What's the Story?
Since its inception, NXT has brought in countless talents, men and women alike, and it seems they're not slowing down anytime soon. Two women's stars debuted officially as part of NXT, Candice LeRae and Thea Trinidad, who will both appear when the tapings hit the network over the next few weeks.
In case you didn't know...
NXT is known for bringing in the top outside WWE talent year round. From Finn Balor to Kevin Owens, to Asuka, to Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura, there's never been a shortage of star power on the NXT roster.
And with the introduction of network exclusive tournaments like the Cruiserweight Classic and the United Kingdom Championship Tournament, the rosters have been growing at a steady rate with all kinds of unique athletes.
Well, it's possible we might be seeing more women in NXT than ever before, as WWE is preparing for their Women's tournament this summer.
The heart of the matter
As we get closer to the women's tournament, more and more fresh faces will appear, possibly vying for Asuka's NXT title. With the Empress of Tomorrow carrying an impressive undefeated streak that stands at 165, competitors from all over the world will be trying to make a name for themselves.
It seems that two of those women will be making their mark pretty soon as both Candice LeRae and Thea Trinidad appeared at this week's NXT tapings, with LeRae appearing in a battle royal and Trinidad in less of a physical role, watching a match between Kassius Ohno and Andrade "Cien" Almas.
LeRae, known for being one-half of the World's Cutest Tag Team along with Joey Ryan, gained fame for her unique "Ballsplex" manoeuvre. LeRae also happens to be married to one-half of #DIY, Johnny Gargano. Whether that will be used or discussed in any way is unknown, but with WWE's recent track record with couples on the roster, we could see them together on screen in some light.
Trinidad is coming in a former TNA tag champion, winning their Knockouts Tag Titles with Sarita while she was part of the group "Mexican America." This will not be Trinidad's first WWE appearance, as she tried out for the company in 2014, appearing a handful of times as one of Adam Rose's "Rose Buds." She also appeared in a match against Asuka last year in a losing fashion.
Trinidad did make an in-ring appearance this time around, however, as she instead was caught looking on during a match between Kassius Ohno and Cien Almas. It's unclear whether she'll be managing one of these men or if she was just trying to get a look at the action. She is currently engaged to Austin Aries.
On a side note, she is playing AJ Lee in Dwayne Johnson's movie based on the life and family of former Divas Champion Paige.
What's next?
As we get closer to the Women's Tournament, more stars will be appearing in NXT to prove themselves to the WWE Universe. LeRae was tossed out of the battle royal by Billie Kay, and it's unclear whether or not this was a one off appearance. However, with that event coming up, it's highly unlikely this is the last time we see her in NXT.
Author's take
It's good to see the possible list of participants in the tournament slowly fill out. LeRae and Trinidad are both great names to add, even if it is for a short while. The Women's Tournament, if it's as successful as the other two done in the past year, can take the division higher than it's ever been.
The main card already has an unseen depth. In 2016 we saw Charlotte and Sasha Banks main event Hell in a Cell, and with so much focus on a division that was once barely used on a weekly basis, it's inspiring to see how seriously WWE are finally taking the women's division.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
