After a couple weeks of teases featuring her pampered Pomeranian, Franky Monet made her WWE debut on NXT last night (April 13). She immediately stepped to new Women’s champion Raquel González, and figures to be in the mix for a title shot along with folks like newcomer Zoey Stark and veteran Mercedes Martinez.
.@TheTayaValkyrie has arrived on #WWENXT and is keeping her eye on @RaquelWWE! pic.twitter.com/DPNtqdIVI9
— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2021
Fans who knew her as Taya Valkyrie from her work in Mexico, and during her runs on Impact & Lucha Underground were probably happy with the booking. A lot of them apparently weren’t happy with the name “Franky Monet”, though.
Taya jumped on Twitter today to talk to them:
Hey guys, I LOVE MY NAME.....maybe since I picked it. Go figure! ♀️ I could be called Sunshine Tuna and I would make it work!!! So take a breath, stop complaining and enjoy this evolution and ride with me. Thanks #FrankyMonet
— Taya Valkyrie (@TheTayaValkyrie) April 14, 2021
Why Franky Monet?
Monet for the French artist, Franky because I’ve always loved unisex names and I think it’s super cute, spunky and different. https://t.co/kVYdtQ8Rxk
— Taya Valkyrie (@TheTayaValkyrie) April 14, 2021
While I’m surprised she didn’t keep her name like some established acts have (Martinez, for example), I don’t hate Taya’s WWE trademarked handle. And she kept her “La Wera Loca” nickname, so there’s continuity.
And for the record, nobody was going to name me Sunshine Tuna it was just an example. The name does not make the wrestler. One that’s powerful and strong helps of course but just know we all think long and hard about these things. I’m me, la WERA LOCA. Always, now , forever.
— Taya Valkyrie (@TheTayaValkyrie) April 14, 2021
I would have liked to see how she’d make Sunshine Tuna work, though. Maybe she can change to that when she gets called up to work with hubby John Morrison on Raw.