Does Maxxine Dupri Really Deserve The Women’s Intercontinental Championship?

To understand where Dupri now stands, it helps to learn her early career.

Women being hired as managers before becoming wrestlers is nothing new in WWE. Trish Stratus and Lita first established themselves as valets before becoming in-ring legends. More recently, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, and Nikki Cross underwent the same transition in the 2010s.

Dupri initially got her start as Von Wagner’s co-manager alongside Robert Stone. She was then called up on short order, joining LA Knight (rebranded Max Dupri) in the Maximum Male Models (MMM) stable. That stable was not a good fit for Knight, who left to become a proper wrestler, but it served Dupri well, and she soon got a prime opportunity.

In 2023, Dupri started inviting Otis to join MMM. There could not have been a worse mismatch, as Otis’ stocky build clashed with the group’s glamorous presentation. Eventually, the inverse happened: she left to join Otis at Alpha Academy.

From there, Dupri transitioned from manager to actual wrestler. She had multiple matches over the next two years until this very day, culminating in her winning the Intercontinental title.

Is This All Warranted?

Dupri’s win can be considered an exercise in perseverance. Too often are the likes her tend derided as nothing but leeches who use wrestling as a stepping stone to fame in other ventures.

Eva Marie is a good example of that, having gone straight from Total Divas to main-roster television very fast. It earned her scorn from fans who thought she had not “earned her dues”, and she seemingly vindicated them by going to modeling and acting after her two departures.

Dupri, however, has worked hard to dispel those notions. While her in-ring skills are not extraordinary, she possesses a charm that instantly draws attention and affection. This has led fans to grow attached to her wrestling journey, which makes successes like wining a title all the sweeter.

At the same time, however, Dupri has a massive legacy to uphold as champion. Lynch has set benchmarks in all her title reigns as both an in-ring performer and a character. She is a Horsewoman for good reason after all – her ability to deliver high-quality matches and get crowds invested in her stories is a testament to her hard work and creativeness. Thus the question arises: can Dupri meet or even exceed her predecessor’s standards?

Then, of course, there is the manner in which Dupri won the title. As Lynch attempted to cheat, Lee distracted her. For a moment, it took the focus away from the title and diverted it into a feud that did not involve it, diminishing its importance.

End Of My Maxxine Dupri Rant

In an alternate world, WWE would have used Lee submitting Lynch to springboard her into a title shot. It would have marked the apex in her return wrestling after over a decade away – holding a proper championship.

Instead, WWE should be praised for going in a different direction and rewarding Dupri for her dedication to disproving preconceived notions about “pretty faces” in wrestling. Now, it is up to both parties to deliver a satisfying follow-up to one of the biggest wrestling underdog wins of the 2020s.