The 2024 WWE Draft, an event that rearranges rosters and offers NXT stars a chance to join Raw or SmackDown, left Roxanne Perez unexpectedly omitted. Despite this setback, the draft became the catalyst for Perez’s significant character transformation, driving her toward a more intense heel persona. Known as one of NXT’s top babyfaces and a former NXT Women’s Champion, Perez’s desire to move up to the main roster was strong, making her omission all the more frustrating.
Using Disappointment to Fuel Determination
On the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Roxanne Perez revealed how she originally expected to be selected. Instead of letting the missed opportunity diminish her motivation, she doubled down on improving her skills and altering her character.
Last year, obviously, I wanted to get called up in the draft so bad. Part of me thought it would happen, and it didn’t. I was like, oh, like, I could have let it just make me really upset, and just kind of not fully give up, but just make me not as driven, but I feel like it made me even more driven, because I was like, I’m gonna work on my promos. I’m gonna become the best heel that I could ever be. Because people thought that I couldn’t be a heel, and a year later, I was called up.
—Roxanne Perez, WWE Superstar
This refusal to let frustration consume her led Perez to sharpen her promo skills and embrace a darker side, reshaping her in-ring persona as a heel, which fans had not widely associated with her before. The rejection became a powerful motivator to evolve beyond her previous babyface image.
The Value of Extra Time in NXT for Character Growth
Reflecting on the delay, Perez now recognizes the extra year in NXT helped her reach a higher level of readiness. She explained that while she initially felt prepared as a babyface, the full potential of her “Prodigy” character—especially in a heel role—was only realized after the draft snub.
I thought I was ready as a babyface. But now that I think of it, I feel like I wasn’t as ready as I was when they called me. I feel like I could have been ready at any point. I could have gone and just executed what they wanted me to execute. But I wasn’t at my full potential, my full character, the Prodigy character, and it was different being the Prodigy as a babyface… Calling yourself a prodigy when you’re a bad guy is more fun. You’ve got to tell people like, I’m super young and I’m really good. What are you gonna do about it?
—Roxanne Perez, WWE Superstar
Her comments suggest that the heel persona allowed her to fully own her identity, combining youth and skill in a way that felt both genuine and compelling on the main roster.
What Perez’s Heel Evolution Means for WWE Moving Forward
Now established on the main roster, Roxanne Perez’s embrace of her heel “Prodigy” persona signifies a major shift in her wrestling career. The draft setback, once a source of disappointment, ultimately proved essential in her evolution. For WWE and its fans, her journey highlights how setbacks can sculpt new dimensions for rising stars, offering fresh storylines and intensified rivalries.
As Perez continues to develop her heel character, expectations are high that she will deliver captivating performances that challenge perceptions and elevate her status in WWE’s women’s division. The 2024 Draft snub, rather than halting her progress, triggered a transformation that may mark the beginning of a defining era for her career.
