Let me start with Natalya, an absolute legend in her own right. She’s been wrestling longer than me and has helped shape so many careers, including mine. My first dark matches, some of my first NXT matches—Natalya was right there with me. I still remember being in the ring with her, and she would whisper things like “You’re doing great” or “Amazing job,” honestly, that meant the world to me. Those little moments of encouragement? They stick with you. When I step in the ring with less-experienced talent, I try to pass that same energy along. It’s all about building confidence because, trust me, we’ve all been there.
Naomi was another veteran I had the privilege of facing early on. She hadn’t been wrestling much longer than me, but her ring presence and kindness were everything. Naomi’s the type of person who makes you feel safe in the ring, always guiding and encouraging. She’s a total class act, and just like Natalya, she taught me so much about psychology and pacing in the ring. We should all aspire to be Natalya and Naomi – human beings who love what they do but do their part to lift others along with themselves. They are blessings to the craft.
