The People’s Champion.
Zelina Vega
Zelina Vega has been a standout in WWE since she made her debut in NXT nearly eight years ago. It won’t be too long and she’ll be a 10 year WWE veteran, how wild is that? But, despite having been tenured in WWE at this point, there’s still something missing and that’s singles gold.
Zelina didn’t have the privilege of wrestling in NXT as much as the other girls did. She had some fun matches with Candice LeRae, but for the most part, she was the manager of Andrade Almas, now Andrade El Idolo. Her managerial role led her to the dance, but it didn’t give her that singles success that many fans wanted her to have until later on. She had a few mixed-tag team matches, and even got to beat up John Cena, which is pretty cool. But, she didn’t see her first singles accomplishment in WWE until 2021 when she became the first ever Queen Of The Ring.
Now, don’t get me wrong, being the first ever anything is amazing and being WWE’s Inaugural Queen’s Crown tournament winner is nothing to sneeze at. A damn fine piece of success. But, she’s still missing some gold around her waist. Finally, it came. Though it wasn’t singles gold, Zelina Vega and Carmella won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships just a month after becoming the Queen. 2021 felt like the year of Zelina Vega. Success came in droves and it felt like she had it all.
Then, by the time the new year came around, Zelina and Carmella lost their gold, the Queen’s Crown was faded away and Zelina was slowly sliding back into her managerial ways with Legado Del Fantasma. Things with Legado were going great. Though, Zelina didn’t wrestle as often as she used to. As the year past, she hit another milestone. The first woman to ever be apart of the LWO, when Rey Mysterio and Legado brought the group back. Another cool moment, but still, not gold.
As time went by, things in the LWO changed. Santos Escobar was out, and Rey Mysterio really took the head. But, in 2023, Zelina Vega became prominent in the women’s division again and even earned a SmackDown Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley at Backlash 2023. To make it even sweeter, it was in her native Puerto Rico, with her family in the front row.
But, as it seems the story always goes, she lost the match and didn’t win gold. Zelina has tried for RAW gold against Asuka back in 2020 at Clash Of Champions, but didn’t succeed, SmackDown gold against Rhea Ripley, but didn’t succeed. It feels like every time she gets so close, it’s just never enough. Fast forward to 2024, and it’s time.
Zelina was wrestling more often and the fans really got behind her. In fact, her fans, named the ‘ZVArmy’, had the name trending for so long, weeks and weeks, that WWE even mentioned it on Monday Night RAW. Zelina was finally starting to get some more match time and the recognition seemed to be boosting. The fans in the arena cheer, of course, they love the LWO. Zelina and Rey Mysterio started to battle Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio in high profile matches and things are clicking. Move a little further towards the end of the year and we’re in November 2024.
WWE announces two new championships for the women’s division. The Women’s United States Championship and the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. One for Smackdown, one for RAW. On the RAW side sits the Intercontinental Championship and in the tournament bracket, we see Zelina Vega. she has the opportunity to win her first singles gold with the company, and once again be an Inaugural winner, much like the Queens Crown.
This brings us to Monday Night RAW on December 9, 2024. Zelina cut a promo the week prior, talking about winning the tournament. The crowd is behind her, the online fans have her back and she’s going up against Lyra Valkyria and Ivy Nile in a triple threat for the opening round of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. And she lost.
This is no slight against winner Lyra Valkyria, no, not one bit. In fact, many fans believe Lyra should go win the whole thing. But, Zelina is once again so close, but so far. The Chanpionship opportunity is hanging in the balance and it seems like they just can’t let Zelina hang on. Why? Zelina Vega has made improvements majorly from her debut until now, in-ring. Her mic skills have always been on par and it feels like the momentum with the fans is in the palm of her hand. And still, she lost.
Zelina sent out a simple “I’m Sorry.” Post on her X account following the loss, which then received over 500 replies of fans rooting her on, including fellow WWE superstar Dakota Kai and USA Network’s official account. Despite the loss, there’s still something there. There’s a spark and eventually that spark will light a flame. That flame will be Zelina Vega standing tall with singles gold.
The fans have Zelina’s back more-so than a lot of other pro-wrestlers and with that support, she will be nearly undeniable. Zelina Vega will become champion one day, but for now, she’s the Peoples Champion.
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