For Roxanne Perez, the 2025 Royal Rumble wasn’t just a career milestone—it was a childhood dream realized. Nearly a decade before she became the longest-lasting competitor in the Women’s Rumble, a young Perez stood outside a wrestling event, waiting to meet her hero, Nikki Bella.
In a resurfaced video, a teenage Perez excitedly tells Bella, “In five years, you’re going to need a tag partner.” But when Bella playfully suggested the idea, Perez had a different vision. “I’d rather wrestle you,” she replied.
Fast forward to this year’s Royal Rumble, and that’s exactly what happened. In a surreal full-circle moment, Perez found herself face-to-face with Nikki Bella in the ring, even engaging in a push-up contest before tensions boiled over. During an appearance on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, Perez recalled:
Ten years later, I’m in the ring with Nikki Bella… and I almost slapped her!
The moment encapsulates just how fast Perez has risen in WWE. The former two-time NXT Women’s Champion has already broken records, headlined pay-per-views, and now gone toe-to-toe with one of the biggest female stars in WWE history.
While she may not have won the Royal Rumble, her performance—including being one of the final two competitors—cemented her as a future main event player. And if history is any indication, it won’t be long before Perez’s next dream turns into reality.
