Giulia’s latest setback on WWE SmackDown has renewed debate over the former Women’s United States champion’s direction, although Friday’s angle did not include an official match or loss. Blake Monroe was scheduled to make her blue brand TV in-ring debut against Giulia on August 21. Instead, Monroe attacked Giulia during her entrance and delivered the Neutralizer before retreating backstage. The bell never rang, and the advertised match was canceled.
While the segment appeared designed to begin a rivalry between the two women, it also added to concerns among fans who believe Giulia has lost momentum on SmackDown. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray argued that the former STARDOM star’s WWE character requires additional development.
“Her character needs some fine-tuning,” Ray said. “She might need a change.”
Ray suggested giving Giulia a mafia- or Yakuza-inspired presentation drawing from her Japanese and Italian heritage. He also floated a possible return to NXT, where she could rebuild her character before receiving another sustained main-roster push.
WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles previously offered a different perspective on the criticism surrounding Giulia. His comments came earlier in August after she lost to Lash Legend in approximately two minutes on the July 31 episode of SmackDown.
Styles described Giulia as a professional who understands the wrestling business and questioned whether fans needed to defend her. He also noted that an unpopular loss can become the starting point for a longer storyline.
“Before we get pissed off about what’s going on with Giulia, let’s see where it goes,” Styles said.
WWE’s immediate follow-up to the Monroe attack suggests that another storyline is developing. In a post-show interview, Giulia promised retaliation against Monroe, establishing a reason for the canceled match to be revisited.
That does not settle the broader questions about Giulia’s presentation, but it places Friday’s attack within an ongoing program rather than treating it as another competitive defeat.
