WWE Raw Women’s champion Bayley recently talked to USA Today’s “For The Win” blog to promote Wrestlemania 33. She talked about a lot of interesting stuff. The full interview is given below, you can check out what she exactly said;
“That was just something the fans really liked. I wasn’t getting many tweets, but my Twitter was blowing up just about hugs. The only thing they were talking about was how they loved when I hugged Alycia or threw A.J. Lee in the corner with a hug. I was like, ‘OK, they like fun stuff like I do.
“I didn’t expect all of this to happen. I didn’t expect the fans to get behind me like they did, especially with NXT, and kind of right off the bat when I started with the hugs.”
YOUR FIRST WRESTLEMANIA IS JUST ABOUT HERE. HOW ARE YOU HANDLING ALL THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT?
It’s very nerve-wracking, but it’s something I’ve been waiting for a really long time. I always put myself when I was at the NXT TakeOvers that one day I’d be at Mania, so I’ve sort of been preparing my mind mentally.
I think the most nerve-wracking thing is that my whole family’s going to be there pretty much. I get really nervous in front of them, and they make me more emotional, so that’s the problem. As long as I don’t cry walking down the ramp, I’ll be OK.
WHAT’S THE REASON THE FANS FEEL SO CONNECTED TO YOU?
I still try to figure that out myself. The way I feel connected to them — and it might feel different than the way they feel connected to me or it might be the same – I still feel like I’m such a fan. Every time I come out I can’t believe that I’m here and I really do remember just the feeling of being at WWE shows. Maybe they can sense that, maybe not.
Every time I give out a shirt or a headband or just give a hug to one of the kids or high-five to one of the dudes wearing my headband, I just remember how cool it was to have my favorite superstars just look at a sign I spent all night making or point in my direction. It would make my whole night. I want to give back. I’m so excited to be there so I can’t imagine how they feel. I get to do this all the time, you know?
OBVIOUSLY, BAYLEY SHIRTS AND HEADBANDS ARE EVERYWHERE. YOU HAVE BIBS AND LUNCHBOXES AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST SAW YOUR FIRST MERCHANDISE?
It’s so weird to see it out there. The first things that came out were those flat bracelets with my name on it. I had those when I was a kid so I thought that was such a cool thing to have. They were different and I hadn’t seen any other Superstars with those.
That I see somebody wearing my shirt — whether it’s a little girl to a big ol’ dude with a beard or with long hair who puts his side ponytail up — it’s a really cool thing to just share the fun. My stuff has bright colors and it always has the word ‘hug’ in it. Whether they’re just trying to be funny and think it’s hilarious, or whether they’re supporting me because they’re huge fans, it’s amazing to have something all ages can wear.
THE NXT TAKEOVER MATCH IN BROOKLYN AGAINST SASHA IS ONE THAT GETS TALKED ABOUT AS A PIVOTAL MOMENT. IT WAS THE WWE.COM NO. 2 MATCH OF THE YEAR IN 2015. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A KEY MOMENT FOR WOMEN’S WRESTLING?
I think so because everybody brings up all the time. That was almost two years ago, so the fact that it still has an impact on people in that way and to bring it up and say that was one of the moments. I don’t even think it has to do with the match itself. I think a lot of it has to do with after the match when Becky and Charlotte came out, and that was their send-off in a way, although Sasha came back for the Ironman match.
That seemed like such a big moment in women’s wrestling. It’s really cool to be a part of. Obviously, it was so special to all of us, the fans really appreciated it for all the reasons we did. When they look back like that, that’s always going to be one of the moments that is special to us and the women’s evolution. There was a lot that built up to that, though. Everybody on the WWE roster with Nattie and the Bellas, Paige, Emma, everybody, all kind of built to that moment.
WHAT’S YOUR GOAL FOR THE NEXT STEPS FOR WOMEN’S WRESTLING?
That’s a good question. I think to start main-eventing pay-per-views regularly. I know Sasha and Charlotte did it at Hell In A Cell, and I think the goal, at least for me, is to start making that normal, not something that’s a huge deal. It shouldn’t be: “Oh my God, the women are main-eventing a pay-per-view.” I just want it to be normal and part of the normal thing for pay-per-views. And then obviously to one day main event Wrestlemania.
THE SIDE PONYTAIL IS A KEY PART OF THE BAYLEY LOOK EVERY NIGHT. WHEN YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE RING DO YOU WEAR YOUR HAIR DOWN?
They don’t make me wear it up. I like to wear it up because I’m a tomboy. It’s hard for me to even think about worrying about curling my hair or making it different every time, so it was my choice to put it up, which I love. But I do like to wear my hair down when I’m not wrestling because I like to wear hats, and it’s hard to wear hats with a big ol’ side ponytail.