For the past year or more, one of the biggest complaints about WWE’s product has been its weakened women’s division. What had once been the best part of WWE had suddenly become its most disappointing. Becky Lynch was gone after becoming a mom. Bayley, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss were all injured. Charlotte took a hiatus. And then there was the controversy with the Women’s Tag Team Championship that saw Sasha Banks and Naomi walk.

Now that Vince McMahon is out and Triple H is in charge, it looks like things are going to be much different for the product in general and specifically the women’s division. There has already been immense proof of that with the return of Bayley, the rehiring of Dakota Kai, the promotion of Iyo Sky, and the tournament to bring back the Women’s Tag Team Championship. This all gives a chance for once-forgotten female superstars to get a second chance at making it big. One of those women is Shotzi Blackheart. What does Triple H’s version of WWE hold for her?

Who Is Shotzi Blackheart?

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Few in WWE are as unique as Shotzi Blackheart. Just the name, without knowing anything else about the woman behind it, stands out. Then there’s the look. Her Filipino features stand out in a world of tanned blondes. The dark outfits, the green hair, and the tattoos are enough to make a non-fan wrestling fan go, “Who’s that?” If that's not enough, who else comes to the ring in a tank?

There is a very talented wrestler behind the presentation. Shotzi started wrestling in 2014 for promotions like Shimmer and Impact. She progressed quickly, with WWE noticing her in 2015 and offering her a spot in Tough Enough, but an irregular heartbeat forced her to drop out.

Shotzi kept working, however, finally ending up in WWE as a part of NXT in 2019. While her stay there was solid, she wasn’t one of the big standouts. She got title matches, and she entered the Royal Rumble, but she was never the victor. Finally, in 2021 she became an NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion with Ember Moon, but less than two months later they dropped the titles. This was good news though. It was time for Shotzi to go to the main roster.

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Where Shotzi Blackheart Went Wrong?

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As so often happens, WWE didn’t know what to do with their NXT call-up. Shotzi Blackheart debuted on SmackDown with fellow NXT alum Tegan Nox as part of a tag team. Predictably, her cool last name was dropped, which helped to immediately deflate part of her momentum. Still, her pairing with Tegan was fun, with the duo coming to the ring in a small tank as Shotzi had done before.

Before the two had enough time to establish themselves, they were split up in the draft. Shotzi stayed on SmackDown as a singles star, which could have been great, but she was lost in the endless shuffle of Charlotte, Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks, and Naomi. Shotzi was relegated to a midcard of a brand’s division that already didn’t have many wrestlers.

An attempt to salvage her stale character by having her attack Sasha Banks and turn heel didn’t do much for her. Her up-and-down build made it so many casual fans didn’t know who Shotzi was, and therefore many didn’t care. There had been more attention given to her in the last few months as her whiny character tried to make herself a locker room leader, but it’s a character that doesn’t work for someone of her talent.

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What Is Shotzi Blackheart’s Place In WWE?

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Now that Triple H is in charge, Shotzi Blackheart has another chance. The new head of creative already knows her from his time heading NXT. He knows what she’s capable of. If anyone can salvage Shotzi’s career, it’s Triple H.

Step one is to reintroduce her to the casual WWE fans in a new way. Her character needs a readjustment. She looks like a badass. She should be presented as one. There’s room for it in SmackDown’s small women’s roster. She also needs a series of wins for her to be taken seriously by the fans.

After that, the sky’s the limit. Shotzi’s look and entrance get your attention. She can wrestle and she can talk. She can be a heel or a babyface. In a company where we’re presented with the same women wrestlers over and over again, it’s time for someone new. It’s time for the return of Shotzi Blackheart.