Monica Monroe’s rise within the WWE ID program has already included a championship victory, a contract, and a major endorsement from one of WWE’s most respected veterans.
Monroe revealed that AJ Styles personally contacted her to invite her to a WWE tryout held during SummerSlam weekend in Minnesota. The tryout took place months before Monroe defeated Laynie Luck at the beginning of October to become the WWE ID Women’s Champion, a win that also resulted in Monroe receiving a WWE ID contract.
For Monroe, the invitation was not simply another recruiting message or a routine outreach from WWE. It came directly from Styles, whose own reputation as an elite in-ring performer made the call especially meaningful to the rising wrestler.
“It wasn’t just a typical, you know, the WWE Recruit page reached out to me. It was actually AJ Styles that reached out to me,” Monroe said.
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The significance of that moment was not lost on Monroe. Styles has spent decades building one of the most acclaimed resumes in modern professional wrestling, with high-profile runs across multiple major promotions before becoming a centerpiece of WWE’s roster. Monroe said she was overwhelmed when she learned that Styles had taken notice of her work.
“Yeah, so when I got the call, I freaked out, I wanted to cry obviously because he’s an incredible wrestler and just one of the greatest of all time and just one of the best athletes out there.”
Monroe explained that Styles specifically highlighted her athleticism. Coming from someone she views as one of wrestling’s premier athletes, that assessment carried considerable weight.
“One of the things he said that he noticed was that I was really athletic. Coming from him, I’m like, ‘Are you joking me? You’re telling me I’m athletic? That’s crazy.’”
A SummerSlam Weekend Opportunity
WWE’s SummerSlam weekend is traditionally one of the company’s busiest periods, bringing major events and increased industry attention to the host city. For Monroe, it also became the setting for an important professional opportunity.
She said Styles invited her to the Minnesota tryout, though the process ultimately involved more than one person. Monroe noted that Gabe, who runs the WWE ID program, was also part of the path that brought her into the tryout environment.
“Yeah, that’s how I got the call was from AJ and he invited me to the tryout. Of course, it goes into Gabe’s hands — who runs the ID program. It was a combination of those two who got me in.”
That opportunity arrived after years of work rather than as an overnight breakthrough. Monroe credited her time at Reality of Wrestling and the effort she had put into developing over five years. In her view, the tryout invitation represented recognition for work that had already been underway long before the call from Styles.
“I think, of course, five years of hard work was really what got me in, being at Reality Of Wrestling. But, it was finally like acknowledged and seen.”
Reality of Wrestling has been a key part of Monroe’s journey, and she made clear that her previous experience helped create the foundation for the moment. Styles’ outreach may have provided the immediate opening, but Monroe framed it as a milestone earned through steady preparation, training, and performance.
From Tryout Invite to WWE ID Women’s Champion
The timeline makes Monroe’s recent accomplishments particularly notable. Her SummerSlam weekend tryout came months before she defeated Laynie Luck in early October for the WWE ID Women’s Championship. The victory did more than put a title around Monroe’s waist; it also led to her receiving a WWE ID contract.
That sequence gives additional context to Monroe’s reaction to Styles’ call. The invite was an early indicator that her work had drawn attention from influential people within WWE’s orbit. Her championship win and contract followed later, turning what had been an emotional chance to try out into a concrete professional achievement within the WWE ID program.
Monroe’s comments do not suggest that one call alone secured her position. Instead, she described a process involving Styles’ invitation, the oversight of the WWE ID program, and the body of work she had accumulated over several years. The combination eventually led to one of the biggest moments of her career.
That distinction matters in wrestling, where opportunities often depend on both visibility and readiness. Being noticed can create a chance, but performers must still be ready to take advantage of it. Monroe’s account places her SummerSlam tryout and October championship victory on the same continuum: the former gave her an opening, while the latter demonstrated the progress that helped her capitalize on it.
Why Styles’ Praise Resonated
Styles’ role in the story stands out because of the esteem in which Monroe holds him. She described him as an incredible wrestler, one of the greatest of all time, and one of the best athletes in the industry. Those words explain why his observation about her own athletic ability affected her so deeply.
Professional wrestlers often receive feedback from trainers, promoters, peers, and fans throughout their careers. Praise from an established star can still feel different, particularly when it is connected to an actual opportunity. In Monroe’s case, Styles’ recognition did not remain a private compliment; it led directly to an invitation to participate in a WWE tryout.
Her reaction was immediate and emotional. Monroe said she wanted to cry when she got the call, then later described shedding happy tears and sharing the news with the people closest to her.
“So yeah, it was a really cool moment. I cried a little bit of happy tears and then of course I called all my friends about it.”
The response reflects how significant the moment was for a wrestler who had spent five years working toward greater recognition. A personal invitation from Styles during a major WWE event weekend represented validation, but it also marked the beginning of a new stage rather than the end goal.
Momentum for Monroe in WWE ID
Monroe now enters her next chapter as the WWE ID Women’s Champion and a WWE ID contract recipient. Her win over Laynie Luck established her as a titleholder within the program, while her recollection of the SummerSlam tryout provides a clearer picture of how she first reached that point.
There is no shortage of emotion in Monroe’s retelling, but there is also a grounded perspective. She appreciates the role Styles played in opening the door, acknowledges the involvement of the WWE ID program, and credits the years she spent honing her craft at Reality of Wrestling. Rather than separating those elements, Monroe sees them as connected parts of the same breakthrough.
For now, the story is a reminder that a wrestler’s path can change through a single call while still being built on years of unseen work. AJ Styles saw athletic potential in Monica Monroe and invited her to a WWE tryout. Months later, Monroe had added the WWE ID Women’s Championship and a WWE ID contract to her growing list of accomplishments.
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.