Details Behind Blake Monroe’s Name and Character Inspiration – As noted, former AEW standout Mariah May made her official WWE NXT rebranding debut as Blake Monroe on the June 11 episode, revealed through a stylized vignette that paid homage to classic Hollywood. WWE has since moved to legally secure the name, filing a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office under the entertainment services classification on the same day the vignette aired.
The vignette was crafted like a vintage newsreel, setting the tone for Monroe’s old-school glamour-meets-modern-attitude character. While fans immediately noticed similarities to Marilyn Monroe, there’s more behind the name and persona than meets the eye. According to Cory Hays, the first name Blake is a tribute to May’s niece, while Monroe indeed draws inspiration from the iconic 1950s actress.
However, the influences go beyond classic Hollywood. Elements of Monroe’s presentation strongly resemble pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 Short N’ Sweet tour—a retro-themed spectacle that blended 1950s and 1970s aesthetics. Carpenter’s tour introduction featured a black-and-white newspaper promo, a cartoon character walking through a city, and the performer stepping out of a bathtub before hitting the stage. Much of this same formula was mirrored in Monroe’s NXT vignette.
In the WWE segment, Monroe was seen applying makeup in front of a vanity while a vintage-style narrator introduced her:
“Internationally adored by all. Because making people scream is nothing new to her. She’s beauty, she’s grace, and she’ll probably punch you in the face. The Glamour doesn’t just walk into the spotlight, she’s the reason it exists. The Glamour is the girl you’ve been waiting for her.”
After a few playful failed attempts to announce her arrival, Monroe stepped out of the tub wearing a towel, only to unveil a sleek black dress—echoing Carpenter’s towel-to-outfit reveal. A cartoon rendering of Monroe appeared at the end to formally introduce her new name.
While WWE has yet to confirm Monroe’s first opponent or storyline direction, her high-production introduction and immediate branding efforts suggest major plans ahead—likely targeting the NXT Women’s Championship, currently held by Jacy Jayne.
@mabbygac as a former theatre kid, current graphic designer, lover of all things midcentury, and forever fangirl… sabrina’s tour intro is everything to me 🎤📺✨ #retro#midcenturymodern#sabrinacarpenter#jesuswasacarpenter#tour#livemusic#concertseason#moodycenter#austin#atx#tourvisuals#visuals#design#pleasepleaseplease#fy#lastminutetickets#boxoffice#sabrina ♬ original sound – gabriela 🦢
Details Behind Blake Monroe’s Name and Character Inspiration
