Looking Into WWE NXT Superstar Lash Legend

With the first Evolution PLE taking place seven years ago, it seemed like that event had many legends from the past, while this year had many upcoming stars from NXT. The event focused more on the future talent that will soon carry the WWE Women’s Division. 

Lash Legend had made her name known in the Evolution PLE to those who may not watch NXT, as she had competed in the Women’s Battle Royal. Legend was one of the last two women standing in the ring; however, it was Stephanie Vaquer who ultimately won the battle royal and earned a future championship match.

Despite losing the battle royal, Legend proved herself in this match, and many who may not have known her name before know her now.

But who is NXT’s Lash Legend?

Anriel Howard

WWE doesn’t only hire experienced wrestlers, but also athletes from various sports. Before the WWE, Lash Legend wasn’t a wrestler, but she was known to an audience. Basketball fans knew her as Anriel Howard (her birth name).

Howard was a basketball player, playing for Texas A&M and Mississippi State before getting drafted in 2019 to the WNBA Team, Seattle Storm. She even holds the rebound record at Texas A&M with over 1,000 career rebounds. 

While it may be hard to tell on television, Howard stands at six feet tall. Using her height to her advantage, she advanced in basketball and now professional wrestling. Having this prior athletic ability going into the company made her transition to wrestling easier.

NXT

Over the past few years, Lash Legend has been on the rise in NXT. We have come to see her athletic ability get put to use in the ring, and she has shown to be very impressive. Legend debuted in a backstage segment in NXT in September 2021. The following week, her talk show would debut, Lashing Out with Lash Legend.

This type of start for Legend gave the audience an idea of her character and created anticipation for her in-ring debut, which didn’t take place until December 10, 2021, on an episode of 205 Live, defeating Amari Miller. 

Legend joined what grew to be a prominent group in NXT, boosting her character along with others. In 2023, she aligned herself with Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, and Jakara Jackson; the Meta Four. The group followed Dar as he was fighting for the North American Heritage Cup. They all elevated one another during this time and developed their characters. 

Meta Four recently disbanded in April of this year. Compared to other factions’ disbanding, this one was much more peaceful and agreed upon. Who knows what the future may hold for the group? However, it was made clear that they all have other opportunities to pursue. 

Since the disbandment of the Meta Four, Lash Legend has been succeeding in NXT as a singles competitor and as a tag competitor with Jakara Jackson.

Even though she hasn’t won any championships yet, she has been involved in championship matches for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship and the NXT Women’s Championship. She has even participated in the Women’s Royal Rumble match this past year and the second Evolution PLE.

WWE Evolution to Now

Lash Legend made her appearance on the main roster during her time in the Battle Royal at Evolution. Legend was the second-to-last woman eliminated, coming so close to winning. Her strength was showcased as she battled Nia Jax with Stephanie Vacquer. Legend and Vacquer eliminated Jax, leaving the two to fight it out in the ring. 

The crowd was on their feet to see this NXT star face a former NXT star. It was a nail-biting battle in which Vacquer came out on top, but this doesn’t take anything away from the performance that Lash Legend put on that night. 

This past week, on the July 29th edition of NXT, Nia Jax made an appearance, costing Legend her match against Fallon Henley. This could be retaliation for the elimination that she faced at Evolution. Whatever it is, it is clearly the start of what will be an intense feud between the two.