The main event of NXT Roadblock on March 7th saw Roxanne Perez defend her NXT Women’s Championship against the legendary Meiko Satomura.
The battle was a hard-hitting affair, and in a pre-match interview earlier in the show, Perez said that she’d pushed herself to the limit training for the most important match of her life. In the end, Perez successfully defeated Satomura, but her victory came at a cost.
As she was celebrating with Satomura in a show of respect in the middle of the ring, Perez suddenly wobbled and then collapsed, the match having taken a toll on the young star’s body. She was stretchered out of the arena, and both NXT head Shawn Michaels and her trainer Booker T showed great concern.
In an update on March 10th, WWE tweeted that Perez had been released from the hospital and was resting at home.
Shawn Michaels Says Roxanne Perez May Have To Vacate The WWE NXT Women’s Championship
Taking to social media ahead of the March 14th episode of NXT, Shawn Michaels provided another update on Perez’s health, saying that her status is still in question. Furthermore, because NXT Stand & Deliver is fast approaching as part of WrestleMania weekend, he had no choice but to find an alternate plan for the championship’s defense.
In a series of tweets, Michaels announced that Stand & Deliver will feature a ladder match to crown the new NXT Women’s Champion after qualifying matches are held on television in the coming weeks.
“As of Friday Morning Roxanne Perez was discharged from the hospital. However after numerous tests Roxanne’s health is still in question. With Stand and Deliver in less than three weeks I have the obligation to announce we possibly have to crown a New NXT Women’s Champion.
Starting tonight there will be a series of qualifying matches with the winners advancing to Stand and Deliver to compete to become the NXT Women’s Champion in a Ladder Match.”
Starting tonight there will be a series of qualifying matches with the winners advancing to Stand and Deliver to compete to become the NXT Women’s Champion in a Ladder Match. https://t.co/HLwehrqJVf
— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) March 14, 2023
Perez has reigned as champion since defeating Mandy Rose in the main event of the December 13th episode of NXT, ending a 413 day title reign. Rose was shockingly released from the company the next day.