SmackDown star to make major change, injured star finally returning? - 4 possible challengers for Roxanne Perez after WWE NXT Heatwave

WWE's latest premium live event aired last night. One night following a great Money in the Bank show was NXT Heatwave, arguably an even better program. It was a blast from start to finish.

NXT's women's division was represented a lot on the show. Arianna Grace and Karmen Petrovic battled Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx. Later, Sol Ruca battled Kelani Jordan for the NXT Women's North American Championship.

The biggest match from the women's division at Heatwave saw Roxanne Perez defend her NXT Women's Championship against Lola Vice. While the bout was ultra-competitive, The Prodigy retained her championship thanks to hitting numerous Pop Rocks in a row, chalking up another major victory as part of her resume.

Now, Shawn Michaels is tasked with figuring out Roxanne Perez's next opponent. There are numerous quality options on NXT, in the greater World Wrestling Entertainment, and even internationally. This article will examine a few stars who could challenge the champion next.

Below are four challengers for Roxanne Perez after the WWE NXT Heatwave.

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#4. Cora Jade could return from injury

Cora Jade is an underrated WWE performer. She has spent several years on the NXT brand and, while there, has captured the now-defunct NXT Women's Tag Team Titles. Interestingly, her partner at the time was Roxanne Perez.

Unfortunately, Jade has been out of action with an injury for quite some time now. She last competed on January 12th, 2024, but got injured in the bout. After getting surgery on her ACL, Jade fans have been eagerly awaiting her return.

Seven months may be too soon for Cora to return to WWE action, especially given her recent update, however she did send out a post on X hinting at a potential comeback. Supposing she is ready sooner than fans think, perhaps she could be Roxanne's next challenger. Shawn Michaels loves a good friends-turned-enemy story, and this is an easy one to tell.

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#3. Giulia's WWE debut should come sooner rather than later

Giulia is one of the finest athletes in all of pro wrestling. While WWE fans have only recently gotten to know the Japanese-Italian performer, she came up through Ice Ribbon, then Stardom, and now the Marigold promotion.

There have been a lot of rumors regarding the talented performer and her joining WWE. These reached new heights during WrestleMania weekend when Giulia attended NXT Stand & Deliver, even being shown in the crowd.

While Giulia was briefly out of action due to an injured wrist, she is back and will soon be wrestling IYO SKY on a Marigold show. Once that bout is over, she could potentially confront Roxanne Perez in her official debut for NXT and World Wrestling Entertainment, leading to a dream match. If Shawn can book this, he certainly should.

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#2. Tegan Nox could move from SmackDown to NXT

Tegan Nox is one of WWE's most underutilized and underappreciated talents. While she battled numerous injuries early on, she has since instead fought perception, as Tegan goes through regular droughts of not being used on television. This was especially true during the Vince McMahon-led regime.

Unfortunately, the Welsh Wizard has been absent from WWE programming for quite a while. Her last televised match occurred in April, although she did have a dark match during the most recent SmackDown event. Shawn Michaels can help fix this unfortunate trend, however.

There were rumors about Nox's future and the NXT brand recently. Nothing has come from those rumors, but her return could happen as soon as on NXT this week. If Tegan does return home to the white and gold brand, she could be Roxanne's next challenger.

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#1. Sol Ruca has a lot of hype despite her loss at Heatwave

Sol Ruca is arguably the most impressive athlete in WWE today. She can do things in the ring that will blow fans' minds, and Sol has incredible body control. Provided that she stays healthy, Sol is the future of the company.

The athletic Ruca was in action against another incredible athlete during the most recent NXT Premium Live Event. She battled Kelani Jordan for the WWE NXT Women's North American Championship in what was an epic bout.

Unfortunately, Sol came up short against Kelani. Despite that, she has gained a lot of attention online thanks to her incredible in-ring skills. As a result of her growing popularity, Ruca may be put with Roxanne Perez in an attempt to both capitalize on it and to elevate Sol to the next level. The Heartbreak Kid would be wise to book this bout.