The Giulia File
Born in 1993 in Japan, Giulia spent over a decade building one of the most decorated careers in women's professional wrestling outside the United States. Working initially under the ring name Maika before transitioning to her internationally recognised moniker, she rose to become one of the central figures in Stardom — Japan's premier women's wrestling promotion — serving as the leader of the Donna del Mondo faction and a multi-time champion across several championship lineages.
WWE signed Giulia in 2024 following a bidding process that saw her emerge as one of the most coveted international signings in years. Her NXT debut was met with immediate fan enthusiasm from audiences already aware of her Stardom reputation, and she quickly established herself as a submission-based threat unlike anything else on the developmental roster. Her signature submission, the Stealth Viper — a seated armbar with a crossface component — has proven notoriously difficult to escape. She earned her number one contendership through a combination of dominant performances and a ring IQ built over a decade of elite-level competition.
From
Japan
Promotion (Pre-WWE)
Stardom
Faction
Donna del Mondo
Finisher
Stealth Viper
Stardom to NXT: The Journey
Stardom Debut
Giulia burst onto the Japanese women's wrestling scene, quickly distinguishing herself with an aggressive, submission-heavy in-ring style and natural charisma that translated across language barriers.
Donna del Mondo Leader
Founded and led Donna del Mondo — a dominant faction in Stardom — cementing her reputation as a faction leader with genuine authority and star presence. The group's international attention brought Giulia to the radar of global wrestling observers.
Multiple Stardom Titles
Accumulated 15+ championship reigns across various Stardom title divisions — a credential that dwarfs most WWE-trained performers of comparable age. Her work rate and title defenses were consistently rated among the best women's matches in the world.
WWE Signing — 2024
WWE signed Giulia in 2024 in what was widely regarded as a significant talent acquisition. Her signing was announced with genuine excitement, suggesting WWE viewed her as a future main event-level superstar rather than developmental depth.
NXT Debut — Immediate Impact
Giulia's NXT debut generated significant online buzz as international wrestling fans introduced her to a mainstream WWE audience. She adapted to the WWE structure quickly, leveraging a decade of experience to look credible from match one.
Earned #1 Contendership for S&D
A series of convincing NXT victories secured Giulia the right to challenge Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Championship at Stand & Deliver 2026 — the biggest NXT event of the year, broadcast live on the largest WrestleMania weekend audience.
Why Giulia Can Win the NXT Women's Title
The Submission Game
The Stealth Viper is one of the most credible submission holds in NXT. Roxanne Perez has rarely faced a submission specialist of Giulia's calibre — one tap is all it takes. A submission victory on WrestleMania weekend would signal a new era for the NXT Women's division.
International Prestige
Giulia arrives as a proven world-class performer with 10+ years and 15+ title reigns. That pedigree is not common in NXT. WWE may choose to push her decisively at the biggest showcase to validate their international recruiting investment.
Superior Ring IQ
A decade competing at elite level gives Giulia a technical and strategic depth that most NXT performers simply do not have. She can adapt mid-match, counter sequences she has never encountered before, and wrestle a tactically patient match that exposes opponents' limitations.
Element of Surprise
Roxanne Perez is a proven NXT champion with an established scouting record. Giulia's Stardom-trained techniques and unorthodox sequences are less studied by WWE's talent pool — giving her a genuine unpredictability edge in a match Roxanne might underestimate.
Giulia vs Roxanne Perez: Styles Breakdown
Prediction: Giulia Wins — A New Championship Era
Our Prediction
Giulia Captures the NXT Women's Championship
Stand & Deliver is the NXT event that historically produces the most significant title changes of the year — and WWE signed Giulia precisely because they see a future superstar. Stand & Deliver 2026, broadcast in front of a global WrestleMania weekend audience, represents the ideal moment to validate that investment. A Giulia title win on this stage does two things simultaneously: it crowns a new champion with genuine credibility, and it signals that the international expansion of WWE's talent pool is paying dividends at the highest level.
Roxanne Perez is an excellent champion who has had an outstanding second reign, and she could retain. But the story of Giulia — Stardom legend, Donna del Mondo founder, submission specialist from Japan making her case on the biggest NXT platform of the year — is simply too compelling to pass on. Expect a submission victory via the Stealth Viper that leaves the Las Vegas crowd on their feet and sets up a significant program going into the summer.