January 27, 2025 • 15 mins
In this exclusive interview, WWE Superstar Bianca Belair opens up about her personal life with Montez Ford, her role as the cover star for WWE 2K24 alongside Rhea Ripley, and her invitation to WNBA star Caitlin Clark for the 2025 Royal Rumble. She also shares her thoughts on WWE's collaboration with Cardi B for SummerSlam 2025 and the introduction of the Women's U.S. and Intercontinental Championship titles. Don't miss this in-depth conversation with one of WWE's brightest stars!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
You'll play for wrestling.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
And exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Bound podcast, stop it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
One time, you guys.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Welcome back in to iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, the Battleground Podcast.
It is Battle from Q ninety five Indies Classic Rocket.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Of course you've heard us talking about it.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Friday Night SmackDown is coming to Indianapolis, the final SmackDown
before the Royal Rumble, January thirty first at Gamebridge Fieldhouse.
Tickets are on sale right now. You can get them
at ticketmaster dot com and coming to us on the
show today, good friend of the show, give it up
for Bianca bel Air back on the show with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Bianca, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm good? How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I'm doing pretty good. I know we talked about the weather.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Beforehand, but we're gonna put the weather beside because right
now we got to talk about all things beyond co
Belle Air and WWE, and let's let's kind of dive
right into this.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
You know, we've talked about this before on the show.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Would Love and WWE your reality TV show with You
and Montes, which is on Hulu.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Go watch it.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
You share your personal life with fans and how it's
impacted your relationship with Montes and your wrestling career. How
is that for you and Montes to pull the curtain
back and let people peek into your life other than
seeing what they see every week on WWE television.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, I mean it was a little different for me.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
You would think that we would be used to it
because we're so used to being in the ring every
single week on live TV, which that's a whole other
animal of itself of being on live TV. You would
think that we would be used to being in front
of the cameras. But for me, it was a little
bit different. Now you have cameras in your home and
just following you around, and now they're you know, they're
in It's like, I'm not in the ring, what's going
(01:54):
on right now? So it was a little a bit
adjustment for me. But we were excited to do it.
We were excited to show the world who we were
inside the ring and outside the ring, and also show
people who aren't necessarily WWE fans what it is like
to be a WWE superstar and what it's like to
be husband and wife and and navigate this together because
it is non stop. It's wild, it's crazy, and we
(02:17):
filmed it actually on the road to WrestleMania, which is
where we are now, which is January, uh, and it
jumps starts with the Royal Rumble and everybody's fighting to
get to WrestleMania. It's the busiest time of the year
and then you get to WrestleMania. So we filmed it
during that time, during the busiest time of the year
we had. We had a great time doing it, and
(02:38):
but you know, it was it was it was an
adjustment to to to have the cameras not just in
the ring, but all of a sudden, like in your
living room and in your bathroom. It's just people all
throughout your house. So but it was it was fun.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, absolutely, And of course you mentioned that it brings
new fans to the product.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I will tell you that my wife.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Only just watches wrestling and tolerates it because me and
my youngest son. But when she started watching your show,
and when she watched Total Divas, that's when she started saying, Okay,
well I see this, let me check out this. And
that's that's obviously a good thing because you look at
what ww's doing now, it's branching outside of the normal
you know, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown at NXT, they're
(03:19):
doing you know, reality shows. Cody Rose were just with
the guys that dude perfect and you know, it's it's
cool to see all things coming together in WW being
a big pop culture moment in icon.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, I mean, it definitely is.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
That was one of our main goals with the show, was,
you know, not just doing this for our WWE universe,
our WW bubble, but doing it for people that aren't
necessarily wrestling fans. And because at the end of the day,
my husband was someone who he grew up watching wrestling,
Like there's pictures of him when he was eight years
old and he has a WWE title on his shoulder.
(03:54):
And I didn't really get into it until I saw
Total Divas. It my interests and my brother used to
watch it, but I didn't really want to start watching
wrestling until I got in it and I was about
twenty seven years old. So I never judge anybody who's like,
I don't watch wrestling, that's not for me, and I'm
just like, all I need you to do is watch
and you'll fall in love with it. So I really,
(04:16):
wrestling is cool, Wrestling is dope, and I love when
we can go outside of our wrestling bubble and showcase
that in different ways, and you know, do the things
that we're doing now, like you said, with reality shows,
and now we have this deal with Netflix, and I'm
thinking that that's going to open more opportunities and show
that we are not just wrestlers, like we're WWE superstars
(04:36):
and we do everything. You have more people doing things
outside of wrestling, and we're all so talented, and you know,
you have people acting, you have people doing reality shows,
you have people doing clothing brands, so you have all
these different collaborations and so it's really quick you said
for us to be going outside of the wrestling bubble
and bringing more eyes this product. And you know, I
(04:59):
feel like that's when I meet people. Sometimes before they
would say you're a wrestler. You don't like a wrestler.
I'm like, what does that mean? Let's change that, because
whatever you think a wrestler is and looks like it
should be, that's not what it is anymore. It's evolved
and it's different. It was never a bad thing, but
it's really cool to see where it's evolving into and
venturing out.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
To Yeah, absolutely for sure, and you know, like you said,
we're on the road to wrestle Mania.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
But I want to jump back to last year.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
You Ria Ripley the WW two K twenty four cover
athletes along with Cody Rhoads. What does something like that mean? Like,
what does that milestone mean to you? And how do
you feel it represents the evolution of women's wrestling.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
It's a huge milestone. I remember seeing Becky Lynch on
the cover and thinking, Wow, she's such an icon, she's
the goat, like everything is changing. So to now fast
forward a couple of years later and it's not just
one woman on the cover, but it's two women on
the cover. I'm on that cover with Rea Ripley. It's
it's amazing. I mean, for one, of course, like it's,
(06:04):
oh yeah, that's me. It's it's an ego boost, right,
but it's really that's not really what it's about. We're
representing this division, representing how far it's come and how
much is evolving. To not just have one woman, but
have two, and to be on there with someone like
Rea Ripley, it's it was it was a surreal moment.
My my husband actually predicted it like a year earlier.
(06:27):
I'm just like, there's no way I'll never be like
on the cover of a two K video game. He's like, listen,
I see it. I see the vision, and it happened.
And it's something that is a huge it's just a
huge accomplishment.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
It's just it's representation.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
It's really just showing you know, how much this division
has evolved and how much the company has evolved.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
And it's really crazy because.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
It's only the beginning, Like we're not going to be
the last woman on that cover.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And I'm just it's an honor. That's all I can
really say.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
It's an honor, and it's just it's a cool thing
to to have on my accomplishments and a part of
my legacy.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Absolutely put that in, put that on the resume. Once
you hang up the boots, when.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It's all said and done.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Of course, Friday Night SmackDown comes to Indianapolis for the
final SmackDown before Royal Rumble January thirty. First game, Bridge
Fieldhouse tickets around sale now, ticketmaster dot com. Now. There
is a lot of buzz around what recently took place
as a Champion of course you and Naomi have targets
on your back. We now have new number one contenders
(07:32):
for those women tag titles. Last legend of kar Jackson.
What are your thoughts about this team and how do
you think you guys will stack up against them.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
I will say last yearkar are amazing. You know.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
They they've come up on They come to SmackDown and
had a few matches. They we had a tag match
with them last year, and they're tough. They're tough, and
they're a great combination with each other. You know, last year,
she like the powerhouse in Jakara is more of the
(08:03):
high flyer. So they're a great tag team. And they
came and they were hanging with us. They were hanging
with the girls on SmackDown. They went to Saudi Arabia
and were a part of the It was us last Jakara, Kyrie,
Eo and Chelsea and Piper, and they hung all the
(08:24):
way to the end. They honestly, anybody could have won
that match. So I'm really excited that they're now the
number one contenders and they're going up against me my
tag team partner, Naomi. But listen, I'm partner with a
veteran Naomi has been the game for ten plus years.
She's a former champion. So us together on the tag
team last Jakara. They don't have to bring it, but
(08:45):
it's gonna it's gonna be a showdown. I'm really really
excited for that match.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, absolutely, I know we all are excited about that match,
and of course we're also excited about Friday Night SmackDown
coming to Gamebridge Feldhouse again.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Ticketmaster dot commy goodbye your ticket.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
And you know, recently, with you know, SmackDown at WWE
being in our backyard and Indy, you invited w NBA
star Kaitlin Clark to participate in the twenty twenty five
Royal Rumble. You know, it made headlines, everybody's talking about it.
What inspired the invitation and how do you see such
(09:20):
crossovers enhancing ww's appeal.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Well, listen, I'm always like WWE, We've seen crossovers from
other athletes from you know, different influencers, and I'm like,
I'm waiting for that female crossover to happen. And Kaitlyn Clark,
she's doing big things the w NBA, they're doing big things.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Women over there. She's a goat over there.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Women are doing big things over in WWE, So why
not invite the goat over to WWE where women are
doing big things over here. So I wanted to invite
Kaitlyn Clark, like, come over to WWE, come join the
ory of rumble.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And that's what's exciting about the Royal.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Rome, where you never know who can show up with
the roy roumb was one of my favorite pos is
thirty women in the ring. Women from the past. It
could be Hall of Famers, women from the President now
they're on the roster, women that are considered the future,
from NXT. It could be people that aren't even in NWW,
Like the possibilities are endless when it comes to very rumbus.
(10:18):
I'm like, Caitlin Clark, come on over. You can bring
Andrew Breese with you too. She you know, she might
throw some bows and she might be the last one standing,
but it's like, bring over. The women are doing big
things in WWE, The women are doing big things in WNBA,
So why not, you know, let both of the worlds collide,
Let both of the worlds meet.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, absolutely for sure.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And of course you see a lot of people gravitating
towards WWE, not only other athletes outside of WWE, but
you have musicians. You've got Bad Bunnie who stepped in
the ring, Logan Paul, who was an influencer stepping in.
You've got Osh Jackson, Ice cubes Kid, who is all
about wrestling. And you know, one cool thing that a
(10:59):
lot of people talked about was WW recently collaborating with
Cardi B for SummerSlam. And how do you feel about
integrating mainstream artists into WW events. I mean, we saw
Travis Scott at the debut RAW on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
What impact do you think that that has on the brand?
Speaker 4 (11:17):
I think it has a huge impact on the brand.
I mean, you're mixing WWE and pop culture and you're
missing mixing it with hip hop. But it's always even
from when I first started, I always wanted to bring,
you know, my culture to the table, and I've always
tryed to be trying to be I've always tried to
be very intentional with that. But I feel like, you know,
WW is so hot right now, hip hop is so
(11:39):
hot right now, and so there's naturally going to be
these collaborations and these crossovers. But having Travis Scott be
a product Netflix, that's going to be even more as
to the product, having you know, Logan Paul, having Bad
Bunny and especially like people like Logan Paul and Bad
Buddy who come in and they are doing amazing things
(11:59):
and doings and WrestleMania's it's really cool. And then being
a Cardi B being a part of the announcement for
Summer Slim and me being able to be a part
of that with her, it's exciting for us. You know,
we're getting to work with people that you know, we're
fans of. And it's crazy because you meet a lot
of people, especially in the hip hop community and influencers
(12:21):
and musicians who they're fans of WWE and they know
who we are, and I'm like, you know us.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
They're like, yo, my kids watch you or I watch you.
So it's a it's a natural collaboration.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
But I feel like some people, you know, they don't
say that they're wrestling fans until they hear that you're
a wrestling fan, and so like it's like, no, wrestling
is cool, Wrestling's dope. Let's all be loud and proud
about this. And I feel like the more that we
have people like Travis Scott and Cardi B, the more
it's going to be like, Yeah, wrestling's cool, Wrestling's dope,
and we're all fans of it.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Absolutely, and again Friday Night smack Down, the final SmackDown
before the Royal Rumble. January thirty, first game Bridge Field
House tickets are on sale takingmaster dot com.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Grab them real quick.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
And before we let you go, I got one more
question for you. You know, the cool thing that we've
seen here with WW is they're giving more opportunities to
women's wrestling on TV.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
I mean their main eventing Raw SmackDown, PL's.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
I mean, we just got the United States Championship for
the women the Intercontinental Championship, which we just saw crown
this past Monday. With the introduction of the US Women's
Championship and the Intercontinental Championship for the women's division. How
do you see this affecting the women's division and do
you want to add those two titles obviously to your resume.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I see it affecting the women's division in such a
positive way. Right now.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Our roster is the best it's ever been, It's the
most stacked it's ever been. And I've always said, you know,
people say, what do women need to do to get
more opportunities. We don't need to do anything, We just
need more opportunities because every time we step step up,
like step in, we step up, when we show well,
we get those opportunities. So adding these two new titles,
it gives so much more room and opportunity for women
(14:05):
to showcase themselves. And that's all we want to do.
We don't want these opportunities just because we're women. We
don't want these spots just because we're women. We want
them because we can sell tickets. We want them because
we can put the numbers, and we want them because
we can put on these five star matches. And this
is what these women are doing. And it's really given
opportunities too for women who may be new to the
scene and they're they're trying to, you know, get them
(14:27):
get themselves out there.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
But I think that it's it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
And yes, like listen, I've been able to accomplish a
lot in a very short amount of time, and I've
been able to hold a lot of titles. And those
two new titles they're they're they're very shiny and pretty
and those women that hold those titles are amazing women.
So anyone that could take those titles for those from
those women that hold those titles right now. That's a
huge accomplishment. But yeah, our roster is just so stacked,
(14:55):
so we're getting more opportunities because we're showing up and
we're showing.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Out absolutely for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And then of course, you know, there's a lot of
speculations of free agents on the horizon that could potentially
show up in WW, So you never know. I mean,
I think a lot of people have been kind of
looking ahead towards the future and maybe a Bionca bell
Air and Jordan Grace.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Matchup could be interesting. We don't know what's.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Gonna happen, how Jade, how Jade is doing with recovery.
Of course, we saw the photo with Charlotte backstage with
your upcoming you know, opponents.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
With Lash and Jakara. So a lot of.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Things happening in twenty twenty five for WW and definitely
you got to make sure you're a part of it again.
January thirty, first the final SmackDown before the row Rumbole
ticketmaster dot com, go grab those tickets. Beyonnica, It's always
great to have you on the show, and we look
forward to seeing a great twenty twenty five for you
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Thank you, super excited for this year
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
You'll play for wrestling.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
And exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Bound podcast, stop it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
One time, you guys.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Welcome back in to iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, the Battleground Podcast.
It is Battle from Q ninety five Indies Classic Rocket.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Of course you've heard us talking about it.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Friday Night SmackDown is coming to Indianapolis, the final SmackDown
before the Royal Rumble, January thirty first at Gamebridge Fieldhouse.
Tickets are on sale right now. You can get them
at ticketmaster dot com and coming to us on the
show today, good friend of the show, give it up
for Bianca bel Air back on the show with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Bianca, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm good? How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I'm doing pretty good. I know we talked about the weather.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Beforehand, but we're gonna put the weather beside because right
now we got to talk about all things beyond co
Belle Air and WWE, and let's let's kind of dive
right into this.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
You know, we've talked about this before on the show.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Would Love and WWE your reality TV show with You
and Montes, which is on Hulu.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Go watch it.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
You share your personal life with fans and how it's
impacted your relationship with Montes and your wrestling career. How
is that for you and Montes to pull the curtain
back and let people peek into your life other than
seeing what they see every week on WWE television.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, I mean it was a little different for me.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
You would think that we would be used to it
because we're so used to being in the ring every
single week on live TV, which that's a whole other
animal of itself of being on live TV. You would
think that we would be used to being in front
of the cameras. But for me, it was a little
bit different. Now you have cameras in your home and
just following you around, and now they're you know, they're
in It's like, I'm not in the ring, what's going
(01:54):
on right now? So it was a little a bit
adjustment for me. But we were excited to do it.
We were excited to show the world who we were
inside the ring and outside the ring, and also show
people who aren't necessarily WWE fans what it is like
to be a WWE superstar and what it's like to
be husband and wife and and navigate this together because
it is non stop. It's wild, it's crazy, and we
(02:17):
filmed it actually on the road to WrestleMania, which is
where we are now, which is January, uh, and it
jumps starts with the Royal Rumble and everybody's fighting to
get to WrestleMania. It's the busiest time of the year
and then you get to WrestleMania. So we filmed it
during that time, during the busiest time of the year
we had. We had a great time doing it, and
(02:38):
but you know, it was it was it was an
adjustment to to to have the cameras not just in
the ring, but all of a sudden, like in your
living room and in your bathroom. It's just people all
throughout your house. So but it was it was fun.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, absolutely, And of course you mentioned that it brings
new fans to the product.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I will tell you that my wife.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Only just watches wrestling and tolerates it because me and
my youngest son. But when she started watching your show,
and when she watched Total Divas, that's when she started saying, Okay,
well I see this, let me check out this. And
that's that's obviously a good thing because you look at
what ww's doing now, it's branching outside of the normal
you know, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown at NXT, they're
(03:19):
doing you know, reality shows. Cody Rose were just with
the guys that dude perfect and you know, it's it's
cool to see all things coming together in WW being
a big pop culture moment in icon.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, I mean, it definitely is.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
That was one of our main goals with the show, was,
you know, not just doing this for our WWE universe,
our WW bubble, but doing it for people that aren't
necessarily wrestling fans. And because at the end of the day,
my husband was someone who he grew up watching wrestling,
Like there's pictures of him when he was eight years
old and he has a WWE title on his shoulder.
(03:54):
And I didn't really get into it until I saw
Total Divas. It my interests and my brother used to
watch it, but I didn't really want to start watching
wrestling until I got in it and I was about
twenty seven years old. So I never judge anybody who's like,
I don't watch wrestling, that's not for me, and I'm
just like, all I need you to do is watch
and you'll fall in love with it. So I really,
(04:16):
wrestling is cool, Wrestling is dope, and I love when
we can go outside of our wrestling bubble and showcase
that in different ways, and you know, do the things
that we're doing now, like you said, with reality shows,
and now we have this deal with Netflix, and I'm
thinking that that's going to open more opportunities and show
that we are not just wrestlers, like we're WWE superstars
(04:36):
and we do everything. You have more people doing things
outside of wrestling, and we're all so talented, and you know,
you have people acting, you have people doing reality shows,
you have people doing clothing brands, so you have all
these different collaborations and so it's really quick you said
for us to be going outside of the wrestling bubble
and bringing more eyes this product. And you know, I
(04:59):
feel like that's when I meet people. Sometimes before they
would say you're a wrestler. You don't like a wrestler.
I'm like, what does that mean? Let's change that, because
whatever you think a wrestler is and looks like it
should be, that's not what it is anymore. It's evolved
and it's different. It was never a bad thing, but
it's really cool to see where it's evolving into and
venturing out.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
To Yeah, absolutely for sure, and you know, like you said,
we're on the road to wrestle Mania.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
But I want to jump back to last year.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
You Ria Ripley the WW two K twenty four cover
athletes along with Cody Rhoads. What does something like that mean? Like,
what does that milestone mean to you? And how do
you feel it represents the evolution of women's wrestling.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
It's a huge milestone. I remember seeing Becky Lynch on
the cover and thinking, Wow, she's such an icon, she's
the goat, like everything is changing. So to now fast
forward a couple of years later and it's not just
one woman on the cover, but it's two women on
the cover. I'm on that cover with Rea Ripley. It's
it's amazing. I mean, for one, of course, like it's,
(06:04):
oh yeah, that's me. It's it's an ego boost, right,
but it's really that's not really what it's about. We're
representing this division, representing how far it's come and how
much is evolving. To not just have one woman, but
have two, and to be on there with someone like
Rea Ripley, it's it was it was a surreal moment.
My my husband actually predicted it like a year earlier.
(06:27):
I'm just like, there's no way I'll never be like
on the cover of a two K video game. He's like, listen,
I see it. I see the vision, and it happened.
And it's something that is a huge it's just a
huge accomplishment.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
It's just it's representation.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
It's really just showing you know, how much this division
has evolved and how much the company has evolved.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
And it's really crazy because.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
It's only the beginning, Like we're not going to be
the last woman on that cover.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And I'm just it's an honor. That's all I can
really say.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
It's an honor, and it's just it's a cool thing
to to have on my accomplishments and a part of
my legacy.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Absolutely put that in, put that on the resume. Once
you hang up the boots, when.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It's all said and done.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Of course, Friday Night SmackDown comes to Indianapolis for the
final SmackDown before Royal Rumble January thirty. First game, Bridge
Fieldhouse tickets around sale now, ticketmaster dot com. Now. There
is a lot of buzz around what recently took place
as a Champion of course you and Naomi have targets
on your back. We now have new number one contenders
(07:32):
for those women tag titles. Last legend of kar Jackson.
What are your thoughts about this team and how do
you think you guys will stack up against them.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
I will say last yearkar are amazing. You know.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
They they've come up on They come to SmackDown and
had a few matches. They we had a tag match
with them last year, and they're tough. They're tough, and
they're a great combination with each other. You know, last year,
she like the powerhouse in Jakara is more of the
(08:03):
high flyer. So they're a great tag team. And they
came and they were hanging with us. They were hanging
with the girls on SmackDown. They went to Saudi Arabia
and were a part of the It was us last Jakara, Kyrie,
Eo and Chelsea and Piper, and they hung all the
(08:24):
way to the end. They honestly, anybody could have won
that match. So I'm really excited that they're now the
number one contenders and they're going up against me my
tag team partner, Naomi. But listen, I'm partner with a
veteran Naomi has been the game for ten plus years.
She's a former champion. So us together on the tag
team last Jakara. They don't have to bring it, but
(08:45):
it's gonna it's gonna be a showdown. I'm really really
excited for that match.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, absolutely, I know we all are excited about that match,
and of course we're also excited about Friday Night SmackDown
coming to Gamebridge Feldhouse again.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Ticketmaster dot commy goodbye your ticket.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
And you know, recently, with you know, SmackDown at WWE
being in our backyard and Indy, you invited w NBA
star Kaitlin Clark to participate in the twenty twenty five
Royal Rumble. You know, it made headlines, everybody's talking about it.
What inspired the invitation and how do you see such
(09:20):
crossovers enhancing ww's appeal.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Well, listen, I'm always like WWE, We've seen crossovers from
other athletes from you know, different influencers, and I'm like,
I'm waiting for that female crossover to happen. And Kaitlyn Clark,
she's doing big things the w NBA, they're doing big things.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Women over there. She's a goat over there.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Women are doing big things over in WWE, So why
not invite the goat over to WWE where women are
doing big things over here. So I wanted to invite
Kaitlyn Clark, like, come over to WWE, come join the
ory of rumble.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And that's what's exciting about the Royal.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Rome, where you never know who can show up with
the roy roumb was one of my favorite pos is
thirty women in the ring. Women from the past. It
could be Hall of Famers, women from the President now
they're on the roster, women that are considered the future,
from NXT. It could be people that aren't even in NWW,
Like the possibilities are endless when it comes to very rumbus.
(10:18):
I'm like, Caitlin Clark, come on over. You can bring
Andrew Breese with you too. She you know, she might
throw some bows and she might be the last one standing,
but it's like, bring over. The women are doing big
things in WWE, The women are doing big things in WNBA,
So why not, you know, let both of the worlds collide,
Let both of the worlds meet.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, absolutely for sure.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And of course you see a lot of people gravitating
towards WWE, not only other athletes outside of WWE, but
you have musicians. You've got Bad Bunnie who stepped in
the ring, Logan Paul, who was an influencer stepping in.
You've got Osh Jackson, Ice cubes Kid, who is all
about wrestling. And you know, one cool thing that a
(10:59):
lot of people talked about was WW recently collaborating with
Cardi B for SummerSlam. And how do you feel about
integrating mainstream artists into WW events. I mean, we saw
Travis Scott at the debut RAW on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
What impact do you think that that has on the brand?
Speaker 4 (11:17):
I think it has a huge impact on the brand.
I mean, you're mixing WWE and pop culture and you're
missing mixing it with hip hop. But it's always even
from when I first started, I always wanted to bring,
you know, my culture to the table, and I've always
tryed to be trying to be I've always tried to
be very intentional with that. But I feel like, you know,
WW is so hot right now, hip hop is so
(11:39):
hot right now, and so there's naturally going to be
these collaborations and these crossovers. But having Travis Scott be
a product Netflix, that's going to be even more as
to the product, having you know, Logan Paul, having Bad
Bunny and especially like people like Logan Paul and Bad
Buddy who come in and they are doing amazing things
(11:59):
and doings and WrestleMania's it's really cool. And then being
a Cardi B being a part of the announcement for
Summer Slim and me being able to be a part
of that with her, it's exciting for us. You know,
we're getting to work with people that you know, we're
fans of. And it's crazy because you meet a lot
of people, especially in the hip hop community and influencers
(12:21):
and musicians who they're fans of WWE and they know
who we are, and I'm like, you know us.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
They're like, yo, my kids watch you or I watch you.
So it's a it's a natural collaboration.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
But I feel like some people, you know, they don't
say that they're wrestling fans until they hear that you're
a wrestling fan, and so like it's like, no, wrestling
is cool, Wrestling's dope. Let's all be loud and proud
about this. And I feel like the more that we
have people like Travis Scott and Cardi B, the more
it's going to be like, Yeah, wrestling's cool, Wrestling's dope,
and we're all fans of it.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Absolutely, and again Friday Night smack Down, the final SmackDown
before the Royal Rumble. January thirty, first game Bridge Field
House tickets are on sale takingmaster dot com.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Grab them real quick.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
And before we let you go, I got one more
question for you. You know, the cool thing that we've
seen here with WW is they're giving more opportunities to
women's wrestling on TV.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
I mean their main eventing Raw SmackDown, PL's.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
I mean, we just got the United States Championship for
the women the Intercontinental Championship, which we just saw crown
this past Monday. With the introduction of the US Women's
Championship and the Intercontinental Championship for the women's division. How
do you see this affecting the women's division and do
you want to add those two titles obviously to your resume.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I see it affecting the women's division in such a
positive way. Right now.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Our roster is the best it's ever been, It's the
most stacked it's ever been. And I've always said, you know,
people say, what do women need to do to get
more opportunities. We don't need to do anything, We just
need more opportunities because every time we step step up,
like step in, we step up, when we show well,
we get those opportunities. So adding these two new titles,
it gives so much more room and opportunity for women
(14:05):
to showcase themselves. And that's all we want to do.
We don't want these opportunities just because we're women. We
don't want these spots just because we're women. We want
them because we can sell tickets. We want them because
we can put the numbers, and we want them because
we can put on these five star matches. And this
is what these women are doing. And it's really given
opportunities too for women who may be new to the
scene and they're they're trying to, you know, get them
(14:27):
get themselves out there.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
But I think that it's it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
And yes, like listen, I've been able to accomplish a
lot in a very short amount of time, and I've
been able to hold a lot of titles. And those
two new titles they're they're they're very shiny and pretty
and those women that hold those titles are amazing women.
So anyone that could take those titles for those from
those women that hold those titles right now. That's a
huge accomplishment. But yeah, our roster is just so stacked,
(14:55):
so we're getting more opportunities because we're showing up and
we're showing.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Out absolutely for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And then of course, you know, there's a lot of
speculations of free agents on the horizon that could potentially
show up in WW, So you never know. I mean,
I think a lot of people have been kind of
looking ahead towards the future and maybe a Bionca bell
Air and Jordan Grace.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Matchup could be interesting. We don't know what's.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Gonna happen, how Jade, how Jade is doing with recovery.
Of course, we saw the photo with Charlotte backstage with
your upcoming you know, opponents.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
With Lash and Jakara. So a lot of.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Things happening in twenty twenty five for WW and definitely
you got to make sure you're a part of it again.
January thirty, first the final SmackDown before the row Rumbole
ticketmaster dot com, go grab those tickets. Beyonnica, It's always
great to have you on the show, and we look
forward to seeing a great twenty twenty five for you
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Thank you, super excited for this year
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