When Blake Monroe joined WWE NXT, she didnâ€t just sign with a new company — she closed the door on her old identity. The former AEW and STARDOM star, known to fans as Mariah May, made the deliberate choice to retire that name and start fresh under a new persona that carries deep personal meaning.
Speaking to Bully Ray on Busted Open Radio, Monroe explained that she had no interest in keeping her old name when she joined WWE, calling it a chapter that had already run its course.
“No. If youâ€re familiar with my prior name, I feel like it was the end of a story, and I cherish that. Itâ€s kind of cool that she died and thatâ€s done,†Monroe said. “Mariah is my real name, and I wish I had never used that in wrestling because itâ€s weird. I did it and canâ€t change it. The chance to start something new, and with WWE, weâ€re going to make this new thing and make it a megastar.â€
The NXT star revealed that her new name isnâ€t random — itâ€s a tribute to her niece, Blake, who inspired the change.
“My niece is Blake. We used to watch WWE together and sheâ€d jump on the bed and be so excited. When they said, ‘How would you feel about the name? Would you be open to changing it?†I said, ‘I absolutely would.†Monroe was the first wrestling name I ever wrote down. I still have it in a book and a screenshot from 2017.â€
Monroe said the combination of “Blake†and “Monroe†perfectly represents who she wants to be as a performer — part grit, part glam.
“People donâ€t like the name because they think itâ€s boyish, but thatâ€s why I like the name. I feel if youâ€re in a really intense feud, itâ€s like, ‘Monroe,†while ‘Blake†is more serious. Blake is my niece and itâ€s unisex, and Monroe is so pretty, but a little gimmicky. I thought putting the two together was different. The name was a little controversial, which I like because people are talking about me.â€
Blake Monroe officially joined WWE in June after leaving AEW in May, and sheâ€s already turning heads in NXT. Her decision to reinvent herself isnâ€t just about a fresh start — itâ€s about creating something new, powerful, and personal under the WWE banner.
Do you think Blake Monroe made the right call by leaving Mariah May behind? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
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