Blake Monroe Reveals Why She Had No Interest in Keeping Mariah May Name

When Blake Monroe joined WWE NXT, she didn’t just sign with a new company — she closed the door on her old identity. The former AEW and STARDOM star, known to fans as Mariah May, made the deliberate choice to retire that name and start fresh under a new persona that carries deep personal meaning.

Speaking to Bully Ray on Busted Open Radio, Monroe explained that she had no interest in keeping her old name when she joined WWE, calling it a chapter that had already run its course.

“No. If you’re familiar with my prior name, I feel like it was the end of a story, and I cherish that. It’s kind of cool that she died and that’s done,” Monroe said. “Mariah is my real name, and I wish I had never used that in wrestling because it’s weird. I did it and can’t change it. The chance to start something new, and with WWE, we’re going to make this new thing and make it a megastar.”

The NXT star revealed that her new name isn’t random — it’s a tribute to her niece, Blake, who inspired the change.

“My niece is Blake. We used to watch WWE together and she’d jump on the bed and be so excited. When they said, ‘How would you feel about the name? Would you be open to changing it?’ I said, ‘I absolutely would.’ Monroe was the first wrestling name I ever wrote down. I still have it in a book and a screenshot from 2017.”

Monroe said the combination of “Blake” and “Monroe” perfectly represents who she wants to be as a performer — part grit, part glam.

“People don’t like the name because they think it’s boyish, but that’s why I like the name. I feel if you’re in a really intense feud, it’s like, ‘Monroe,’ while ‘Blake’ is more serious. Blake is my niece and it’s unisex, and Monroe is so pretty, but a little gimmicky. I thought putting the two together was different. The name was a little controversial, which I like because people are talking about me.”

Blake Monroe officially joined WWE in June after leaving AEW in May, and she’s already turning heads in NXT. Her decision to reinvent herself isn’t just about a fresh start — it’s about creating something new, powerful, and personal under the WWE banner.