Mariah May Debuts on NXT After Signing WWE Contract Following AEW Exit

Tuesday marked a new era for Mariah May.

After her departure from AEW last month, May made her WWE debut at NXT. She made a grand entrance to the event on Tuesday.

"Ladies, you can call me the next NXT women's champion," she said. "Because the best women's division in the world just got a lot more glamorous."

Last week, May was removed from the AEW roster page, indicating her exit from the company after nearly three years. Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported afterward that she was expected to make her WWE debut soon.

Though her contract with AEW had not expired, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that the company knew she would be departing.

"AEW was well aware that she would be leaving the company, and sources near the top of WWE say that the wheels have been in motion for her to join WWE," Sapp reported (h/t The Takedown's Rick Ucchino). "The most surprising element within AEW was that Mariah May had a two-year deal with no additional option year for AEW."

It turns out May needed less than a week to debut in WWE.

May found plenty of success in AEW, winning both the Women's Owen Hart Cup and the Women's World Championship last year. Her last match came at Revolution in March, when she lost to "Timeless" Toni Storm in a rematch for the AEW Women's World Championship.

Now, she'll face a new set of challengers in WWE.

While it's early, it seems she's already made some new rivals. Before debuting, Jacy Jayne was addressing the crowd for the first time as NXT before Lainey Reid, Lola Vice, Jordynne Grace, Jaida Parker and Thea Hail interrupted to voice their bids to be the next champion.

After a brief brawl, May entered and let the other wrestlers know that she was coming for the crown.

Whether she'll end up becoming a champion in her first year remains to be seen.