Osprey and MJF’s incredible 60-minute match got me thinking about Iron Man matches and my Iron Woman match with Charlotte Flair. It went about 42 minutes, and I know we ended up going over time. I also went 53 minutes in the first ever women’s Royal Rumble. How did I feel physically, during and after those matches? Every time I was done, the only thing I wanted to do was to do more. My adrenalin was so high that I never got winded or gassed. But I was always prepared, especially for the first ever Female Royal Rumble. History was on the line, and I wasn’t about to let myself, the girls, or the fans down. I literally did cardio in the gym nonstop.
I knew the match with Charlotte was going to be so special. In addition to the storytelling and wrestling, you need someone with stamina – or at least I do – and Charlotte has it and then some. She is a beast in the gym and so unbelievably dedicated to her workouts. You wanna know just how much so? After our Hell in a Cell match, the very next day, Charlotte not only went to the gym, but she also hit her best personal record doing deadlifts or squats or both. And while she was at the gym, I was in bed the next day, dying. I couldn’t even get out of the bed. But I loved every minute of the match. And when competing in those long matches, you definitely want a competitor that can match your pace. You also want an opponent who is just as good of a competitor, if not better, than you. And Charlotte is all that. Now is she better then me, the #GOAT? Maybe I just answered that – lol – but you decide.
Nyla Rose vs. Mercedes Moné
Nyla gave me one hell of a fight. And no, I’m not saying that in character. I’m saying that as Mercedes Varnado. I’ve been recovering this whole week. My hip hurts so bad from giving her that top-rope bulldog. She is so much bigger than me that I had to pull out all the stops to get her down.
Working with Kamille
I can’t say I know her personally – yet. She’s a former NWA women’s champion. She’s a bodybuilder. She’s strong, and I’m definitely excited to work with her for these and many other reasons. To have a personal female bodyguard in your corner is an honor. Not to mention having someone like her who is so jacked that even guys are scared of her! What’s not to be excited about.
A New AEW Women’s Faction?
Tony Khan continues to activate the CEO in me. Getting me a bodyguard has me thinking about potentially starting a faction here in AEW. Yes, we all know factions in wrestling are cool. But for me it goes even deeper. Having a group of women alongside me helps me as a CEO to grow my board. In all seriousness, having other people help inside the ring gives me more free time to be the CEO outside the ring, serving Tony and the brand in greater ways. It’s one of the reasons he brought me here and one of the reasons I came: to provide more opportunities for women and to take them, and AEW, to even higher global levels. At the end of the day, having a bodyguard and a faction creates more opportunities and jobs for women.
My Role in New Japan Strong
Winning the NJPW Strong title and the organization itself are things I do not take lightly. Holding the belt is by no means a vanity play or a bucket list accomplishment. While I’m proud of the historic win, as champion, I’m here to honor and elevate the title, NJPW, and the talent there, too.
Therefore, I’m very much looking forward to seeing who my next competitors there are. What I love about that title is that it can be defended anywhere and everywhere. Even though I think my first title defense will be in the United States, I’m very much looking forward to defending it in Japan. Yes, I made my New Japan debut in Japan, but it wasn’t to wrestle. Another dream and major goal of mine is to wrestle in the main event in the Tokyo Dome.
