Sydney Zmrzel’s journey to WWE gold didn’t start in a wrestling ring. Long before she became Maxxine Dupri on Monday Night Raw, she was dancing under stadium lights for the Los Angeles Rams and the Phoenix Suns.
That mix of athleticism, performance, and stage presence built the foundation for what unfolded recently at Madison Square Garden. Dupri pinned Becky Lynch to win the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
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It happened fast, it happened clean, and it happened because AJ Lee showed up at exactly the right time.
Her former team noticed. The Rams Cheerleaders posted their congratulations on X soon after.
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“A huge congratulations to former Rams cheerleader, Sydney Zmrzel aka Maxxine Dupri on winning the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship!!”
https://twitter.com/LARamsCheer/status/1990638140336607413?s=20
The match itself was a back-and-forth war. Lynch landed a Manhandle Slam and went for the pin, but Dupri got a foot on the rope. Frustrated, Lynch tossed her opponent to the floor and told the ref to count. While Dupri tried to shake off the damage, Lynch started loosening a turnbuckle pad, clearly looking to use the exposed steel later.
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Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Sydney Zmrzel performs during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
That’s when AJ Lee appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Lynch’s attention. The distraction was brief but devastating. Dupri climbed the top rope, launched herself with a flying crossbody, and secured the three count.
It’s the kind of win that changes a lot. Dupri went from underdog to champion in one night, and WWE’s women’s division just got a lot more unpredictable. Sometimes a calculated swing pays off, and Madison Square Garden witnessed exactly that.
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