WWE’s Shotzi gives inside look at new ghost-hunting show with Scarlett

WWE SmackDown star Shotzi discusses hosting NXT Halloween Havoc, her Chamber of Horrors ghost-hunting show with Scarlett, her favorite horror movies, and more.

For the third time since 2020, Shotzi is serving as the ghostly host of WWE NXT‘s always-anticipated Halloween Havoc special, though she won’t be dishing the tricks and treats alone this year.

Joining her is fellow SmackDown Superstar Scarlett, who is also currently co-hosting the Chamber of Horrors ghost-hunting show with Shotzi on WWE‘s social media channels. The two underwent several costume changes on Night 1 last week and fans should expect more of the same from the devious duo come Tuesday night for the remainder of Halloween Havoc.

“I think last year I had a week or two notice that I was hosting Halloween Havoc and I just happened to have costumes that I had piled up, so I was already set to go,” Shotzi told Daily DDT. “It was not stressful.”

In addition to wanting to outdo herself from years past with her various costumes, she’s hoping to break Elvira’s record for most Halloween Havoc appearances from when the event was still under the WCW banner. This year’s installment marks Shotzi’s third in charge of the annual October classic.

“I’m in a competition with myself with Elvira because she’s my role model,” she said. “She’s been a part of three Halloween Havoc back when WCW had it and I want to top her. I just need one more and I’ll be so happy.”

The hosting gig perfectly coincides with their Chamber of Horrors show airing its season finale on Halloween itself featuring special guest Bayley. It’s always been right up their alley, but this marks the first time they’ve been able to share their love for the paranormal with the WWE audience.

They were already exploring scary sites and now have a camera crew along with them to capture the creepy vibes.

“The paranormal and the ghost hunting and going to scary places is something Scarlett and I were already doing before we started recording them for the WWE YouTube page,” Shotzi said. “We would just talk about whatever haunted place we were staying at while we were on the road in the locker room and it got around and we were approached about putting it on YouTube. We were like, ‘Absolutely! We’re already doing it, so let’s do it for real.’ Because we’ve seen some real weird stuff on the road and I’m happy everyone now gets to see it.”

Anyone who has taken a tour of a haunted house or the like can attest to the chilling auras that they have. Sometimes it’s difficult for that to be captured on camera.

However, Shotzi and Scarlett do an exceptional job of making viewers feel like right there alongside them and providing background on wherever they happen to find themselves that particular week.

“I don’t mind the cameras,” Shotzi said. “They definitely don’t pick up the feelings we get. There’s definitely an energy about these places and sometimes give you a headache or makes you sick and the camera will never get that, but I can express what I’m feeling. There’s definitely a weird energy in these places.”

The format changing from week to week has made it clear that they’re still experimenting with what works and what doesn’t. They’re hoping WWE sees it as a success so it can be greenlit for a second season.

If Chamber of Horrors does ultimately get renewed, she’s hoping they’ll be able to travel to the famous hotel The Shining was filmed at for a future episode.

“We’re calling it our pilot season,” Shotzi said. “They told us, ‘We don’t know how this is going to do, but we’ll let you guys go for it.’ We’re trying things out… We really have our formula down. I’m really proud of [the Lizzie Borden] episode.”

She revealed that they’ve determined what haunted house/site they’re checking out depending on what’s within a two-hour radius of wherever SmackDown is emanating from that given week. Their goal has been to make it convenient for their guests, which is why only SmackDown stars have been featured thus far.

Grayson Waller, Drew McIntyre, Karrion Kross, Isla Dawn, and Alba Fyre are among those who have joined Shotzi and Scarlett on Chambers of Horrors so far, a guest list they’ve had complete creative control of.

“Even [the guests] have been our call, too,” she said. “Pretty much everything has been what we wanted to do and whoever we jive with and whoever’s willing to go ghost-hunting. Let me know, it’s been hard to get people to come out. Even with Dominik and Rhea, they were terrified. It was hard to get them over there. I feel so bad because once we got them there, they really did not want to be there. They were terrified. It was awkward.”

Bronson Reed, Mia Yim, and Otis are Shotzi’s top picks for guests on a potential Season 2, and when asked what horror movies she enjoys re-watching the most every October, she named Pumpkin Head, Trick ‘r Treat, and the original Halloween.

“Cobweb just came out,” she recommended. “It gives you that fall, cozy, horror feel, so I’d definitely check that out. No one’s talking about it. As far as stuff coming out, I’m really excited to see Thanksgiving actually.”

NXT Halloween Havoc: Night 2 airs live on USA Network this Tuesday at 8/7c.