Candice LeRae’s journey to reclaim the WWE Women’s Speed Championship is officially underway. On the September 2 episode of NXT, she secured a victory over TNA’s Xia Brookside in a first-round tournament match.
The win came via pinfall at the 2:36 mark, with LeRae hitting a springboard moonsault to put Brookside away inside the three-minute time limit.
This victory moves LeRae forward in the tournament, where the ultimate winner will earn a championship opportunity against the current Speed Champion, Sol Ruca. That title match is scheduled for No Mercy on Saturday, September 27, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
For LeRae, this tournament represents a direct path back to the gold she was the first to hold. She was the inaugural WWE Women’s Speed Champion before losing the title to Ruca during the Speed tapings back on April 11, 2025.
The championship itself has undergone recent changes. Originally defended on the social media platform X, the title was officially moved to the NXT brand on August 24, following the cancellation of the Speed program. It remains open to competitors from all WWE brands and partner promotions, including TNA and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.