WWE’s NXT brand is bringing back the classic WCW pay-per-view concept known as Halloween Havoc for a second year running. Last year saw the successful return of the fan favorite holiday event, even going as far as bringing back 1992’s “Spin The Wheel Make The Deal” wheel of doom that once sealed the fate of Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Sting in footage that now sits somewhere in a WWE vault. This year, NXT is not only continuing the Halloween Havoc tradition, but they also are bringing back the wheel. But there was one more thing that made last year's show special that needs to be brought back as well, and that is the howling host.
Shotzi Is Known For Her Love Of Halloween
Shotzi Blackheart had the honor of hosting NXT’s first foray into WCW Halloween nostalgia trips, even going as far as to dress up like the woman from the initial 1992 Halloween Havoc mini movie that hyped up the original 'Spin The Wheel Make The Deal' gimmick. That was just one of her costumes during her hosting duties — and also may have just been Elvira — but is just the tip of the iceberg for how far Shotzi leaned into the hosting job and embraced the spirit of Halloween Havoc.
Followers of Shotzi on social media have been getting horror movie suggestions from her around Halloween time for years now. On her IG, she does seem to come across as a classic monster movie buff, and collects memorabilia and figures to fit the bill. Fans might also remember Shotzi teaming with Ember Moon in NXT when Shotzi dressed as the 'Master of Nightmares' Freddie Kruger to Ember’s Jason during a defense of the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship.
Shotzi Was More Than Just A Host Last Year
Blackheart's role in the festivities, officially, was to introduce the show, be the face of the show, spin the wheel, and howl at the moon. The show started off with her in an electric chair writhing in pain as she is electrocuted before escaping, and showering the area with sparks from a saw that was apparently in her hands the whole time, before howling at the moon. From then on, the night would go according to plan. That is until Shotzi got involved in the ladder match for Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship, costing Candice LeRae her opportunity at the gold and infuriating everyone in The Way.
After the fall out, Shotzi and Ember soon found themselves teaming together more often, eventually leading to a reign as NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. They would oddly enough lose those very belts to The Way’s team of Indi Hartwell and the women Shotzi screwed over at Halloween Havoc, Candice LeRae. Not long after this, Blackheart made her way up to the main roster, away from NXT and the presentation of Halloween Havoc. But she is still a lovable babyface within the company who fans would get behind once again taking hosting duties for the evening.
There are no guarantees in life, just like there is no guarantee that the Halloween Havoc event has a host this year, especially with some fans finding it unneccesary last year. What fans do know for sure is that the show itself is coming back, and so is the odd wheel of fate. It feels only right that one of the integral pieces of last year's show that worked so well, also be brought back if that is something that is physically able to happen. Sometimes in wrestling, the things that feel like easy home runs are left on the table with no explanation ever given. Shotzi returning as host would likely be a hit, but that doesn’t mean that WWE has even thought to pick up a bat.