WWE witnessed Mandy Rose discovering the wrestling industry and becoming a noteworthy performer through various ups and downs. Rose has been viewed as a valued prospect since her start due to a great look and athletic background. However, it took some time before finding her groove and the ideal act to show her potential.
The journey in WWE started with no experience and has led her to a success story in the long run. Each picture in question here shows the evolution of Mandy through each chapter of her career. The entire story can be told by looking through the photos that tell the story. Rose had the following memories become bonded with her time in wrestling.
10 Tough Enough
Many fans forget that Mandy Rose’s career started in the most recent season of Tough Enough. WWE casted Rose for the reality show back in 2015, and she did a great job at standing out. Mandy made it all the way to the finals of the women’s side of the competition.
WWE clearly valued Rose as the top prospect of the women cast, along with Sonya Deville. However, the fan vote saw Sara Lee winning the contract. Lee never panned out, but Mandy is still a valued member of the WWE roster.
9 NXT Run
WWE first utilized Mandy Rose in NXT during the early portion of her career after training at the Performance Center. Even though Rose technically finished second in Tough Enough, she was groomed to have a noteworthy career more than most of her peers.
NXT used Mandy on television on multiple occasions to slowly introduce her to the audience. Rose also appeared on the local Florida tours to learn on the fly. The first proper run for Mandy is rarely discussed since it went by so quickly.
8 Absolution Call-Up
The WWE main roster run of Mandy Rose started when the return of Paige created a new idea. Paige aligned with newcomers Rose and Sonya Deville to debut the faction known as Absolution. This was a huge idea on paper since Paige’s return from a long injury recovery was an important thing.
Unfortunately, another neck injury suffered by Paige on a house show ended all plans. Rose and Deville were managed by Paige for the first few months until WWE found a new role for her. The first storyline for Mandy showed that talents will see things change on the fly.
7 Teaming With Sonya Deville
Even though Paige was removed from the act, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville remained a tag team for the next few years. WWE utilized their real-life chemistry as best friends for their characters to continue the team with more success.
The start of the women’s tag division saw Mandy and Sonya as an important fixture as a first heel duo. WWE gave them the name of Fire and Desire, but they never could reach the top accomplishment of winning the Women’s Tag Team Championship.
6 Feud With Naomi
One of the first major feuds to showcase the potential of Mandy Rose was her program with Naomi. WWE gave them a lot of time to build up tension and create drama outside the ring. Rose brought Naomi’s real-life husband Jey Uso into the storyline by attempting to flirt with him.
The most memorable moment is pictured when Mandy tried to seduce Jey in a hotel room to truly ruin Naomi’s life. It turned out to be a set-up from Naomi to get Rose alone for the brawl shown here on the hotel bed.
5 Feud With Sonya Deville
The tag run of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville saw a surprising end to their bond. Many fans assumed Mandy would be the one to turn heel due to her natural ability to get heat. However, WWE went the other route to highlight Deville as the more ruthless character.
Sonya attempting to sabotage Rose’s romance with Otis by helping Dolph Ziggler saw Mandy feeling betrayed. Rose eventually stood up to her former best friend and tag team partner. Their Loser Leaves Town match at SummerSlam 2020 was a success that showed how talented both ladies were in a big spot.
4 Odd Couple Romance With Otis
Mandy Rose ending her friendship with Sonya Deville took her to a new storyline with Otis as a romantic partner. WWE was high on Otis as a top face and even had him win the men's Money in the Bank briefcase during this time, before changing their mind and having him lose it to The Miz.
Otis and Mandy took part in quite a few great entertaining and comedic vignettes to show new sides of their characters. WWE eventually losing interest in Otis ended the television time and Rose was moved to Raw as to split them up.
3 Failed Tag Run With Dana Brooke
The most overlooked important part of Mandy Rose’s WWE career so far was her tag team with Dana Brooke. WWE hoped that putting together two talented singles performers struggling to find a role could enhance their careers.
Rose and Brooke tried a few different things to show a bond as tag partners, but it just never worked out as intended. The most memorable moment was from this image taken at the perfect time of Mandy slipping on the entrance ramp at WrestleMania 37 for an embarrassing botch.
2 Toxic Attraction Revamp
WWE changing NXT to NXT 2.0 led to a couple of familiar faces returning to the brand. Mandy Rose not only came back with a new character and look with the darker hair, NXT 2.0 witnessed Gigi Dolin and Jace Jayce aligning with Rose as the Toxic Attraction faction.
All three ladies have massive singles potential, but they have worked quite well together in the same group. Mandy winning the NXT Women’s Championship and the other two winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship led to them instantly becoming a hot act.
1 Face Of NXT 2.0
No one has benefited more from the changes in NXT than Mandy Rose. WWE sending her back to developmental could have spelled the end of her career, but Rose used this chance to completely rebrand and find relevance stronger than ever.
Mandy winning the NXT Women’s Championship was a big moment to show that WWE wanted to build the new version of NXT 2.0 around her. The ads hyping NXT always show more of Rose than anyone else as she is the act they have made the centerpiece of the division.