Shotzi Blackheart Names AEW As Company She’d Like To Land At Full-Time, Cites Tony Khan Caring For Talent As A Reason She’s Interested
Candid responses from Shotzi Blackheart about her exit from WWE and what her future could look like.
Candid responses from Blackheart.
WWE opted not to renew Shotzi Blackheart’s contract and fast forward to present day, Blackheart has made her in-ring return on the independent scene. She’s competed in several matches thus far and has a handful of dates lined up.
Blackheart sat down with Ariel Helwani to discuss her exit from the company and the post-WWE road. When it comes to her deal not being renewed, Blackheart feels she’ll never know why. She stated that the company may feel she’s not money and she’s fine with that.
“No (I was not told why WWE was not renewing my contract), and unfortunately, that’s just how it is. I probably will never know why they released me but, WWE doesn’t owe me anything. That’s showbiz, right? They just didn’t think that I was money and that’s okay. I can take that.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Blackheart was asked if she’d like to land in either AEW or TNA full-time. She chose AEW and cited the freedom talents have and the way company President Tony Khan cares for talent as reasons why she’d choose to land there.
“Well, yeah, yeah (I am looking to land in a wrestling promotion full-time). I love TNA, I love AEW… AEW (is my preference). I mean, for so many reasons. I love their freedom, I have a lot of friends there who are doing really awesome things. I’ve heard many stories of how Tony (Khan) treats talent. So, yeah, I do love that he really cares for his talent. That is super important to me… and hot girls get to make out with each other so like that’s cool too (she laughed).”
Further speaking about that, Blackheart named ROH Women’s World Champion Athena as a dream match for her. Athena and Shotzi held the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles together.
Blackheart expressed her opinion that Athena is the best women’s wrestler in the world. She went on to state that she would not want AEW to hire her just because she’s fresh out of WWE. She wants to do great on the indies and then if AEW takes notice, she’s game.
“First thing that comes to mind (for a dream match in AEW), Athena. I think that she’s so awesome. I honestly think that she’s the best women’s wrestler in the world. I am such a huge fan of her. Not even because we tagged together and I had so much (fun) with her as a tag team. But I just think she’s amazing, and I’ve never gotten to wrestle her before so, I would love that. But also, you know, Mercedes Moné… Toni Storm, absolutely. Just to hear the promos that she would cut on me. She is killing it. She is killing it. But I wouldn’t want to go to AEW just because I was signed to WWE and I expect them to sign me. I wanna earn my spot. That’s why I wanna just kill it on the indies and if they really love what I’m doing for the rest of the year, I’m game.”
Circling back to the topic of WWE, Blackheart said she’d love to go back, but she does not want to return only to do nothing.
“I mean, I would love to be back at WWE. I loved working there. I didn’t love not working there, you know what I’m saying? It was only when I wasn’t being used that I was unhappy but, any time I was being used, good time. Loved the locker room, loved everyone I was working for. So, yeah, that’s just it. I just don’t wanna go back and not work.”
A list of Blackheart’s upcoming independent dates can be found here.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.