What Is Going on with Roxanne Perez?
Roxanne Perez has been in a curious spot in WWE lately. For a while, it looked like The Prodigy was on her way to the main roster. She was involved in a solid feud with Bayley that many thought would lead to a big payoff at WrestleMania. Perez made waves as one of the six competitors in the Elimination Chamber and set a record in the Royal Rumble by lasting the longest, eventually finishing as runner-up to Charlotte Flair. It seems things have shifted. Perez is now back on NXT, aiming to secure a spot on the Stand & Deliver card. She’ll be teaming with Cora Jade in a Number One Contender Four-Way Tag Team Match on the Pre-Show, facing Meta-Four, Fatal Influence, and the team of Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin. So, what happened?
Perez had a strong second reign as NXT Women’s Champion, holding the title for 276 days. She won it at Stand & Deliver a year ago by defeating Lyra Valkyria and went on to defend it against top names in NXT like Jordynne Grace, Jaida Parker, and Lola Vice. She eventually lost the title to Giulia during NXT’s debut on The CW Network. While she continued her rivalry with Bayley on Raw, the storyline seems to have been quietly dropped. Bayley has since moved on, now teaming with Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria to challenge Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women's Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania. Perez’s latest main roster appearance came on last week's episode of SmackDown where we saw her face WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton in a losing effort. Since then, fans have started to question her position in the company.
Some speculation suggests Perez may have fallen out of favor backstage, which could explain why she's now featured on the Pre-Show. Historically, WWE has sometimes used the Pre-Show spot as a subtle sign that a performer is being cooled off. Others think Perez is simply giving NXT a proper send-off and possibly helping elevate her longtime ally, Cora Jade. Possibly there are plans for The Prodigy after WrestleMania. Maybe if Perez and Jade win their upcoming match, it could be the spark that reignites her feud with Bayley, or perhaps launch her into a new chapter entirely. We will see where the 23-year-old will land once the dust settles after Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania weekend. Whether it's a renewed push on the main roster or one final run in NXT, Roxanne Perez remains one of the most talented and talked-about rising stars in WWE and her next move could be a game-changer.
