The crowning of a new NXT Women’s Champion will have shocked and possibly annoyed WWE fans. But the title change may serve as a much-desired promotion for the now former champion. After defending successfully at NXT Battleground against Jordynne Grace, Stephanie Vaquer shockingly lost her title on NXT earlier this week to Jacy Jayne. Assisted by her Fatal Influence stablemates, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx, Jayne brought an end to Vaquer’s 77-day reign.
During that run, Vaquer made history by becoming the first superstar to simultaneously hold the Women’s Championship and the Women’s North American Championship. But like the women’s champions before her, Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Lyra Valkyria, Vaquer now seems set to join the main roster. Reports suggest that Vaquer will join Roxanne Perez on WWE Raw and could debut as early as next week.
Vaquer to Raw and Grace to WWE SmackDown?
With Vaquer joining Perez on Raw, it looks likely that TNA transfer Jordynne Grace will head to the blue brand in a long-expected call-up. The former three-time TNA Knockouts World Champion signed with WWE in February following a handful of appearances in 2024. Given that Grace had already established herself as a leading star in women’s professional wrestling, she was reportedly only ever planned to have a short run on NXT.
Reports suggest that she wasn’t immediately signed to the main roster due to there not being enough time to establish a storyline leading up to WrestleMania 41. Grace’s most recent NXT match came at Battleground last weekend, where she unsuccessfully challenged for Vaquer’s women’s title.
2024 proved to be a bumper year for Grace’s stock, ranking No. 2 on the PWI Women’s 250. Only behind AEW’s Toni Storm, Grace ranked higher than every WWE women’s wrestler. This included Rhea Ripley, Stephanie Vaquer, and Bayley, who all made the top 10.
Could Ricky Saints be set for a main roster promotion, too?
NXT delivered another shock title change this week, as Ricky Saints dropped his North American Championship to Ethan Page. As Vaquer, Perez, Giulia, and Valkyria have established, title losses in NXT often signal a call-up to the main roster. This was certainly the case for Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breakker. Both superstars lost NXT titles in their final matches before being promoted.
Saints are in a slightly different position. With title-winning stints in both AEW and NWA, Saints is an established talent, but not a widely known name. His NXT run has helped him to build momentum for a main roster move, while also increasing his WWE profile.
In AEW, Saints, then Ricky Starks, feuded with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. He remained close friends with both following their WWE returns. It remains unclear at this time whether Saints will make the jump to Raw or SmackDown.
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