5 things you didn't know about Franky Monet (Taya Valkyrie)

#3. WWE shattered Monet's life 10 years ago

WWE signed Monet a decade ago then released her a year later

The current run is not the first for Franky Monet in WWE. The 37-year-old NXT Superstar had previously joined the company nearly a decade ago. Monet signed a developmental contract with WWE in October 2011.

⭐️ I’ve worked my whole life for this. La WWEra LOCA is NXT!!!! @WWENXT @TripleH @The_Prince_P pic.twitter.com/i1b1d5ppDQ

— Taya Valkyrie (@TheTayaValkyrie) April 14, 2021

Monet told that story in detail to Wrestling Travel:

“That was the first time that WWE contacted me for a trial, I hadn’t trained at that point, so I went there, and they said, 'we love your look'. I went to Calgary to have a meeting with Lance Storm, the wrestling coach, so I started the three-month training, but he thought I could do really well as I came in and tried a few things and it went well."

"I’d been in a wrestling ring before but hadn’t met Lance and didn’t know the ropes and psychology of wrestling, but Lance goes through everything intricately, he is an excellent teacher and he makes sure that everyone is safe, and I would recommend him. After a year of wrestling for Lance, it was amazing when they (WWE) first offered me the actual contract after they did my background check and medical records."

Monet's first stint with WWE ended quickly when the company decided to release her a year later. She said the decision shattered her life:

"After a year, they phoned me up and told me that I wasn’t needed anymore, and I was devastated. My whole life was completely shattered because of what was happening so I was determined to go somewhere and to make something of myself and also, my pride was bruised so I was in contact with Konnan, through Teddy Hart and I had met them during my time on the circuit and they said ‘why don’t you come down to Mexico and train for a couple of weeks?’ and I was fully determined to go and make it work."