Shotzi thought she was in the 2025 Royal Rumble, until she wasn’t.
In February, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reported that Alexa Bliss’s return to WWE at the Royal Rumble was a late decision due to contract negotiation issues. She ultimately entered the match as the 21st entrant, replacing Shotzi in the lineup.
Shotzi, now going by her “full” name Shotzi Blackheart on the indies, confirmed that she was replaced by Bliss in the match on Unwrapped with Daria and Toni. Shotzi was asked by WWE to fly in for the event the day before, and scrambled to get to Indianapolis in time.
“I heard mixed messages. A couple producers said that I was always in the Rumble, but then they told me last minute. And then — yeah, I don’t know. I was very confused by it. But, they didn’t relay anything until like the day before. It was like 3 pm the day before [the Royal Rumble] and they were like, ‘Hey, can you get on a flight in a couple hours?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, i’m not ready for this!’ and packed my bags,” Shotzi explained. “I don’t even know what I put in my bags, got to the airport in like an hour. And then it led to nothing.”
Shotzi says she got there and thought she was in the match, and even went to rehearsals. However, Shotzi found out she’d been pulled the day of the event.
“I got told while I was in the makeup chair that I wasn’t in it,” Shotzi revealed.
Shotzi says Alexa Bliss came and apologized to her
Shotzi said it was a tough pill to swallow. She also confirmed she was pulled because of Alexa Bliss’s return in the match. Despite getting cut from the match, Shotzi still had a positive outlook and said at least it was for someone who got the “biggest pop of the night.”
She said that Alexa had “no idea” that she was replacing anyone and even apologized to her.
“She felt so bad and she came up to me afterwards and she was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t even realize [they were giving me someone else’s spot],” Shotzi explained.
Toni pointed out that WWE had to have some idea Alexa was returning. She also questioned why they would have Shotzi fly in like that. However, Daria (Sonya Deville) pointed out that Bliss’ status was still very much up in the air due to contract negotiations that went to the last minute.
Shotzi left WWE as a result of the company allowing her contract to expire. She will be a completely free agent this summer and is set to appear in MLW in June.
