WWE: Lyra Valkyria on NXT Women’s Title Victory, Update on WWE’s Current Mentality for Contract Renewal Talks, More News

Oct 25, 2023

Lyra Valkyria Comments on Her NXT Women’s Title Victory at NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 Night 1 Show

Tuesday’s WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 Night 1 show featured the main event of Lyra Valkyria defeating Becky Lynch for the NXT Women’s Championship.

Following the show, WWE held a digital exclusive backstage interview with Valkyria discussing her thoughts about her NXT Women’s title victory.

“It doesn’t feel real. I really feel like I can’t put it into words. When I was out there, it felt like time was standing still, and everything connected. It just felt like everything I’ve worked for for nine years now all came together. I felt on top of the world because it felt like no decision I’ve ever made has been bad because it all led to this. I think that I would live my entire life again just to feel what I felt holding this title up out there. I think in what we do, we would work our whole careers in the hopes of feeling what I feel right now, even once. I think I’ll be living in that moment for another nine years. I can’t explain how good it feels right now to be your NXT Women’s Champion.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Update on WWE/TKO’s Current Approach to Contract Talks with Top Talents

As noted before, WWE’s sale to Endeavor and merger with UFC to form a new company called TKO Group was finalized this past September.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials recently have changed their mentality when it comes to talks for contract renewals with their talent. It was reported that WWE currently has a lot of contracts coming up in 2024, including many top level talents.

It was reported that many talent spoken to stated that they have not been approached for potential contract extensions. It was reported that WWE had signed dozens of talents to new deals in 2019 along with other talent signed to shorter-term deals who are all having their contracts expiring throughout 2024.

Many talent spoken to reportedly stated that they had been under the belief that WWE’s recent merger with Endeavor will kickstart a lot of contracts talks. Several talent reportedly have been waiting to see what the offers will be like when that happens but this was stated to not have happened yet. It was reported that WWE officials have held a few negotiations here and there but usually for talent who had asked for raises.

It was reported that talent spoken to have been interested and speculating what this could mean for their future negotiations and if the offers presented by WWE will be increased, decreased, or on par with their previous deals since the merger.

WWE News & Notes

This year’s MLB World Series is currently scheduled to take place from October 27th to November 4th. In regards to WWE, Game 1 will be going directly against the October 27th SmackDown show, Game 3 will be going directly against the October 30th RAW show, and Game 4 will be going directly against the October 31st NXT show. If the series reaches a Game 6, then it will go directly against the November 3rd SmackDown show.

WWE held one dark match prior to the start of Tuesday’s NXT tapings, according to PWInsider. This match was a tag team match of Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen defeating Tavion Heights & Riley Osborne.

Impact Wrestling talent Killer Kelly revealed on Twitter that she had attended Tuesday’s NXT show and celebrated with Lyra Valkyria backstage over Valkyria’s NXT Women’s Championship victory.

WWE recently announced that they are currently holding a promotion involving all United States military veterans with a valid veterans id will be eligible to recieve a free ticket to their events this November in celebration of this year’s upcoming Veteran’s Day holiday.

Gunther recently announced on Twitter that he reached 500 consecutive days as current Intercontinental Champion this past Monday.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that WWE officials currently do not have any plans for Brock Lesnar to work at next month’s Crown Jewel 2023 event. Those spoken to reportedly stated that the reason was due to WWE officials feeling that they did not need Lesnar’s star power for the event due to the event already featuring several high profile matches and had quickly sold out allowing them to save Lesnar for a future event instead. Johnson reported that this will be the first time that Lesnar will miss a Saudi-based WWE event since WWE started running events in the country as part of their 10-year with the Saudi government.

In a recent interview with the Sports Business Journal, WWE executives Chris Kaiser, Ben Houser, and Chris Chambers revealed that the company is currently working on a new documentary series titled WWE Superstars of Tomorrow that will focus on their NIL program signees.

In a recent post on Twitter, Dijak reflected on this past Sunday being the one year anniversary of him returning to WWE’s NXT brand. Dijak stated “It’s been one year since we officially began what has turned out to be the most fulfilling year of my entire career. I am forever grateful to@ShawnMichaels, @TripleH, and everybody in @WWENXT for helping us bring this vision to life. Thanks everyone, we are just getting started.”

In a recent interview with the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Rey Mysterio gave his thoughts about being interested in a rematch with Dominik Mysterio for his current plans for WrestleMania 40. Mysterio stated “I thought about doing Dominik and Rey 2. Something would need to be on the line. Whether I’m still United States Champion or he’s still North American Champion. Something would have to be on the line to make it look or feel, ‘You have to watch this.’ Hair vs. Mask.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)