Blake Monroe responds to social media critics: I’m ‘so grateful’ for entire wrestling journey

Blake Monroe is fighting back against a social media narrative that claims she’s ungrateful for the opportunity she was given in AEW.

The former Mariah May debuted for NXT this June following the expiration of her AEW contract. While in AEW, she was a one-time Women’s World Champion and played a role in one of the company’s best-ever storylines with Toni Storm. Being part of WWE was Monroe’s childhood dream, but she’s upset that some fans are claiming that she’s not appreciative of her AEW run.

In a new vlog filmed last month but uploaded this week, an emotional Monroe addressed that criticism. Without directly mentioning AEW by name, Monroe said she’s always given 110 percent and appreciates every opportunity she’s gotten throughout her wrestling journey.

“I feel so, like, overwhelmed about it because — I don’t know, I left my house five or six years ago with this dream of being a WWE Superstar. And I used to go to all the WWE shows, like I’d save all my money and like travel to go to WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble,” she said. “I don’t know, I don’t even want to talk about stuff because I feel like every single thing I say gets like yanked and taken out of context for these articles on Twitter and stuff. But I made a vlog before my debut to try to speak about these things. I feel like I’m scared to talk about it because I feel like people take it the wrong way or take me as ungrateful or anything.

“But I’ve had the most amazing wrestling journey. I’m so lucky. I’ve been able to travel the world, wrestle some of the best wrestlers, tell amazing stories, work with amazing writers, work with amazing people, have people take a chance on me. And not for one second would I ever change anything or am I ungrateful. I’m so grateful. I feel like I’ve celebrated and I’ve given 110 percent of my life and myself to every single wrestling job I’ve ever had no matter what. I can say that — I can retire one day and know that. And I feel like if you watch my work, you can see that. So I don’t want anything to be misconstrued, although it inevitably will.

“But my wrestling journey also was not easy. It is not easy to leave home and leave behind your family, your friends, your support system, your familiarity, and live in foreign countries by yourself and chase this crazy dream. And for me, you know, to be in WWE — this is something I wanted as a little kid.”

Monroe said seeing herself on things like promotional material for WWE Evolution makes her proud of her childhood, teenage, and young adult self for all the hard work she put in — including wrestling for basically nothing on the indies and scrubbing dojo floors in Japan. She previously competed for Stardom in Japan, with Monroe calling it one of the highlights of her life.

In NXT, Monroe is feuding with Jordynne Grace and is set to have a face-to-face confrontation with her on next week’s NXT episode in Philadelphia.