Blake Monroe, formerly known as Mariah May during her time in AEW, made her move to WWE last year by joining Shawn Michaels’ NXT roster. Monroe recently shared her experience of working under Michaels’ guidance during an appearance on The Wrestling Classic podcast, providing insight into the unique mentorship she receives in WWE NXT.
Shawn Michaels’ Impact on Monroe’s Performance
Monroe praised Shawn Michaels for his exceptional ability to combine wrestling skill with compelling storytelling. She explained that Michaels understands how to craft narrative moments that are crucial to WWE’s entertainment-focused style.
“Oh, that’s it’s awesome. I think the thing with Shawn [Michaels] is he was such a phenomenal wrestler, but he also has such a good character. He really understands how to tell a story and where to put those beats. And WWE is really heavy on entertainment and that story side. And that’s what I love. That’s what I thrive on,”
Monroe said.
Hands-On Mentorship and Ringside Advice
Monroe highlighted the involvement of Michaels and Matt Bloom during NXT TV tapings, emphasizing how invested they are in helping talent refine their craft. She described Michaels as a hands-on mentor who frequently offers advice while being ringside. Reflecting on Michaels’ legendary career moments, Monroe recalled,
“But getting to, you know, when we work on different things, and he’s so hands-on. Matt Bloom and Shawn Michaels when we, you know, we have TV, they are so invested and so is the whole writers team, but Shawn will literally be ringside and he’ll give you advice and, you know, I think back to all the epic moments Shawn Michaels has had and I’m like, when he’s showing me, he’s like, you know, he never tells you how to do you.”
Encouragement to Embrace Individual Style
Monroe explained that Michaels values performers expressing their own unique style and rarely gives direct instructions on how to act. Instead, he shares examples from his own experience, allowing talent to learn by observation.
“Like, he always says, you’re the glamour. You’re the woman from h**l. Like, I’ll never tell you how to do your thing. But, you know, I can see how Shawn Michaels would do it, and maybe the face he would make or the demeanor he would have or the way he would do something, and it’s like that’s pretty cool. He’s pretty much always right,”
Monroe added.
Monroe’s Career Highlights and Upcoming Match
Before joining WWE NXT, Monroe was involved in one of AEW’s most notable rivalries against Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World title. In WWE, she claimed the NXT Women’s North American Championship, holding the title for 52 days before losing it to Thea Hail. Looking ahead, Monroe is set to compete against Jaida Parker at the upcoming NXT Vengeance Day event, further solidifying her role within the promotion.
