move to SmackDown.
The group made their impact during a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Paige and Brie Bella were defending their titles in an impromptu bout against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
The match was progressing normally until it was abruptly interrupted. Jacy Jayne jumped the barricade, and moments later, Henley and Reid entered the ring. The referee quickly called for the bell as the situation escalated.
Fatal Influence then launched an attack on everyone involved in the match, taking control of the ring and leaving all four competitors down. The segment ended with the faction standing tall, making a clear statement in their first appearance on SmackDown.
Their actions signaled that they intend to establish dominance on Friday nights. After holding a strong position in NXT, the group now appears set to bring that same momentum to the main roster.
With their arrival, the women’s tag team and singles divisions on SmackDown could see immediate changes. The attack not only disrupted a championship match but also introduced a new group looking to reshape the landscape.
This debut marks a significant step for Fatal Influence as they transition from NXT to WWE’s main roster.
Tiffany Stratton captured championship gold on 4/24 WWE SmackDown, defeating Giulia to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion.
The title match was set up after Stratton earned a number one contender’s opportunity the previous week. She faced Jordynne Grace in a high-profile match to determine the next challenger, ultimately securing the win and punching her ticket to SmackDown.
On the April 24 episode, Stratton capitalized on that opportunity. In a competitive match, she delivered her finishing move, the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, to secure the victory and end Giulia’s title reign.
Giulia’s run as champion lasted 113 days before being halted by Stratton. The loss marks the end of her first reign with the WWE Women’s United States Championship.
For Stratton, this victory represents her first reign with the title and adds another milestone to her growing career in WWE. Her performance on SmackDown reinforces her position as one of the top rising stars in the women’s division.
The win could signal a shift in the championship landscape, with Stratton now positioned as a central figure moving forward. With a fresh champion crowned, attention will turn to potential challengers and how long Stratton can hold onto the title.
Tiffany Stratton Wins Women’s United States Championship
WWE has continued its latest wave of roster cuts, with several developmental talents now confirmed or reported as released across NXT, EVOLVE, and related programs.
Among the names is Luca Crusifino, who last competed on the April 22 episode of WWE EVOLVE. He was previously part of the D’Angelo Family before being repackaged for EVOLVE. Crusifino signed with WWE in 2022 after a football career with the Duquesne Dukes and debuted as an on-screen lawyer before transitioning into an in-ring role.
Tyson Dupont has also been released. He last wrestled at an NXT live event in February and had been dealing with a lingering hip injury since 2025. Dupont recently announced he would undergo surgery. He joined WWE in 2023 and was part of the High Ryze group alongside Tyriek Igwe.
Igwe is also among the departures. His last match took place at an NXT live event on March 20, and his most recent televised appearance came in December during a crossover appearance with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He began his WWE career in 2023 and was part of the NXT/TNA partnership appearances.
Sirena Linton has also exited WWE. She was part of the first season of WWE: Legends and Future Greats but never made a televised debut. A former gymnast at the University of Arizona, she signed in 2025 and last competed at a February NXT live event.
Trill London is another name confirmed to be gone. He last wrestled on the March 11 episode of WWE EVOLVE and was featured in WWE Legends & Future Greats season two. Before wrestling, he played football at Syracuse and had brief stints with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
Malik Blade has also been released. Signed in 2021, Blade competed across NXT, NXT Level Up, and WWE Main Event. He had been sidelined since October 2024 after suffering a torn ACL.
Tyra Mae Steele is also among those released. The Olympic gold medalist, real name Tamyra Mensah-Stock, signed with WWE in 2023 and competed on EVOLVE while pursuing the EVOLVE Women’s Championship. She last appeared on NXT television in November.
Another name released is is Chris Island. Island was featured on season one of WWE LFG on A&E. He was on season two of the series as well.
These releases reflect continued adjustments within WWE’s developmental system, as the company reshapes its roster following WrestleMania 42.
