Thunder Rosa Praises WWE NXT’s Shawn Spears Segment as Soap Opera Quality

One Big Thing

Former AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa lauded the recent WWE NXT segment featuring Shawn Spears and Tony D’Angelo, comparing it to compelling soap opera storytelling.

Why It Matters

This praise from a prominent AEW star highlights WWE NXT’s evolving storytelling approach and Spears’ successful transition back to WWE programming after his AEW run.

By The Numbers

• Segment length: 45-75 seconds
• Spears’ WWE return: 2024
• Previous WWE tenure as Tye Dillinger: 2013-2019
• AEW tenure: 2019-2023

Key Details

• Rosa specifically praised the acting quality in the segment
• The scene culminated with Spears meeting Niko Vance in a parking lot
• WWE allowed Spears to retain his AEW ring name and “The Chairman” persona
• Segment involved North American Champion Tony D’Angelo

Behind The Scenes

Spears has expressed gratitude toward WWE for allowing him to maintain his AEW identity rather than reverting to his previous Tye Dillinger character. This decision marks a significant shift in WWE’s typical approach to returning talent.

Current Storyline

Since his NXT return, Spears has:
• Feuded with Ridge Holland
• Taken Brooks Jensen under his wing
• Become involved in Jensen’s mental health storyline
• Maintained his chair-based persona, though less violently than in AEW

What do you think about WWE allowing Shawn Spears to keep his AEW character elements? Does this signal a new approach to returning talent? Share your thoughts in the comments below.