Raquel Gonzalez Credits EVOLVE Match Against Shotzi Blackheart With Transforming Her Career

Raquel Gonzalez is currently one of the most dominant women in WWE as NXT Women's Champion, but life in WWE hasn't always been so good for the second-generation wrestler. 

Back in 2019, Gonzalez was competing at NXT house shows and at EVOLVE events with the hope that she would make it to WWE TV. This is where Gonzalez's career would be transformed, though, and she noted to Fightful that a No DQ Match against Shotzi Blackheart at EVOLVE 142 was an epiphany for her.

"At that time, I was still trying to find myself and figure out where I fit in and the picture I play for NXT. Having that No DQ match was my first opportunity to have a match of that stature. (There was) intensity and I feel like it was one of those (matches) that really brought a lot out of me that I had been holding back," said Gonzalez.

"It gave me the opportunity to say, 'Look, I can do this. I'm not just big in size. I'm also strong and fierce and can scare the living crap out of you if I have to.' It was one of those moments where I almost had an epiphany where I knew I needed to go in my career." 

Only a few months after the match, Gonzalez would return to WWE TV and help Dakota Kai defeat Tegan Nox in a Street Fight at NXT TakeOver: Portland. Kai and Gonzalez would go on to form a fearsome duo on the black and gold brand, but their partnership came to an end last night after The Captain Of Team Kick turned on her best friend.