Zelina Vega has a new name and a new era to go with it.
Thea Trinidad took to Instagram on Thursday to share a career recap video, a reflective skit in which she meets her younger self during pivotal moments from her life, including the loss of her father. From there, she journeys back through the various eras and stints of her WWE career, with brief cameos from Andrade El Idolo and her husband, Aleister Black.
The video ends with her walking through a new door, teasing that her next chapter is coming soon. The thumbnail delivers the reveal: she’ll be going by Xelina.
The name change isn’t a whim. Vega filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for “Xelina” on July 20, covering wrestling performances and related entertainment services. It’s a necessary pivot, since WWE owns both “Zelina Vega” and “Queen Zelina,” the name she carried after winning the 2021 Queen’s Crown tournament.
The timing lines up with her freedom. Vega and Black were among the wave of talent released by WWE in April, a group that also included the Wyatt Sicks, Kairi Sane, Alba Fyre, Santos Escobar, Zoey Stark, and The Motor City Machine Guns. The standard 90-day non-compete window for that group expires this week, clearing the way for all of them to sign elsewhere.
A former Queen of the Ring, Women’s United States Champion, and Women’s Tag Team Champion, the Queens native previously worked as Rosita in TNA and Divina Fly on the independent scene. Where Xelina turns up next remains to be seen.
