Blake Monroe discusses working under Shawn Michaels in WWE NXT
Formerly known as Mariah May in AEW, Blake Monroe switched promotions and joined WWE last year as a part of Shawn Michaels’ NXT.
Recently speaking on The Wrestling Classic, Monroe opened up in detail about the experience of working under Michaels’ management.
“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. The 27-year-old was also involved in one of the most talked-about AEW feuds with Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World title before she departed from the promotion.
“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,” she continued.
“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 is also a former WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion, having held the title for 52 days before losing it to Thea Hail. She is now scheduled to be in a match against Jaida Parker at NXT Vengeance Day.
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
Shounak takes particular interest in soccer, closely following top clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal. Beyond sports, he enjoys fiction writing, photography, gaming, and cinema.