Natalya Seemingly Calls Out Mariah May for WWE Match After Impressive NXT Debut

Mariah May’s WWE debut on the June 3 episode of NXT stunned the crowd—but it also caught the attention of WWE veteran Natalya, who gave her full endorsement on the June 5 episode of Busted Open Radio.

While speaking with Dave LaGreca, Natalya broke down her initial thoughts on Mariah May’s arrival, and she didn’t hold back on her praise—making it clear that May has both the look and the work ethic to go far.

“I’m excited for her and I think this is going to be a fun chapter for her.”

Natalya compared May’s journey to Stephanie Vaquer’s, pointing out that both women took the road less traveled before arriving in WWE.

“Mariah has a similar journey where, like, you know, she went out and explored the world before coming to WWE. She was a fan. She loved it. She… wanted to pursue this. Then she moved to Japan and she, like, basically became a student of the game.”

Natalya addressed the perception that Mariah May may have entered the business for superficial reasons, but emphasized that anyone paying attention can see how hard she’s worked.

“While she’s very beautiful—and some people might go, ‘Oh, she’s a model that wanted to do this’—she is beautiful, but she also… really fought for this and… really worked hard for this.”

She added that May’s ability to connect with audiences is just as impressive as her in-ring skills.

“I like the way she tells stories. I like even the way she handles herself on social media and the way that she has told stories in the past. She’s a good little storyteller.”

Natalya then looked ahead to what May could do on the NXT roster, calling out the new NXT Women’s Champion in the process.

“I’m excited to see the stories that she’s going to tell with the women at NXT. I’m excited to see her and Jazmyn Nyx mix up… tear it up… Jessie Jane brand new champion, Mariah May saying ‘I’m going to take that title from you’—it’s exciting.”

She called May a complete performer and someone who can deliver in every area.

“Mariah has what I think is the total package. She can speak. She looks amazing. She looks the part. And she can go in the ring. She’s put the time in. She’s put the work in.”

Natalya also referenced May’s resilience, saying she has the kind of toughness that sets elite performers apart—recalling a similar moment with WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus.

“She’s not afraid to listen. We don’t want the blood, but sometimes—as we know—if you get busted open in the ring… she’s shown she can work through it. I remember Trish Stratus… she broke her nose in a match and then she just kept wrestling… I think Mariah May has that grit about her where she’s like, ‘F**k it, I’m beautiful, but I’m going to work through it. I’m going to show you that I’m not just another pretty face.’”

And Natalya wasn’t just speculating—she made it personal.

“I would not be against facing her, I just wanted to put that out there.”

The reaction to May’s debut has been strong across the board—even without WWE officially announcing her name on air. Fans knew exactly who she was, and that’s something AEW insiders have reportedly taken as a compliment, given how May was built up on their television.

Now with a WWE multi-year deal and her eyes set on the NXT Women’s Championship, May’s future looks more than promising—and with Natalya throwing her name into the mix, the potential matchups just got a lot more interesting.

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