By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Insight With Chris Van Vliet with guest Stephanie Vaquer
Host: Chris Van Vliet
Podcast available via Podcasts.Apple.com
So how does it feel going into your first WrestleMania, and not just your first WrestleMania, but you’re going into this match defending your world title? “Yeah, I remember, one year ago, I was in the WrestleMania arena. I saw all the arena, and I said, one day, I really want to be here. But in that moment, I never thought I could do that so fast. This year, I’m not just there with the title, I’m with my WWE Women’s Championship. So it’s amazing. It’s more than my dream.”
What a special moment when you won this championship. It was at Wrestlepalooza, and your dad is sitting there in the front row, and on top of that, it’s his birthday. Couldn’t be a better birthday present for him? “This is amazing, because that’s a long history. Before Wrestlepalooza, [it was] supposed to be I go to Clash in Paris. I was really, really sick, so they canceled my participation in Clash in Paris. I’m so, so sad. So after, WWE said, Don’t worry, we have iced the story for you. Wrestlepalooza is a big event; it’s the first Wrestlepalooza, so I’m excited. One week before, I get sick again, I feel sick again. So medical says, Okay, I’m sorry, but you can’t go to Wrestlepalooza. I already have the ticket, the flight for my dad, and everything, and like that. That was so hard in that moment, but I talked with Triple H, and I talked with many people in WWE and said, ‘No, I’m ready. I’m not sick. I feel good. I can do that. Please just let me go, I can do that.’ Finally, I was there, and that was amazing, because it’s not just Wrestlepalooza, big event with Iyo Sky, my dad was there, and my dream that Women’s World Champion.”
You’ve had some amazing matches. I want to start off with this one that you’ve had with Iyo Sky. You guys stole the show in Indianapolis at Wrestlepalooza. What was the idea of putting that match together? Because it was just a banger. “I really enjoyed that a lot, because I respect Iyo so much. She’s amazing. She’s really so professional. I really enjoyed that match. It was an amazing match. I always say, I’m not just the Women’s World Champion, I won with Iyo Sky, the best, one of the best in the world. So it’s like, for me, it’s really special. I respect Iyo Sky so much. I remember after that show, many people said, Yeah, you really made that show amazing, because that match was the more important match that day. I remember Randy Orton saying you and Iyo made Wrestlepalooza, because that was the best match.”
Why do you feel like you have so much great chemistry with Iyo Sky? “I don’t know. I think maybe because I trained in Japan. So I know the Japanese style and language. Not perfect, but we can have good communication, and we can understand the style. We have many, many things in the same style. So I think for that reason, we can have really good chemistry in the ring.”
Do you remember getting that call that you were going to the main roster? “I remember because when I was in NXT, I love NXT. I felt at home. I remember many people say, okay, many people are waiting for you on Raw, on the main roster, but at the same time, Shawn Michaels is like, we need you here, and we want you here. At the same time, I want to stay here, but I want to go to main roster. In that moment, I didn’t feel very good, because I’m still learning, and my English was not good. Now it’s better, not perfect, but better. Sometimes I feel like, no, I need more time. But at the same time, no, I talked to myself, and okay, I need to be brave and just do it. So I feel good, because people on Raw and main roster made me feel so good. Made me feel at home, too. Many different challenges and big challenges.”
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