It was the showdown of the century (okay, at least the week) on the August 20 episode of WWE NXT! Six of the finest female warriors of the squared circle duked it out in a gauntlet eliminator match to snag the golden ticket—well, the NXT Women’s Championship shot against Roxanne Perez at the No Mercy Premium Live Event on September 1. Jaida Parker emerged victorious after leaving a trail of defeated foes, including Sol Ruca, Wren Sinclair, Kendal Grey, Adriana Rizzo, and Brinley Reece. But hold onto your spandex, folks—one name was suspiciously scratched off the list: Karmen Petrovic!
Yes, you read that right. Originally slated to be part of this epic clash, Karmen Petrovic was yanked from the lineup quicker than a referee’s three-count, with no explanation in sight. Replaced by Brinley Reece, the mysterious switcheroo left fans and conspiracy theorists alike buzzing with wild speculation. Was it injury? A backstage meltdown? Alien abduction? (Okay, maybe not that last one, but you never know in WWE.)
Our pals at Fightful Select went sleuthing backstage and, after dodging a few steel chairs and ladders, managed to get the scoop. The 28-year-old Petrovic is not injured, folks. That’s right, the removal was purely for “storyline reasons,” and the payoff is coming—eventually. Patience, young grasshoppers.
Petrovic was last spotted on TV during the first week of The Great American Bash special, where she, Sol Ruca, and Lola Vice were on the wrong end of a beatdown from Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jazmyn Nyx. But don’t worry, Petrovic is still keeping busy! She competed at an NXT live event in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, and word has it she’ll be back in action on the August 27 episode, facing off against Izzi Dame. Whether we’ll get any answers—or just more questions—about her gauntlet match disappearance remains to be seen. Stay tuned, or better yet, start a rumor. That’s half the fun, isn’t it?