The April 11 edition of WWE SmackDown featured a surprise appearance from multiple-time NXT Women’s Champion, Roxanne Perez. She popped up to try to slide into Tiffany Stratton’s spot and ended up in a match with the current WWE Women’s Champion. While Stratton defeated her, fans took the moment to continue to push for her permanent move to the main roster.
Perez and Stratton had a good, sub-ten-minute match on SmackDown. It played back to their only other singles match from 2022, when they met in the finals of the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament. Perez picked up the victory then, and Stratton evened the draw with her victory on SmackDown.
The calls for Roxanne Perez on the main roster grow stronger
Roxanne Perez has been main roster-ready since stepping into WWE. There’s a reason she’s called “The Prodigy” and her track record in wrestling proves that point. WWE has already shown a willingness to trust in the young talent. She was the Ironwoman in the 2025 Royal Rumble, spending more than one hour in the match and being the final person eliminated. That then led to Perez being involved in the Elimination Chamber, having a good showing on that PLE as well.
Roxanne Perez finally back on my screen, maybe #SmackDown is good actually pic.twitter.com/hkoLOeuAw5
— Jack (-_•) (@captaincupkicks) April 12, 2025
However, neither of those moments resulted in Perez being moved to the main roster permanently. She returned to NXT where she’d be defeated by Jordynne Grace at Roadblock, and Kelani Jordan a few weeks later. It was clear that WWE was intending to use Perez’s perception as the “Ace” of WWE NXT to build other performers on the brand. But her fans wanted to see her moved to the main roster where there are more interesting, and first-time feuds to see.
Roxanne Perez would be a perfect addition to either SmackDown or Raw’s midcard scene. She has the abilities and character to easily carry either the Women’s United States or Intercontinental titles. She’d be the type of champion who could hold the title for an extended period of time, building the value of the belt along the way. Looking at the current position those belts are in on the show, which is a much more valuable way to use someone of her talents than building the women on NXT where fans already recognize how deep that division has become.
Roxanne Perez has all the potential to be a world champion in any wrestling promotion. Her fans want to see that happen sooner, rather than later. Her surprise appearance on SmackDown furthered their call for her to move to either show immediately.