Mandy Rose, a former NXT Women’s Champion, has publicly expressed her frustration with WWE for not acknowledging her as the first double women’s champion in NXT history, a distinction recently attributed to current NXT star Stephanie Vaquer. Rose took to social media on March 26 to voice her displeasure, sparking a debate among fans and wrestling insiders about the accuracy of WWE’s historical narrative and the recognition of her contributions to the brand.
The controversy began earlier this month when Stephanie Vaquer made history at NXT Roadblock on March 11, 2025, by defeating Giulia in a Winner Takes All match to claim the NXT Women’s Championship while already holding the NXT Women’s North American Championship. WWE celebrated Vaquer’s achievement, labeling her as the first woman in NXT history to hold two titles simultaneously. The company’s official website stated, “More history came for Vaquer when she dethroned Giulia at Roadblock 2025, becoming the first woman in history to become a double champion with two NXT Titles.” Vaquer further solidified her status by successfully defending both titles on the March 25th episode of NXT, first against Jaida Parker for the NXT Women’s Championship and later against Fallon Henley for the NXT Women’s North American Championship, becoming the first double champion in WWE history to defend both titles on the same night.
However, Mandy Rose and her supporters argue that she was the first to achieve this feat back in 2022. At NXT Worlds Collide in September 2022, Rose, who was already the NXT Women’s Champion, defeated NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura and Blair Davenport in a triple-threat match to unify the NXT Women’s Championship and the NXT UK Women’s Championship. Following the match, Rose carried both belts for a period, presenting herself as a double champion, though the NXT UK Women’s Championship was officially retired shortly after, with Satomura recognized as its final holder in WWE’s record books. Rose’s reign as NXT Women’s Champion continued until December 2022, when she lost the title to Roxanne Perez and was subsequently released from WWE the following day due to content on her FanTime page violating her contract.
The debate over who truly deserves the title of NXT’s first double women’s champion reignited when a fan on X called out WWE for seemingly ignoring Rose’s history. The fan posted, “I like when @WWE tries to pretend that their own history doesn’t exist. Or that we’re all stupid or something. @mandysacs was the 1st women’s double champion, don’t let them fool you. And that’s no knock at Steph she’s great. She’s just not the 1st.” Rose retweeted the post, adding her own comment: “Haha yea it’s pretty pathetic isn’t it!! Thanks for the recognition tho! Appreciate you!!” Her response quickly gained traction, drawing both support and criticism from the wrestling community.
While Mandy Rose and her fans argue that she should be recognized for holding both the NXT Women’s Championship and NXT UK Women’s Championship simultaneously, others point out a key technicality. The match at Worlds Collide was a unification bout, meaning the NXT UK Women’s Championship was merged into the NXT Women’s Championship and effectively retired. As a result, Rose was never officially recognized by WWE as a double champion holding two active titles at the same time, unlike Vaquer, who currently holds and defends two distinct titles—the NXT Women’s Championship and the NXT Women’s North American Championship. This distinction has led to a divide among fans, with some feeling that Rose’s physical possession of both belts should count, while others argue that WWE’s classification of Vaquer as the first true double champion is accurate due to the active status of both titles.
The backlash to Rose’s tweet was swift, with some fans and commentators on X labeling her reaction as bitter. One user posted, “The reason Mandy Rose is getting backlash is because she came off as bitter when WWE rightfully stated Stephanie Vaquer is The First Ever NXT Women’s Double Champion. Mandy Rose unified two championships. One is active while the other one was retiring.”
Another user added, “Mandy Rose is upset people are saying Stephanie Vaquer is the first double champion because she was, not knowing she wasn’t, that she simply had two belts they unified, not two separate titles. She doesn’t even know what belt she held but she’s mad people don’t know.”
Additionally, Rose’s tweet received a Community Note on X, clarifying that she was not technically a double champion because the NXT UK Women’s Championship was discontinued after her unification match, further fueling the debate.
Despite the controversy, Rose’s comments highlight a broader issue of how WWE handles its historical narratives. The company has a history of emphasizing current stars’ achievements, sometimes at the expense of past performers, which can lead to feelings of erasure among former talent. Rose’s tenure in NXT was a defining period for the brand’s women’s division—she held the NXT Women’s Championship for 413 days, one of the longest reigns in the title’s history, and her unification match at Worlds Collide was a significant moment in NXT’s evolution. Her frustration may stem from a sense that her contributions are being overlooked, especially as she has largely stepped away from wrestling since her WWE release, focusing instead on her lucrative FanTime page, where she recently stated she earns 10 times her previous WWE salary.
For Stephanie Vaquer, the controversy has not overshadowed her historic achievement. The Chilean wrestler, who joined WWE in July 2024 after a successful stint in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), has quickly risen to prominence in NXT. Her double championship reign has been celebrated as a milestone, with WWE noting that she is the first South American-born double champion in company history and the first woman to hold two NXT titles simultaneously. Vaquer’s journey has been marked by rapid success, including a Royal Rumble appearance just four months into her WWE career and a dominant performance at NXT Roadblock, where she defeated Giulia in a highly competitive match.
As the debate continues, it raises questions about how WWE defines and celebrates its history. For Mandy Rose, the lack of recognition has clearly struck a nerve, prompting her to speak out against what she sees as an injustice. Whether WWE will address her claims or continue to spotlight Vaquer’s reign remains to be seen, but the conversation has reignited interest in Rose’s NXT legacy and the evolving landscape of the women’s division.
