Kacy Catanzaro returns in NXT battle royal

Following months of uncertainty about her status with WWE, Kacy Catanzaro returned on this week’s NXT.

Catanzaro was a surprise entrant in Wednesday’s battle royal for an NXT Women’s title shot at TakeOver: Portland. She was eliminated by a dropkick from Io Shirai.

Bianca Belair won the number one contender’s battle royal and will challenge either Rhea Ripley or Toni Storm for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland.

After it was reported that Catanzaro was finished with WWE, Ricochet spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso about her status in September:

Barrasso: There was a report earlier in the week that Kacy Catanzaro handed in her notice to WWE. You and Kacy are best friends and dating. Can you share an update on whether Kacy is still with WWE?

Ricochet: She’s still with the company. She’s not retired at all and she’s not injured. It’s a tough sport and we’re all hurting, but there is nothing wrong with her.

Barrasso: Will she wrestle again?

Ricochet: I don’t know. She’s very family-oriented and she wants kids, so she doesn’t know if being on the road so much is for her. For me, I’m already too deep — I’m on the road all the time. She loves wrestling and she loves it here, and she’s so good at it, so it’s a very tough decision for her.

Dave Meltzer wrote about Catanzaro last month: “Kacy Catanzaro remains under contract. Nothing much else has been said. She’s not around and the speculation was she may come back in 2020.”

Catanzaro, who was a star on American Ninja Warrior, reported to the WWE Performance Center in January 2018. She made it to the second round of the Mae Young Classic that year and also was an entrant in the 2019 women’s Royal Rumble match. Her most recent match before tonight was at an NXT house show in July.