Valerie Loureda (born July 19, 1998) is an American
professional wrestler and
mixed martial artist currently signed to
WWE, where she performs on the
NXTbrand under the ring name Lola Vice. As a mixed martial artist, she competed in the women's flyweight division of
Bellator MMA.
Early life
Loureda was born in
Miami, Florida on July 19, 1998. She is of Cuban descent.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
Making her MMA debut, Loureda faced Colby Fletcher on February 16, 2019, at
Bellator 216.[3] She won the fight by technical knockout.[4]
Loureda faced Larkyn Dasch on June 14, 2019, at
Bellator 222.[5] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[6]
Loureda next faced Tara Graff on August 7, 2020, at
Bellator 243.[7] She won the fight via technical knockout.[8]
Loureda was scheduled to face Hannah Guy at
Bellator 258 on May 7, 2021, but was moved to
Bellator 259 on May 21.[9] She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[10]
Loureda faced Taylor Turner on November 12, 2021, at
Bellator 271, winning the bout by split decision.[11]
Professional wrestling career
WWE (2022–present)
In March 2022, Loureda attended a three-day-long
WWE tryout during
WrestleMania 38 weekend. By August, she was signed by WWE and reported to the
WWE Performance Center.[12][13] She made her in-ring debut at an
NXT live event on November 12.[14][15] On December 6, Loureda announced that her new ring name would be Lola Vice.[16]
Vice made her on-screen debut on the January 27, 2023, episode of NXT Level Up, losing to Dani Palmer.[17][18] She first teamed up with
Elektra Lopez on the April 14 episode of NXT Level Up, losing to
Katana Chance and
Kayden Carter.[19] On the June 13 episode of NXT, Vice officially allied herself with Lopez, establishing herself as a
heel.[20][21]
On the September 12 episode of NXT, it was announced that Vice would take part in the fourth edition of the
NXT Women's Breakout Tournament, which began on the October 3 episode of NXT.[22][23] She defeated Dani Palmer in the first round and Karmen Petrovic in the semifinals, the latter which was held on Night 1 of
Halloween Havoc on October 24 and advanced to the final on Night 2 of NXT Halloween Havoc on October 31.[24][25] Vice defeated Kelani Jordan in the finals to win the tournament, earning a contract for an
NXT Women's Championship match at any time of her choosing.[26] On the January 16, 2024 edition of NXT, Vice turned
face for the first time in her career and ended her association with Lopez when she eliminated her from a No.1 contenders battle royal and the two then fought to the back. On the January 23 episode of NXT, Vice cemented her face turn when Lopez confronted her during a Supernova Sessions segment and proceeded to attack her, thus setting up a match for the following week, which Vice won.[27] At
Vengeance Day on February 4, Vice cashed in her Breakout Tournament contract during the ongoing NXT Women's Championship match between champion
Lyra Valkyria and
Roxanne Perez, turning the match into a triple threat; however, Vice was unsuccessful as she was pinned by Valkyria.[28]