In 2015, beforeBayleycame toWWE’smain roster, she was an NXT standout. NXT is WWE’s developmental training system, and there, Pamela Rose Martinez first started to form the basis for her character and learn the ropes of in-ring professional wrestling. The best WWE Superstars all started out in NXT, and now, the seasoned vet is feuding with NXT’s latest breakout star:Roxanne Perez.
The January 20 episode of Monday Night Rawsaw Bayley battle Nia Jax, but the scene particularly focused on an unfamiliar face that hadn’t appeared on Netflix yet: Roxanne Perez. Little did Raw’s new Netflix audience - or main roster viewers who don’t watch NXT on The CW - know, this feud first began in the prior week’s episode of NXT, and as such, a physical confrontation ensued.
For those wanting to know more about Roxanne Perez, it’s worth delving into Perez’s brief, but flourishing professional wrestling career thus far and where her career in WWE could be heading next.
Who Is Roxanne Perez, WWE’s Newest Breakout Star?
Booker T’s Protégé Is a Young Wrestling Prodigy
Carla Gonzalez started training to become a professional wrestler at the age of 13 before embarking on Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school at age 16. By 17, she was already becoming a global sensation under the name Rok-C. As Rok-C, Gonzalez became the first-ever ROH World Women’s Champion in Ring of Honor, back when it had a reputation as wrestling’s most popular independent wrestling league. This made her ROH’s youngest champion in its two-decade-long history. She’d continue putting a stamp on her legacy in places likeTNA Impact, WWE’s new partner, before making her way to the big leagues.
Rechristening herself as Roxanne Perez, Gonzalez signed with WWE in 2022.WWE made it clear that the promotion saw her as a young prospect with a bright future from the start. Slowly, she’d rise up the ranks of the NXT brand, winning its Women’s Breakout Tournament and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion with Cora Jade before unseating Mandy Rose’s 413-day reign as NXT Women’s Champion.
Audiences expected a lengthy reign for Perez upon her title win, but she’d suffer a storyline injury that put her on a brief hiatus. Upon her return, she’d lose the title in a Six-Woman Ladder Match to Indi Hartwell, who then vacated the title once she was drafted to Raw, depriving Perez of a proper rematch.
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Roxanne’s climb back to the top was a struggle for her character. Her passion and dedication soon evolved into frustration untilthe happy-go-lucky babyface shockingly turned heel. This would set the stage for her to defeat Lyra Valkyria to win her second NXT Women’s Championship at Stand and Deliver 2024, the same event she lost the title a year prior. This reign was much longer at 276 days. 2025 would begin with Perez losing the title to a new prospect for NXT, Giulia, at NXT’s first show of the year, New Year’s Evil.
Why Is Roxanne Feuding with Bayley?
A Bitter Feud Spilling from NXT to Raw
The very next week after losing the title, Roxanne came out to the ring to say that the women’s division is nothing without her as champion and that Giulia was essentially going to sink the brand as its new face. She was then interrupted by another former NXT Women’s Champion, Bayley,shockingly making her return to NXT for the first time since her last return in 2020. Bayley attempted to give the prospect advice on where to go next, but Roxanne responded with a disrespectful retort, followed by a slap. They brawled until NXT went off the air.
Three days later, on theJanuary 17 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Roxanne was in the crowd during Bayley’s main event Women’s Championship match with Tiffany Stratton. Another three days later, Roxanne was once again in the crowd for Bayley’s match, this time against Nia Jax on Monday Night Raw. As said earlier, Bayley didn’t take the intimidation attempt in kind. The next night on NXT, Bayley and Roxanne Perez had another verbal and physical confrontation, this time respectively supported by NXT Women’s Champion Giulia and Cora Jade.This rivalry is far from over, and this time, each party has backup.
Is Roxanne Officially on the Main Roster?
Perez’s Latest Appearances Signal a Likely Transition
It may be safe to assume that Roxanne is officially main roster bound now, albeit with more of a soft launch. WWE has been known to test the waters with NXT Superstars in the past by not completely calling them up and allowing them instead to make a few small appearances on Raw and SmackDown to see if the upstarts are truly ready to graduate. If nothing else, this is a sink-or-swim moment for Roxanne. Not only has she started a feud withlast year’s Royal Rumble winner, but she’s appearing in front of an entirely new audience per WWE’s new Netflix deal.
On the other hand, the soft launch could be less a means to test if Roxanne’s ready and more so to slowly acclimate the NXT regular to the main roster audience, rather than a full push immediately. Readers could expect Perez to potentially spend the next few weekswrapping up unfinished storylines and feuds in NXT before committing to the main roster full-time. Considering all that she has already accomplished now at the age of 23, it’s safe to say that if her main roster move is permanent, Roxanne’sWWEfuture is bright.
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is a global entertainment company primarily known for professional wrestling. Founded in 1953, it produces live events, television programs, and streaming content. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, WWE operates multiple brands, including Raw, SmackDown, and NXT.
