The wrestling world was caught off guard when Shotzi’s six-year WWE journey came to an abrupt end earlier this year. Now, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion is pulling back the curtain on exactly how her departure unfolded, revealing a series of unfulfilled promises that ultimately sealed her fate with the company.
The False Promise That Started It All
Speaking candidly on The Ariel Helwani Show, Shotzi detailed how WWE management painted a very different picture of her NXT return than what actually transpired. The company assured her that this developmental stint would be temporary – a brief pit stop before returning to the main roster spotlight.
“I was never meant to stay at NXT, they told me like: ‘Okay, we’ll give you, like, two months at NXT and we’ll bring you back to SmackDown.'”
This promise gave Shotzi hope that bigger opportunities awaited her on the blue brand. WWE even dangled the possibility of working alongside Chelsea Green, adding another layer of anticipation to her expected SmackDown comeback.
Week After Week of Delays
What should have been a quick two-month assignment turned into an endless cycle of postponements. WWE kept pushing back her main roster return, leaving Shotzi in professional limbo while her contract clock continued ticking.
“So, I was really hopeful that I was going to get something at SmackDown. It was just, like, week after week, like, they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna move it back. We’re gonna move it back.'”
The pattern became frustratingly predictable. Each week brought another delay, another excuse, another broken timeline that pushed her SmackDown plans further into uncertainty.
The WrestleMania Season Reality Check
The writing on the wall became impossible to ignore as WWE’s biggest season of the year approached. WrestleMania season typically brings roster shakeups and fresh storylines, but Shotzi found herself completely absent from television programming.
“It wasn’t until, like, around Mania where I was like: ‘Oh…Maybe they’re not gonna renew my contract.'”
This revelation hit during wrestling’s most crucial period, when talent usually receives their biggest pushes and storyline opportunities. Instead, Shotzi was watching from the sidelines as her contract expiration date loomed.
Staying Positive Despite the Writing on the Wall
Even with mounting evidence that her WWE days were numbered, Shotzi refused to give up. She continued pitching ideas and maintaining a professional attitude, demonstrating the resilience that initially caught WWE’s attention years earlier.
“Like, big things are coming, like, I just got to keep pitching things, I got to, like, keeping putting myself out there even though I’m not showing up to TV.”
This positive mindset showcased her dedication to the craft, even when company executives seemed to have already made their decision about her future.
Preparing for Life After WWE
Reality eventually forced Shotzi to shift her focus from hope to preparation. Unlike released talent who receive 90-day non-compete clauses along with continued pay, wrestlers whose contracts simply expire face immediate financial and professional uncertainty.
“But then, part of me was like ‘Okay, I need to get ready for this because, like, my contract’s going to be up and I don’t get those 90 days to figure out my stuff.'”
This distinction between being released versus having a contract expire creates vastly different scenarios for departing wrestlers, making Shotzi’s situation particularly challenging.
What This Means for WWE’s Talent Relations
Shotzi’s experience highlights ongoing concerns about WWE’s communication with talent regarding their futures. The gap between promises made and promises kept continues generating criticism from both wrestlers and fans who witness these patterns repeatedly.
Her story also demonstrates how quickly circumstances can change in sports entertainment, where even established performers with championship credentials can find themselves on the outside looking in.
Now that Shotzi has shared her side of the story, wrestling fans are left wondering how many other talented performers have faced similar situations behind the scenes. Will her openness about WWE’s handling of her departure influence how the company manages future contract negotiations, or is this simply another cautionary tale in the unpredictable world of sports entertainment?
