Shotzi Blackheart made a name for herself on the independent circuit, competing in companies like Shimmer, Evolve, Rise Wrestling, and Shine Wrestling. She signed with WWE in 2019, becoming a one-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion.
Both before and after Vince McMahon's WWE departure, Shotzi struggled to find her footing on the main roster and was among those released by the company earlier this month.
Talking to the Busted Open Radio team, Shotzi detailed her final months in WWE, how she ended up in NXT again, and a scrapped SmackDown return which was set to see her feud with former Women's United States Champion Chelsea Green.
"I got cleared like December 5 [2024]," she shared. "I’m probably not going to come back until Rumble. I could not for the life of me sit at home any longer. So I texted [Johnny] Russo, and I was like, 'Hey, I’m probably not going to come back to the main roster for a little bit. Can I get a little run at NXT, find my ring legs back?' He was like, 'Absolutely. We can only have you for two months, and then the main roster wants you back.'"
Back in the developmental brand, Shotzi embraced the chance to work with Gigi Dolin (who has also been released by WWE) and Tatum Paxley.
"I was like, 'Great, that’s perfect," the former WWE Superstar recalled. "I want to build up Gigi and Tatum. I really believe in them.' I thought we were killing it...and then I fell in love with them."
"I was told, 'Oh, you’re gonna start a storyline with Chelsea,' which I was all for. They brought me into SmackDown, they’re rehearsing my entrance on the Tron, and then they cut it. Then it was week after week, nothing and nothing."
"Then I start to wonder...my contract’s up in a few months. What is going on? That’s finally when I was like, well, I’m gonna cut this promo, and I’m gonna get some answers," she said of the viral social media promo that dropped around the same time she was fired by WWE.
Despite that setback, she remains excited for what the future holds, as we first reported earlier this week.
"When they’re utilizing you, it’s the best job in the world. It’s so much fun, and it really is the best. But when you’re in the dark, and you’re pitching things, and it just feels like no one wants to talk to you, and it just feels like no one believes in you, and you’re just sitting at home, or you’re sitting at catering for months, it’s mind-numbing. And it’s confusing, and it’s boring as hell."
"So, I’m just excited to finally go out there and just kick ass on my terms. And I get to make my schedule. Like, I’m not gonna put myself in catering. I’m gonna get out there and I’m going to wrestle my butt off."
You can watch the full interview with Shotzi in the player below.