New WWE champion breaks silence following major win
There is a certain level of shock and awe among the WWE Universe looking at a new champion. This is not because the talent itself is not deserving of it, but perhaps on account of how infrequently she has been used of late.
WWE has finally crowned its first Speed Women's Champion, and Triple H & Co. has given the nod to Candice LeRae.
Speaking on WWE Digital Exclusive, LeRae was filled with joy at becoming the company's inaugural Speed Women's Champion. Indi Hartwell was there by her side as always. The 39-year-old boasted about the fact that she defeated former Women's Champion Iyo Sky in the final to win the belt:
"I'm the first Speed Women's Champion. [First ever] Maybe only ever. This is my first singles title. And, the first time I beat Iyo. Nobody is going to ever beat me. They're going to retire the title with me. They're going to retire with me, because nobody is going to beat me. You know who can't believe it? All of you on X, who had your mean little things to say about me. Yeah, you're wrong," Candice LeRae said.
Earlier this year, Candice LeRae had turned heel and was involved in a rather disappointing storyline with Maxxine Dupri, which evoked the ire of fans. LeRae directed her insults at Maxxine by bringing up the latter's late brother. The entire angle was dropped soon, and she was drafted to SmackDown in April 2024.
Candice LeRae's husband, Johnny Gargano, discloses her dream WWE match
Candice LeRae was on maternity leave in 2022, and her contract expired in May of that year. However, before the year ended, she returned to WWE alongside her husband, Johnny Gargano.
In an interview with TV Insider earlier this year, #DIY were joking around about dream matches. Tommaso Ciampa claimed that Candice LeRae's dream match would be facing him in a retirement match. Johnny Gargano disputed this and revealed that the former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion wishes to step into the ring with him, in a Mixed Tag Team match. And their opponents — WWE CCO Triple H and Stephanie McMahon:
"Candice’s dream match, retirement match, Candice LeRae vs. Tommaso Ciampa at WrestleMania. Maybe WrestleMania 42 or 43," Ciampa claimed. "It’s not. Her dream match is actually me and her versus Triple H and Stephanie McMahon," Gargano said in response.
This scenario is perhaps not plausible now because The Game has retired from in-ring competition after he suffered a cardiac arrest in September 2021. He symbolically left his boots in the middle of the ring at WrestleMania the following year.