Nyla Rose has made clear that her extended absence from AEW television has been difficult to accept.
The former AEW Women’s World Champion, one of the company’s original signings and a defining presence in its early women’s division, has not appeared on AEW programming since November 2024. Her most recent televised match came on Rampage, where she teamed with Harley Cameron against Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa.
Speaking with Denise Salcedo, Rose addressed the reality of being part of a large promotion with limited television space. She did not hide her desire to be used more regularly, describing the situation as frustrating while also emphasizing that she wants to contribute more to the audience’s experience.
“It is a little hard, it is a little frustrating,” Rose said. “I want more for myself. I want to do more. I want to entertain you guys more in a multitude of ways.”
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That is an understandable sentiment from a performer whose place in AEW history is secure, but whose current role has become far less visible than it once was. Rose was AEW’s second Women’s World Champion and the first woman to defeat Riho for the title. In the years that followed, she became a frequent benchmark for rising stars and newly crowned champions, often presented as a physically imposing test in the division.
For Rose, the challenge is not simply seeing other wrestlers receive television opportunities. It is balancing appreciation for the work happening around her with a natural desire to be involved in it herself.
“We can sit back and enjoy this, but dammit, when is it my turn?” Rose said.
A Foundational AEW Figure Seeking Another Opportunity
Rose has been with AEW from the beginning, arriving as part of the company’s inaugural women’s roster. That status matters. AEW’s women’s division has changed dramatically since the promotion’s launch, with new names, champions and rivalries reshaping the landscape over time. Rose has witnessed those changes from inside the company and has been an important opponent for wrestlers moving into larger roles.
Her resume includes the AEW Women’s World Championship, and she has often been positioned as an opponent capable of adding immediate stakes to a match. A win over Rose has historically carried value because of her veteran standing, size, experience and reputation as “The Native Beast.”
Yet history and credentials do not automatically guarantee a place on a weekly show. AEW has a sizable roster, multiple programs and only a finite amount of match and interview time. The same issue affects performers throughout major wrestling promotions: a company can have more talent than it has available minutes, and creative direction determines who is central to a particular period of programming.
Rose’s comments offer a candid look at the emotional side of that equation. Wrestlers are expected to support colleagues, remain professional and be ready whenever an opportunity arrives. At the same time, they are competing for chances to perform, develop momentum and connect with viewers. Rose framed that tension as a necessary degree of self-interest rather than resentment toward the women currently receiving prominent roles.
She specifically pointed to several notable developments in the division, including Mercedes Moné’s Women’s World Championship success, Moné’s program with Thekla, and Willow Nightingale’s ongoing journey. Rose acknowledged that those stories can be enjoyed by fans and wrestlers alike. Her question is where she fits into the picture.
Active Beyond AEW Television
Although Rose has not wrestled on AEW television since November 2024, she has continued to work outside the company. She has competed on the independent scene for promotions including EVE, Marvelous and Marigold, demonstrating that her absence from AEW programming has not meant an absence from the ring.
Rose is also one-half of the AAAW Tag Team Champions with Nightshade. That championship status reflects the fact that she remains an active competitor with a presence beyond a single promotion’s weekly broadcast schedule.
Independent appearances can provide wrestlers with valuable match time and allow them to reach audiences who may not see them every week on national television. They can also offer different opponents, different styles and the freedom to explore a presentation away from the structure of a major company’s programming plans. Still, Rose’s remarks make it clear that outside work does not erase the frustration of wanting a more consistent role in AEW.
For a performer who helped establish AEW’s women’s division, the desire to return to a meaningful television spot is not merely about appearing on a card. It is about having an avenue to tell stories, build rivalries and remind a broad audience of the qualities that made her a champion in the first place.
The Television Time Reality
Rose’s situation reflects a wider issue across televised wrestling. More programming does not necessarily mean unlimited opportunity. Weekly shows must accommodate championships, ongoing angles, matches, interviews, video packages and major-event promotion. When a roster is deep, some talented wrestlers will inevitably spend stretches away from the main television focus.
Those decisions can change quickly. A wrestler can move from limited visibility into a featured position because of a new rivalry, a championship program or an opening created by broader creative plans. That uncertainty is part of the industry, but it can be especially challenging for established names who know they are capable of delivering when given a platform.
Rose’s comments did not present her as disengaged from AEW or dismissive of the performers currently at the center of the division. Instead, they conveyed ambition. She wants to be part of the moments fans are discussing. She wants to have matches and stories that give viewers more of her personality and in-ring work. That is a direct and reasonable message from someone who has already proven she can occupy a major role.
There is also a difference between being available and being featured. Rose has maintained ring activity elsewhere, which means she is continuing to perform rather than disappearing from wrestling altogether. But AEW television remains the platform where she established much of her career, won its top women’s championship and became familiar to a worldwide audience.
Rose’s Place in the Women’s Division
The current AEW women’s scene contains a number of major stories and personalities, and Rose’s comments show that she is watching those developments closely. Mercedes Moné’s title reign, her issues with Thekla, and the continuing path of Willow Nightingale have all helped drive conversation around the division.
Rose has prior experience in the championship environment that surrounds those stories. She knows what it means to carry a title, defend it and serve as a major obstacle for someone chasing it. She has also been a reliable adversary for wrestlers being elevated into bigger positions, making her a valuable potential addition to nearly any part of the division.
A return to regular AEW television would not require Rose to revisit her past exactly as it was. The division has evolved, and Rose has remained active while away from AEW screens. Her independent and international work gives her continued in-ring experience, while her established AEW history provides a ready-made foundation for a new chapter whenever the company chooses to put her back in the spotlight.
For now, Rose has put words to a feeling that is likely familiar to many wrestlers working within crowded rosters. Supporting the product and appreciating the work of peers does not eliminate the desire for one’s own opportunity. In Rose’s case, that desire comes from a former champion who remains active, remains experienced and remains eager to entertain on a larger stage again.
Her message is ultimately straightforward: she sees the positive things happening in AEW’s women’s division, but she wants to be a meaningful part of them. Whether that opportunity arrives soon will depend on AEW’s creative direction, but Rose has left no doubt that she is ready for more television time.
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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.