When you go from town to town with Monday Night Raw, it's a different animal, right? You've got to fight for the audience.

Yeah, 100%.

I think that has been the biggest change.

I think NXT definitely prepared me very, very well to come up to the main roster, especially with going up to the main roster a few times while I was still with NXT to have some matches, have some tag matches with Zarya, doing Saturday Night's Main Event.

It definitely helped me get kind of used to showing up to a different crowd.

And even our PLEs and going to Heat Wave and all that stuff, we are in front of different crowds.

essentially week to week we are within this like smaller arena with the same relatively the same people that show up every single week so yeah they are kind of rooting for us from like day one they want to see us evolve and grow whereas when we're on the main roster we're in front of new faces pretty much every single week and you never know how they're going to react.

Is that something that you feel like, you would like to see for your character is become a member of a full-time tag team or a faction just in this sort of growth period in your first year, 18 months on the main roster.

Right

... yeah.

Literally, like the first like day of the tryout, we have a, uh, a promo s- like segment at the end.

Uh, and the tryout I was at was a mix of indie workers and, um, athletes.

So the indie workers went, and they had this whole persona.

They were all, had this like getup and everything and like had a whole story, and it was like really cool.

They had like a punchline at the end.

Mm-hmm

How has this become your passion now?

Honestly, I think if I would've been exposed to WWE, and to wrestling, when I was younger, this would've been my passion.

But I just, I had no idea.

My parents weren't, didn't let me watch it.

My brother didn't watch it.

Um, I had these kids that I babysat that had all the rings, all the action figures.

They were trying to teach me who people were, and they were trying to do moves on each other, and I was just trying to make sure that they didn't kill themselves.

you?Or are you, like, in the gym every day?

Mm-hmm.

Like I was, I was in Vegas for like WWE World and some like meet and greets and some media stuff.

Um, and I was backstage after my world match, and, um, Russo, the head writer of NXT, had texted me like, "Hey," like, "stay back after your match," like, "I wanna talk to you about you and Zaria's match on NXT." And I was like, "Okay." So I was like s- just hanging out, and then him and Shawn Michaels like pulled me into a room, kicked everyone out, and then Shawn sat on one side, uh, I sat on the other side, and then Russo sat like off to the side and just like pulled out his phone.

[laughs] And then he was like talking to me about what, what the plans were and that, um, I was getting called up, and that I was gonna be on Raw.

And I was like, "Oh my God, this is-"

Aw.

Um, so this one is Affirmation and Prayer for Anxiety.

It says, "I am not the body, I am not the mind, I am not its thoughts.

... did you think about that and what it would feel like and what it would look like while you were down there? And is it the same? Is it, is it different? Are there, are there surprises?

Um, so I feel like I would try not to get like, I guess like my hopes up or try and, um, I guess like daydream about it too much because this world, this universe is so, like it changes so frequently.

You know? Things happen, injuries happen.

It's just changes so much that it's hard to really have like a set idea of what it's gonna look like when you get called up, and I kind of made it my goal to just take it day by day, step by step.

And, you know, whenever they think I'm ready, that means that I'm ready, instead of being like anticipating like, "Oh, I wanna be up on the main roster by this time," or, "Oh, I wanna, you know, only be in NXT for this long." Um, I kind of just like took in as much as I could in NXT and then once I got the call, I was like, "Okay, this means that I am ready," and I kind of took that and, and ran with it.

I mean, Jessica Carr did knock you off the top rope.

Yes.

You know, this is, you know, something that Becky typically tends to do.

How does it feel?

Oh my God, it feels absolutely incredible.

These fans tonight were absolutely incredible.

You guys, I could not have done it without you guys cheering me on.

Grazie.

I love you guys.

It was just an absolutely incredible moment to be out there and to be in the ring with someone like Becky Lynch, who is a three-time Intercontinental Champion.

Is there a sense of relief to know not only do you have the championship, but in a huge spot at this PLE against a legend, a, a future Hall of Famer, you delivered?

Seriously though, what does that feel like for you? Just take it in the moment.

It's honestly incredible.

It's crazy to think that I've only been doing this for about four years, and I'm already facing some of the greatest women in this division.

I'm going against Liv Morgan, IYO SKY, which was my dream opponent for, since I, since I started.

You know, now getting in the ring with Becky Lynch, who is a three-time Women's Intercontinental Champion.

It's absolutely incredible to know that I have what it takes to step up to these women, and I have what it takes to prove myself and prove that I, I do belong here.

Disqualification

... to get the victory.

Yeah.

I feel like that would be the disaster.

Or, like, passing out.

Um, I think something that a lot of us do encounter is just, like, wardrobe malfunctions, which is just a, it's just not fun to deal with.

But yeah, if we're going extreme, I would say, like, throwing up would be just the worst.

[laughs]

Gosh, what, what do you do if you have to throw up? Like, what's the plan? Is there a plan?

So there is, like, kind of a plan.

you know,

Some beef.

I would love to end up tagging with her again.

I do think we need some time apart.

But, I mean, I think the moments that her and I had throughout our time in NXT, like, I felt like both of us grew so much.

And all the moments we've had together have been, like, some of my absolute favorite moments in wrestling so far.

And then a shout out to, you know, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Coach Bloom.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm

...

even before I went to, or before I was on NXT, before I was signed to the WWE, uh, I was doing social media full time, and that was kind of my job, was, like, a part of it was just me trying to do, like, these trendy, like, flips and tricks, or just something that, you know, got engagement with, with my athleticism, 'cause that's kind of what I knew best.

I was also doing personal training on the side.

But I was living in Hawaii at the time, so I had a lot of, um, a lot of things that I could play around with, like doing flips and tricks on the beach, and doing cliff dives and whatnot.

Um, and I think that's just kind of always been a, a part of my, like, childhood, always, like, you know, learning how to snowboard, learning how to skateboard.

I just love, like, learning new things and just pushing myself and trying to be the best version of myself, and just kind of, like, keep evolving as much as I can.

Mm

I have to ask, what was it like for you performing in front of, of, of the fans in Italy? What was different than being back in the States?

It was honestly so amazing.

Even, like, the day before I had a...

I had nothing the first day I was there, so I was just walking around, and I had a few fans come up to me and were just, like, asking for photos and were super respectful, and it was just really cool to, to see that people from across the world know who I am and care about what I do.

Um, I even had that experience a little bit in Saudi for the Royal Rumble.

Uh, I, I just love being on tour and being in other places other than the States because I feel like they just bring such a different vibe and a different energy to, to the ring to, and to help us a- along the way, and I think they're, uh, they're just so loud and so supportive and, uh, they definitely made that moment just so much more, more memorable and so much more fun.

Uh, so I'm very thankful that I had this opportunity not only to become the new Women's Intercontinental Champion, but also to be the new Women's Intercontinental Champion in Italy.

I'm curious, when something this big happens to you and so amazing, do you watch the match back afterwards? Have you watched the match back on the plane?

I have to ask, what was it like for you performing in front of, of, of the fans in Italy? What was different than being back in the States?

It was honestly so amazing.

Even, like, the day before I had a, I had nothing the first day I was there, so I was just walking around and I had a few fans come up to me and were just, like, asking for photos and were super respectful, and it was just really cool to, to see that people from across the world know who I am and care about what I do.

Um, I even had that experience a little bit in Saudi for the Royal Rumble.

Uh, I, I just love being on tour and being in other places other than the States because I feel like they just bring such a different vibe and a different energy to, to the ring to, and to help us a- along the way, and I think they're, uh, they were just so loud and so supportive and, uh, they definitely made that moment just so much more, more memorable and so much more fun.

Uh, so I'm very thankful that I had this opportunity not only to become the new Women's Intercontinental Champion, but also to be the new Women's Intercontinental Champion in Italy.

It was, it was just a really cool experience.

I'm curious, when something this big happens to you and so amazing, do you watch the match back afterwards? Have you watched the match back on the plane?

I have to ask, what was it like for you performing in front of, of, of the fans in Italy? What was different than being back in the States?

It was honestly so amazing.

Even, like, the day before I had a, I had nothing the first day I was there, so I was just walking around and I had a few fans come up to me and were just, like, asking for photos and were super respectful, and it was just really cool to, to see that people from across the world know who I am and care about what I do.

Um, I even had that experience a little bit in Saudi for the Royal Rumble.

Uh, I, I just love being on tour and being in other places other than the States because I feel like they just bring such a different vibe and a different energy to, to the ring to, and to help us a- along the way, and I think they're, uh, they're just so loud and so supportive and, uh, they definitely made that moment just so much more, more memorable and so much more fun.

Uh, so I'm very thankful that I had this opportunity not only to become the new Women's Intercontinental Champion, but also to be the new Women's Intercontinental Champion in Italy.

It was, it was just a really cool experience.

I'm curious, when something this big happens to you and so amazing, do you watch the match back afterwards? Have you watched the match back on playing?

Mm-hmm.

You know, petty, like, championship matches.

You know, when, when I have a best friend, I want them to ride that wave as, as long as they can.

Like, when it's my time, it's my time, but for her, it was like, "Okay, you've had this.

Now it's my time." And I don't necessarily believe in that in friendships.

And you know, we had our match at Stand & Deliver, and I beat her, and I proved my point, and I thought we could move on from that.

But then again, she went out and cost me another championship opportunity, and then she comes out today.

... and get the reaction that you got?

[laughs]

I'm just, like, emotional mess, physically a mess, uh, in the best way possible.

You know, I had a moment as soon as the, the bell rang, as soon as I hit my finish on Becky where I just kind of got a little bit emotional.

Was a bit just, like, shocked and just like, "Oh my God," like, "I did it." Like, this is my, like, defining moment.

This is the start of, you know, my, my next chapter in a sense.

Um, and yeah, just the, the overwhelming love and acceptance from the fans tonight was absolutely incredible, especially being so far away from home, like, knowing that these people know who I am, care about me, care about my story, care about what I do.

It's just absolutely incredible.

I mean, Jessica Carr did knock you off the top rope.

[laughs]

I'm just, like, emotional mess, physically a mess, uh, in the best way possible.

You know, I had a moment as soon as the, the bell rang, as soon as I hit my finish on Becky where I just kind of got a little bit emotional.

Was a bit just, like, shocked and just like, "Oh my God," like, "I did it." Like, this is my, like, defining moment.

This is the start of, you know, my, my next chapter in a sense.

Um, and yeah, just the, the overwhelming love and acceptance from the fans tonight was absolutely incredible, especially being so far away from home, like, knowing that these people know who I am, care about me, care about my story, care about what I do.

It's just absolutely incredible.

I mean, Jessika Carr did knock you off the top rope.

NXT sort of helped, you know, circumvent that.

Yeah, definitely.

They've definitely, you know, prepared us very, very well.

And I think in my case specifically, being able to go up to the, to main roster and do Raw and SmackDown and be in the, the Royal Rumble and stuff like that was a really good way for the fans to get to know me and to see me, and I think that has helped, and I think they're starting to do that more.

You know, get the NXT people on these bigger shows on like the main roster to, to get the fans interested and invested so that when we do get there, it's not like starting all over.

We still are in a sense starting all over because, you know, not everyone watches every single show and has seen everything that I've done.

But you know, every time I go out, like even on my debut I got a pop, which I was not expecting.

Uh, tell me about that night with John Cena and, and any conversations you guys might have had as far as, uh, you know, advice that he might have given you.

Who would be your dream opponent or dream match if you could turn any WWE 2K match up into reality?

Right now, with where I am at in NXT, I would say Zaria, because as you know, we've had a really good relationship.

Well, I guess a little wishy-washy of a relationship for the past year, year and a half, or however long it's been, and she turned on me, and I feel like I do have a pretty good idea of how it's gonna go.

I know how she moves.

I know what she does, but she also knows what I do.

Um, you know, I think it's gonna be a very hot start.

You know, we got some beef going on.

Grainger, for the ones who get it done

I gotta get your thoughts on the vibe right now here at WrestleMania.

Honestly, the vibe is absolutely insane.

It is so cool being able to spend time with all of you, seeing you guys represent your favorite superstars.

And I've actually had my own WrestleMania experience.

I was the Cinemoji a few years ago.

But it's not the same as being out there and competing in front of you guys, and I'm gonna do everything in my power to be out there next year.

How did we get here? How did we get to this point?

Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it.

Mm-hmm.

You know, petty, like, championship matches.

You know, when, when I have a best friend, I want them to ride that wave as, as long as they can.

Like, when it's my time, it's my time, but for her it was like, "Okay, you've had this.

Now it's my time." And I don't necessarily believe in that in friendships.

And, you know, we had our match at Stand & Deliver, and I beat her, and I proved my point, and I thought we could move on from that.

But then, again, she went out and cost me another championship opportunity, and then she comes out today, and at this point it's like, it's not just jealousy and resentment, it's like, it's...

... and get the reaction that you got?