Xia Brookside says Wren Sinclair’s surprise appearance under the guise of Lady Shani was kept so tightly guarded that none of the wrestlers involved in the NXT battle royal knew who they were sharing the ring with.
The battle royal was held to determine the next challenger for Kelani Jordan’s NXT Women’s Championship. Sinclair, who was suspended from NXT at the time, entered the match while disguised as AAA’s Lady Shani. After winning the contest, she revealed that she had been the woman behind the mask and costume, turning what initially appeared to be an outside entrant into a major development in the championship picture.
Brookside, the former TNA Knockouts World Champion who competed in the match, discussed the angle on Busted Open After Dark. Her comments make clear that the secrecy extended beyond the audience. The performers in the battle royal were not simply acting surprised for the cameras; Brookside said they learned Sinclair’s identity at the same time as everyone else.
“I was surprised, because I had no idea either,” Brookside said. “I had no idea. None of us had any idea for the whole day that that was happening, that that was who that was. None of us.”
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That kind of concealment can be difficult in a wrestling environment, particularly on a television production day where talent, officials, producers, and crew members are moving through the same areas. Brookside explained that the woman presented as Shani was treated as someone with limited English, which naturally kept interactions brief.
“It was very much like, ‘Well, she doesn’t speak English,’ so, ‘Hi.’ That’s it. I was like, ‘OK.’ Found out in the match when everyone else found out, so that was a crazy turn of events. I thought it was great. I thought the reveal was awesome and the fact that none of us knew either just made it even better.”
A Surprise That Reached the Entire Field
The battle royal concept is especially useful for a reveal of this kind because it places a large number of competitors in one match, creating a crowded setting where a disguised entrant can blend into the action. In this case, the story hinged on the assumption that Lady Shani was an invited participant rather than a suspended NXT wrestler attempting to force her way back into title contention.
Brookside’s account adds another layer to the reveal. Rather than having the rest of the field privately informed so they could help guide the moment, the participants were apparently kept in the dark throughout the day. That allowed the eventual unmasking to land as a legitimate surprise in the ring.
Sinclair’s victory immediately complicates the issue of who should receive the next NXT Women’s Championship opportunity. She won the match, but did so while she was suspended and while concealing her identity. Those two elements create an obvious question for NXT management: does the victory stand, or should the result be overturned because Sinclair was not supposed to be competing in the first place?
NXT General Manager Robert Stone is set to address Sinclair’s win on the October 13 episode of NXT. His decision will determine whether Sinclair can move forward as Jordan’s challenger or whether the battle royal result will lead to another path for the division.
The Details That Helped Keep the Secret
Brookside also explained why the participants did not identify a missing wrestler or begin connecting the dots before the match. Sinclair was not present around the production for much of the day, limiting the opportunities for anybody to notice an inconsistency between the announced group and the people physically on hand.
“She wasn’t even there for most of the day and none of us had counted to even notice one was missing.”
That detail speaks to the practical side of executing a surprise. A disguise alone would not necessarily guarantee secrecy if Sinclair had been visible backstage all day or if the other wrestlers had been told to expect a certain number of participants. By keeping her away until it was necessary and presenting the mystery entrant as Lady Shani, NXT was able to protect the central twist.
Brookside did not suggest that anyone in the match had been given advance notice. Instead, she described an environment in which the field accepted the explanation that Shani was not comfortable speaking much English and continued with the day. The limited contact made the deception easier to maintain without requiring an elaborate backstage performance.
For viewers, the story was built around Sinclair exploiting a loophole-like situation: she was barred from NXT competition, yet found a way into a match with championship implications by assuming another wrestler’s identity. For the women who were actually in the contest, however, the moment was also a real-time discovery. Brookside’s reaction indicates that the reveal succeeded on both levels.
What Robert Stone’s Ruling Could Mean
Stone’s upcoming address is now the key follow-up to the battle royal. The central facts are straightforward: Sinclair entered while suspended, competed under the Lady Shani disguise, won the match, and revealed herself afterward. What remains unresolved is how NXT will treat that victory.
If Stone recognizes the result, Sinclair would have secured a direct route to Kelani Jordan and the NXT Women’s Championship despite the suspension that was meant to keep her out of action. That would reward Sinclair’s opportunism, while also putting Jordan in the position of defending against a challenger who created chaos to get there.
If the result is voided, the battle royal could become the starting point for a dispute among the wrestlers who believed they were competing under one set of conditions, only to learn that an ineligible competitor had won. Brookside was among the participants left surprised by the twist, and the rest of the field would have a clear basis to argue that the opportunity should be reconsidered.
There is also the issue of Sinclair’s suspension itself. Stone’s comments on October 13 should clarify whether the suspension remains in effect, whether it has been lifted, or whether the battle royal stunt will bring additional consequences. At this stage, those answers have not been provided.
Brookside Praises the Execution
Brookside’s overall assessment was positive despite being one of the competitors affected by the surprise. She called the reveal “awesome” and emphasized that the lack of advance knowledge made it more effective. That response is notable because the angle depended on the wrestlers maintaining the illusion as much as it depended on the audience accepting it.
In modern wrestling, surprises are increasingly difficult to preserve. Talent often share travel schedules and backstage space, while fans closely follow roster movements and match announcements. NXT’s handling of the Lady Shani appearance avoided an early leak within the battle royal group, at least based on Brookside’s firsthand recollection.
The result has also placed Sinclair squarely back in the center of NXT’s women’s division. Her suspension had seemingly removed her from the immediate title conversation. By emerging from the Lady Shani disguise as the battle royal winner, she created a situation that management can no longer ignore.
Whether that maneuver earns Sinclair a championship match or costs her the victory will be addressed when Robert Stone speaks on NXT on October 13. Until then, Brookside’s comments confirm the most important element of the angle: Wren Sinclair’s identity was a genuine secret to everyone standing across the ring from her.
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.