Taya Valkyrie Recalls Fighting To Keep Ring Name In WWE NXT

WWE

Taya Valkyrie has recalled her time in WWE NXT, discussing the backstage situation surrounding her name change.

Valkyrie made her NXT TV debut in April 2021, as ‘Franky Monet’. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Valkyrie revealed that WWE didn’t want her using her established ring name, as there was already a ‘Valkyrie’ in NXT UK.

Noting that she fought to keep at least part of her name,Valkyrie said:

“Immediately, I had creative meeting, Road Dogg and I were hashing out who the character was going to be and they really loved everything I came with. There were tiny differences like, they didn’t want me wearing a fur coat because we were in Florida. ‘Okay, whatever, I don’t have to wear a fur coat (laughs).’

“Then I discovered this new seamstress in Chicago who made me all my beautiful coats that I wear. I did want to evolve without going so far that people didn’t recognize who I was. The hair got longer, the jackets got longer and bigger.

“Everyone was calling me Taya at the PC because I know everybody and so many of my friends are there. No one calls me by my first name, ever. Then they were like, ‘we’re going to go through some names,’ they send you these list of names and you go through them and make suggestions. Man, did I try to at least keep Taya.

“Valkyrie they didn’t want me using because there is a Valkyrie that works for NXT UK. Taya, I tried really really hard. I’m sure somewhere in a book, there is this ridiculous name list or an email. It started this week-to-week thing of going back-and-forth with the name.

“No one ever said (it was about the IP), my theory was that I had been Taya on three different television programs and there is merchandise and things out there of me and they wanted to have something new, which I totally understand and from a business perspective, it actually makes sense. I tried really hard, but ultimately, I did not win this battle.”

Valkyrie was let go by WWE in November 2021. Stay up to date with every star who has left or been released by WWE in 2022 here.

Transcription via Fightful. 

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• taya valkyrie
• name change
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