There might be a temptation to wallow or implode after being released by a major company like WWE. But Shotzi Blackheart took it as an opportunity to reinvigorate her career.
After being released last May, Shotzi has flourished on the independent scene. Blackheart has leaned fully into her ‘Ballsy Badass’ persona, building a reputation for wince-inducing spots and using inventive weaponry. Utilizing everything from staplers to thumbtacks, Shotzi has reached gory heights that would be near impossible to get approved in WWE.
Her work as an indie wrestler has paid off immensely. This week, Blackheart was named 2025’s Indie Wrestler of the Year by PWI. She follows in the footsteps of Mustafa Ali, Nick Gage, and her frequent in-ring rival, Matt Cardona. Shotzi and Cardona feuded extensively throughout 2025 in GCW before he returned to WWE.
Cardona’s signing to the SmackDown brand has seen him reunited professionally with his wife, Chelsea Green. Green similarly reinvented herself on the independent scene before being re-signed by WWE in 2023. Shotzi has her own history with Green, having feuded with the two-time United States Champion shortly after Green’s return.
Not going to lie, @ShotziWWE scares us… 😨
But, she doesn't seem to be scaring @ImChelseaGreen tonight! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/gIznuqFd0i
— WWE (@WWE) October 28, 2023
Shotzi Reveals Unique Stipulation Match Pitch for Chelsea Green Feud
Speaking to British newspaper Metro, Shotzi detailed the final pitch she made before being released by the company last year.
“The last thing that I pitched before my contract expired was that I wanted to work with Chelsea,” divulged Shotzi. “I was like, ‘Hey, what if me and Chelsea start a feud and we do like a tank versus title match?’
“Can you imagine what my tank would have looked like, all like Chelsea Green’d out?!”
Bringing together two of WWE’s most distinct personalities could’ve resulted in wrestling gold. Sadly, time ran out on Shotzi, who departed the company before her vision could become reality. In the interview, Shotzi also discussed a similarly shocking feud with Bayley. The rivalry concluded with Blackheart having her trademark green hair shaved off on live television. However, Shotzi felt that the envelope could’ve been pushed further with the feud.
“She cut my hair, and then I shaved my hair on TV, but we saw it as way more intense than what was portrayed on television. We wanted to get to a hair versus hair match at some point, and that was going to be the way that she took my hair. It got diluted so much.”
Positively, Shotzi can leverage far more creative control over her career now that she is free from WWE’s narrative direction.
“I really needed this indie run to have full creative control of my career, and to be able to get here and learn from so many different walks of life,” she added. “It’s helped me a lot to refine who I am, that girl that WWE saw a spark in and hired.”
Since her WWE release, Shotzi has appeared in GCW, MLW, House of Glory, and many more indie promotions in the UK and the US.
Congrats to @ShotziTCB, who PWI readers have selected as 2025's Indie Wrestler of the Year! "The Ballsy Badass" breaks new ground as the first woman to take home the coveted prize.
One of 4 collectible covers, find this edition of our #PWIAwards issue in stores Feb 17 🇺🇸🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/ZTjMnftfvG
— PWI (Pro Wrestling Illustrated) (@OfficialPWI) January 29, 2026
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