Blake Monroe has intensified her war of words with Giulia, claiming that her WWE SmackDown rival’s prominence is a direct result of being associated with her.
In a backstage digital exclusive released following SmackDown, Monroe reacted to Giulia apparently not mentioning her. Monroe dismissed that omission and argued that Giulia’s current visibility, social-media attention, and headline-making presence are all tied to their developing conflict.
“She didn’t mention me at all? That’s funny. So she’s pretending like she doesn’t need me. This is the most relevant she’s ever been. She’s the headline every week because of me. She trends every week because of me. She’s getting numbers because of me, and what’s the common denominator? Me!”
The comments continue a rivalry that has unfolded over the past several weeks, beginning with Monroe’s on-screen arrival on SmackDown. While the two women have repeatedly been connected on television and through their escalating verbal exchanges, they have not yet faced each other in an official match.
For more background on this topic, read Cody Rhodes Sends Chilling Randy Orton Warning in Unaired SmackDown Footage.
That absence of a match has left Monroe with room to define the issue on her own terms. Rather than framing Giulia as a dangerous opponent whose accomplishments demand respect, Monroe’s message was that Giulia is benefiting from the attention that naturally follows Monroe. It is a familiar tactic in WWE rivalries: take an opponent’s success and repackage it as evidence of one’s own influence. Monroe did not merely say that she has helped make the rivalry compelling; she presented herself as the common factor behind Giulia’s recent relevance.
Monroe Uses Giulia’s Qualifying Match as the Next Point of Pressure
Monroe’s interview also came with Giulia preparing for a qualifying match. Though Monroe did not offer a detailed breakdown of the bout or its stakes, she portrayed the moment as one in which Giulia would be feeling the weight of comparison. Monroe called herself an empath and suggested that standing opposite a woman of her “caliber” would be overwhelming for Giulia before such an important contest.
“I am an empath and I understand in her position to compare herself to a woman of my caliber before her big qualifying match would be very overwhelming.”
The line allowed Monroe to blend mock concern with a direct insult. She did not express genuine sympathy for Giulia’s position. Instead, she used the language of understanding to reinforce the claim that Giulia has reason to be intimidated. It is the type of psychological framing that can matter as much as any physical confrontation when a rivalry is still in its early stages.
Giulia has not been given the opportunity to answer Monroe inside the ring just yet, which means each new statement has the potential to further shape audience expectations for a first encounter. Monroe is making sure that, when that meeting does happen, it will arrive after weeks of pointed claims about relevance, visibility, status, and who truly commands attention on SmackDown.
For Giulia, the immediate priority remains the qualifying match referenced by Monroe. But Monroe has attempted to turn that competitive assignment into a referendum on Giulia’s ability to handle pressure. The suggestion is clear: if Giulia stumbles, Monroe will likely claim that the distractions she created were responsible. If Giulia succeeds, Monroe has already positioned herself to argue that Giulia only received this level of focus because of their rivalry.
A Threat Centered on Pain
Monroe ended her remarks with a more sinister promise. After asking interviewer Catherine whether she had ever undergone dental surgery, Monroe described that experience as “incredibly painful” before warning that she intends to make Giulia feel all of that pain.
“Have you ever had dental surgery, Catherine? It’s incredibly painful. I’m going to make sure Giulia feels every part of that pain.”
The dental-surgery comparison gave Monroe’s promo a particularly unsettling final note. Her comments were not limited to boasting about popularity or trying to belittle Giulia’s standing. She also made it clear that she expects the conflict to become physical and that she plans to inflict serious punishment when the opportunity comes.
That threat raises the temperature considerably in a rivalry that has so far been defined by confrontations and verbal attacks rather than a sanctioned match. Monroe has now laid out both sides of her character’s approach: she wants to be seen as the woman who drives the conversation, and she wants Giulia to understand that the talk will eventually be backed by violence.
The wording is important because it suggests Monroe is not simply looking for a competitive showcase. She wants to make the encounter personal. Her goal, at least in her own telling, is to make Giulia feel pain while also proving that she cannot escape Monroe’s presence or influence.
Why the First Match Still Matters
There is a difference between declaring yourself the reason an opponent matters and proving that point in the ring. Monroe has been emphatic that Giulia’s current attention stems from their association, but Giulia can erase much of that argument with a decisive performance whenever WWE books their first official match.
Until then, Monroe’s confidence is likely to remain one of the central engines of the program. Her remarks have made her position unmistakable: she does not view herself as someone seeking a spotlight alongside Giulia. She sees herself as the spotlight. In Monroe’s view, Giulia is now benefiting from standing across from her, whether Giulia acknowledges it or not.
That makes the dynamic more interesting than a straightforward challenge. Monroe is not only questioning Giulia’s toughness. She is questioning Giulia’s independence and significance. By saying Giulia “pretends” she does not need her, Monroe is arguing that Giulia’s refusal to validate her is itself proof that Monroe is under her skin.
Giulia, meanwhile, has a clear competitive path in front of her with the qualifying match. The result of that bout will not settle the Monroe issue on its own, but it could affect the momentum surrounding the rivalry. A victory would give Giulia a meaningful answer to Monroe’s attempts to paint her as overwhelmed. A loss would give Monroe another opening to boast that Giulia cannot handle the pressure she brings.
Because the two have not yet come to blows in an actual match, WWE still has considerable space to develop the story. Monroe’s latest comments could be a step toward a direct challenge, a confrontation that finally becomes physical, or another attempt to distract Giulia as she focuses on qualification. The only certainty is that Monroe does not intend to quietly wait for Giulia to dictate the pace.
Monroe Is Demanding Credit Before the Bell Rings
Monroe’s central claim is bold: Giulia is a weekly headline because of her. It is a statement designed to provoke Giulia and place Monroe at the center of every discussion about the feud. Whether fans agree is beside the point from Monroe’s perspective. The declaration itself ensures that attention remains fixed on the clash she wants.
Her message also reflects the calculated nature of an emerging WWE rivalry. Monroe is looking to establish her identity on SmackDown by attaching herself to a major opponent and refusing to act as though she is the newcomer in the equation. Instead, she has reversed the usual hierarchy, speaking as if Giulia is the one who should be grateful for the opportunity to share Monroe’s spotlight.
Giulia now has an obvious response available: keep advancing, handle the qualifying-match pressure, and ultimately meet Monroe in the ring. Until that first bell rings, Monroe will continue to argue that the story belongs to her.
For now, the rivalry remains unresolved, but it is no longer subtle. Monroe has publicly claimed ownership of Giulia’s recent spotlight, questioned her ability to withstand the moment, and promised to make their eventual physical collision painful. Those are strong words from a wrestler who has yet to face Giulia in competition, and they put even more focus on when WWE will finally allow the two rivals to settle the matter.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.