The Oakland Press recently interviewed WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss ahead of tonight’s Smackdown Live taping in Oakland.
You can find some excerpts from the article below. The full article is available HERE.
Related: Alexa Bliss Teases New Merch (Photo)
On her decision to pursue becoming a WWE Superstar:
“My family had watched wrestling ever since I was young, but my mom was really surprised when I said I wanted to try out for wrestling,” Bliss says. “Her first instinct was, “No, you’re not, because they have women like (late female professional wrestler) Chyna!’ She is muscular and big and powerful, which is great, but I guess I was definitely not the pick of the family to become a WWE superstar, but I’m really glad I did!”
On her gymnastics and cheerleading background helping her to make the transition to being a WWE performer:
“With what your body goes through with WWE, nothing can actually prepare you for it,” she says. “If anything, gymnastics and cheerleading helps me with my air awareness and body awareness and it helps to know where my body is at all times.”
WWE restricting female performers in the past:
“I remember even when I started with WWE, it was a different ball game. There were all these restrictions and things we couldn’t do, and now, it’s really empowering to know we can do anything that we want and what the guys can do. It gives women the opportunity to show why we’re more than divas and why we’re WWE superstars.”
On winning the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship:
“It was amazing!” she says of the experience. “My parents were there. It was their first WWE event, so that was so cool to be able to have the opportunity to win a title with my family there. It was such an amazing moment, especially in this whole era of women empowering and making history.”
