Was Giulia Called up Too Soon?
It was announced last night by SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis that Giulia is now a member of the SmackDown roster. The announcement took place during a backstage segment between Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair outside Aldis’ office. Giulia then emerged alongside Aldis, who informed Bliss and Flair that she had been officially called up to the main roster as part of SmackDown. She is now scheduled to compete in a Money in the Bank qualifying match against Flair and Women’s United States Champion, Zelina Vega. Fans are beginning to question: Was Giulia called up to the main roster too quickly?
Giulia was one of the hottest free agent signings last year, widely regarded as one of the best female wrestlers in the world. She was seen in the crowd at 2024’s NXT Stand and Deliver alongside William Regal, where she received an overwhelming ovation; so much so that even Giulia appeared surprised by the response. She made her NXT debut at No Mercy, confronting then-NXT Women’s Champion, Roxanne Perez. Shortly after, she captured the NXT Women’s Championship at New Year’s Evil, defeating Perez and holding the title for 63 days before losing it to Women’s North American Champion, Stephanie Vaquer at NXT Roadblock.
It was reported that Giulia’s loss to Vaquer was due to an injury. However, fans questioned this explanation: If she was injured, why did she return just two weeks later? Further reports suggested that Vaquer’s rise was driven by her growing popularity, which may have influenced the decision to crown her. Giulia then turned heel on Vaquer, attempting to regain the title, but ultimately failed. She later formed an alliance with Perez, hinting at chaos within the Raw women’s division, culminating in a main event tag match against Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley. A backstage segment on YouTube, where Giulia tells Perez, “There is no ‘we.’” All of these developments occurred within just six months of her winning the NXT Women’s Championship.
Given the rapid progression of her career, many fans feel that Giulia’s call up to the main roster was rushed, raising concerns that she might be the replacement for the recently released Cora Jade. While her talent is undeniable, critics argue that a more gradual integration could better showcase her skills and allow her character to develop fully. Ultimately, only time will tell whether her move to SmackDown proves to be a strategic decision, or an impulsive one driven by the fast-paced nature of today’s WWE landscape. Fans will be watching closely to see if Giulia can live up to the hype she once had in NXT, and establish herself as a top star on the main roster.
