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Chantel Monroe makes NXT debut, while Derrian Gobourne and Auburn gymnastics get shoutout from WWE announcer

Chantel Monroe picked up the win in her NXT debut. WWE commentator Vic Joseph shouted out her championship tenure with Auburn gymnastics during her victory over Lizzy Rain.
ByAndrew Hughes
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Apr 13, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Auburn University gymnast Derrian Gobourne performs on floor routine during the NCAA Women's National Gymnastics Tournament Semifinal at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Auburn University gymnast Derrian Gobourne performs on floor routine during the NCAA Women's National Gymnastics Tournament Semifinal at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Chantel Monroe, formerly known as Auburn gymnastics floor routine superstar Derrian Gobourne, made her successful NXT debut on Tuesday night.

Monroe picked up the win over Lizzy Rain, using the ropes for leverage to establish herself as one of the young, hot-shot heels on WWE's developmental brand.

During the win, WWE announcer Vic Joseph shouted out Gobourne as the first national champion for AU. Gobourne won the vault with a 9.95 score in 2019 and was runner-up on the floor and the bars in 2022.

Thus far, Monroe has established a show-woman character obsessed with her looks. The win over Rain is a big one for her future direction on the show, after she previously interacted with some of the big names on the NXT roster in backstage segments, flaunting her beauty.

WWE legend Shawn Michaels, Senior Vice President of Talent Development of Creative and the head of the NXT brand, clearly sees big things in Monroe.

How did Derrian Gobourne end up in the WWE?

Gobourne is part of WWE's NIL program, having been signed in 2022. She first got to the WWE Performance Center in June 2023.

Gobourne had previously mentioned how much NIL changed her life during her time at Auburn.

"That has been one of the biggest blessings, honestly, in my life, just because I’ve already built a brand when I first stepped on this campus. I wasn’t making anything off of it. It was just something that was me. It was Queen. And so, being able to profit, expand the platform, and expand my brand from the name, image, and likeness has been one of the biggest blessings," Gobourne told AL.com in 2023.

Now, she is in a position to thrive in a competitive NXT women's division, which most agree is miles ahead of the men's.

After Isaac Odugbesan, now known to the WWE Universe as "The Ruler," Oba Femi, blazed the trail from the SEC to the WWE as a former Alabama Crimson Tide shot putter, Gobourne can do the same from the orange and blue side.

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