Former AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May made her WWE debut on the June 3 episode of NXT. “The Glamour” made it crystal clear what she was there for–to challenge newly-crowned NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne.
Fatal Influence made their way to the ring to rub Jayne’s championship win over Stephanie Vaquer in the fans’ faces. A host of challengers lined up to get the first chance at dethroning Jayne. Lainey Reid, Lola Vice, Jordynne Grace, Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, and Lash Legend all made their cases for being Jayne’s first challenger. Thea Hail attacked Parker and chaos ensued. As a Pier Six brawl broke out outside the ring, the lights went out, and a spotlight highlighted a figure on the balcony. It was the debuting Mariah May.
It was a long journey to WWE for Mariah May. The London-born star cut her teeth in the industry on the British indies, wrestling for promotions like Revolution Pro Wrestling, before heading to Japan and winning gold in Stardom. Mariah May’s big coming-out party, though would be in AEW. She and her Stardom tag partner Mina Shirakawa, would start a storyline with AEW Women’s Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm.
May fawned over Storm and soon became her protégé. She started dressing in Storm’s old gear and using Storm’s move set from her previous incarnation before the champ started her old-school Hollywood “Timeless” gimmick. The storyline was filled with romantic undertones, and soon Shirakawa was brought in to create a love triangle of sorts.
May went on to win the 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament, which came with a women’s title shot. Immediately after winning the Owen Cup, May attacked Storm, setting up their title match at AEW’s All-In pay-per-view. The student became the teacher, as May took the title in a bloody battle. May reigned for months in her new persona, “The Glamour,” before Storm retook the title at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view in a “Hollywood Ending” match in March of this year. That would prove to be May’s final match in AEW.
Most likely, NXT GM Ava Raine will make some sort of match or tournament to determine who gets the first shot at Jayne’s belt. Lately, she has been fond of throwing everyone in the ring for a battle royal, but nothing has been announced as of yet. With Stephanie Vaquer, Roxanne Perez, and Giulia all moving up to Raw and Smackdown, there is a good chance that Mariah May will get a title shot sooner rather than later. That does not mean that she will be first in line, though. WWE also made a point of using her gimmick, “The Glamour,” but not mentioning her name on-air, so May might have a new name coming.
Mariah May ended her time in AEW on a high note. Fans either loved her or loved to hate her. WWE would be well-advised to strike while the iron is hot and build off of May’s momentum. They would also be best advised not to tinker too much with May’s name. If well-placed, the 26-year-old Brit has a good chance of successfully helping to fill the void left by all the talent that just got called up. Keeping May and Jordynne Grace at the top of the division with Fatal Influence will keep the NXT Women’s Division in a prominent spot on the card.
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