What’s the story?
Former TNA Knockout and Ring of Honor star Taeler Hendrix has announced that she is leaving ROH, and Cageside Seats is speculating that this may be because Hendrix is scheduled to appear in the forthcoming WWE Women’s tournament. Hendrix announced her departure via her official Twitter account.
Want to thank @ringofhonor for all the opportunities given to me! I'm forever grateful. I wish you well, and I look forward to the future!
— Taeler Hendrix (@Taeler_Hendrix) April 4, 2017
In case you didn’t know...
Taeler Hendrix first rose to prominence in 2012 as part of TNA’s Gut Check challenge. Hendrix was a contestant in the challenge and was offered a TNA contract; as a result, the Poison Princess stayed with TNA for a year before being released in July 2013. It was later revealed that then-owner Dixie Carter had put pressure on Hendrix to lose weight, a story that enraged many sections of the wrestling world.
Hendrix went on to carve out an impressive niche for herself on the independent scene, becoming a prominent part of Queens of Combat as well as an entertaining presence on Ring of Honor TV. In ROH, Hendrix was a part of the House of Truth faction and worked primarily as a valet for Jay Lethal.
The heart of the matter
After months of speculation, WWE finally formally announced that it will be holding a 32-woman tournament on the WWE Network. No names have been announced for the tournament as of yet, but the timing of Hendrix’s announcement leads many to believe that the former three-time OVW Women’s Champion may well be one of the contestants.
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Hendrix has appeared on WWE TV on a number of occasions, most memorably as a part of Adam Rose’s Rosebuds back in 2014. Since her time in TNA, Hendrix has well and truly evolved inside the ring. While it is unlikely that she would be considered a favourite for the tournament, she certainly deserves ‘dark horse’ status.
What’s next?
The 32 spots in the tournament will be filled by women from 17 countries around the world. Hendrix is on the wish-list of many fans, and the redhead may well end up being a valuable addition to the WWE roster in the long term. Other names rumoured for the tournament include Candace LeRae, Io Shirai and Toni Storm.
Author’s take
Having been a Taeler Hendrix fan for five years, this writer would be thrilled to see Positively Poison turn up on WWE TV. Hendrix deserves a big stage to show her ability, and there is no bigger stage than WWE. Here’s hoping she finds her way into the tournament and eventually into a full-time WWE contract.
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