Zaria captures the NXT Women’s North American Championship. Maya World advances in the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament. Emily Jaye chats with WrestleZone, and more.
Zaria Dethrones Tatum Paxley As NXT Women’s NA Champion
In betraying Sol Ruca, Zaria made it clear that she would scorch everything and everyone that stood in her way of taking the singles spotlight. This week, that included NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley.
Following Paxley’s recent title defense against Lizzy Rain, Zaria attacked both the champion and challenger, with the fiery Aussie then calling for a title shot of her own. On Tuesday, Zaria’s wish came true as she vied for the NXT Women’s North American Championship in the main event of WWE NXT.
Paxley countered Zaria’s early F5 attempt with an inside cradle. She then powered through the spear that followed seconds after. Paxley’s resiliency eventually waned, though, as Zaria’s strength became too much to overcome.
The title match’s final moments saw Paxley duck under the ropes, causing Zaria to fly through them. When Paxley tried to capitalize with a moonsault, Zaria dodged it and promptly dropped the defending champion with an F5 to the floor. Upon returning to the ring, Zaria then delivered another spear-F5 combo to keep Paxley down for the three count.
With her win, Zaria begins her first reign as NXT Women’s North American Champion, and her first under the WWE banner overall. Paxley, meanwhile, ended her NA reign at 94 days.
Elsewhere on NXT, Kendal Grey defeated Kelani Jordan in a number one contender’s match. As such, she will now challenge NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice for her respective title at NXT Great American Bash on June 28.
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Maya World Advances In Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tourney
Heading into this week’s AEW Dynamite episode, fans expected to see former IWGP Women’s Champion Sareee take on Skye Blue in the opening round of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament. Due to a lingering neck injury, however, AEW doctors later ruled Sareee medically unable to compete.
In Sareee’s place, Maya World stepped up to face Blue instead. Unlike usual, Blue’s Triangle of Madness stablemates Julia Hart and Thekla were not at ringside for this bout, which meant her opponent had a true one-on-one opportunity.
World seized that opportunity by matching the AEW veteran in the early goings. The AEW newcomer then remained resilient through a neckbreaker on the entrance ramp as well as a fireman’s carry cutter in the ring. When Blue attempted to follow up with a Code Blue, World dodged it and bridged into a pinning position, which ultimately secured her the victory.
With the win, World will advance to the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament. There, she will battle her wrestling trainer and ROH Women’s World Champion Athena. Should World upset Athena, she would then collide with either Mercedes Mone or Hazuki in the tourney finals at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. That event will also take place on June 28.
The winner of the tournament will receive a world title match at AEW All In, set for August 30 in London, England. Thekla currently reigns as the AEW Women’s World Champion.
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Interviews
The Stunner” Emily Jaye spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about her recent “chops and shots” match at Girl Fight, learning from the likes of Allison Danger and Deonna Purrazzo, becoming the inaugural PWJ Women’s Champion, her AEW Dynamite appearance taking on The Brawling Birds, Liv Morgan’s new music video and WrestleMania title win, who’d she cast on an indie wrestling version of “Total Divas,” and more.
WWE broadcaster Cathy Kelley sat down with Chris Van Vliet to discuss being knocked over during the brawl between Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer, training at the WWE Performance Center, her emotional moment when R-Truth made his return, being backstage when CM Punk made his WWE return, learning from Paul Heyman, her TikToks with Rhea Ripley and AJ Styles, and more.
Former WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn chatted with TMZ’s Inside The Ring about the pressure she felt during the Divas Era, the personal struggles that ultimately led her to leave the company, her friendship with AJ Lee, the recent returns of Paige, The Bella Twins, and Lee, identity struggles after wrestling, a potential return to the ring, Flex With Celeste, and more.
WWE Intercontinental Women’s Champion Sol Ruca joined O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson of No-Contest Wrestling to talk about her title win over Becky Lynch at Clash in Italy, how she went from gymnastics to becoming a WWE Superstar, what she learned at NXT, her Ladder Match victory at last year’s Stand & Deliver PLE, the move she hates taking the most, her favorite Disney songs, her WrestleMania dream Matches and more.
Former WWE star Kay Lee Ray (aka Alba Fyre) talked with the Daily Star about her return to EVE: Woman of Wrestling in London, her recent departure from WWE, why WWE rejected her initial ring name her, her tag team run alongside Isla Dawn, working in the Secret Hervice, what she wants to do next on the indies, a locker room prank that went wrong, and more.
TNA Knockout Elayna Black appeared on the Hitting The Turnbuckle Podcast to talk about her run in TNA Wrestling so far, other former WWE stars making the jump to TNA, her history with Arianna Grace, wanting the Knockouts Championship, the upcoming return of the Lockdown event, appearing on the AMC debut, and more.
