Posted on 7/20/126 by Colin Vassallo
WWE stars Paige and AJ Lee recently reunited with Nikki and
Brie Garcia on SiriusXM’s The Nikki and Brie Show live from
Fanatics Fest.
During the interview, Paige & AJ get candid about their
emotional comebacks, the Divas Era, finding confidence after
time away and why this chapter feels completely different.
Paige also discussed her impromptu match with Brie during
WrestleMania and revealed her heart wasn’t in AEW.
Paige on her impromptu match with Brie during WrestleMania
(13:48-15:58)
Brie Garcia: Paige, for you, when you got that phone call
saying, “Can you get booted up in five days to be Brie’s tag
partner.”
Nikki Garcia: I mean, that was nuts.
Paige: It was nuts.
Brie Garcia: Yeah. What was that phone call like for you?
Paige: It was crazy because it was Hunter, Triple H, calling
me and we were already in talks about potentially doing
something maybe, but it was very last second where they’re
like, can you come to Mania and take Nikki’s place for a
second? You know, and I’m like, “Uh, sure,” so I ended up
seeing you in Alabama or wherever.
Brie Garcia: I know. We were like two ships passing in the
night in Alabama, which was so random. Which backstory, if
you guys don’t know, Paige literally was getting cleared. We
were checking her to get cleared. She gets the phone call,
and Nikki and I are coming in so Nikki can get surgery on
her ankle. I mean, when you say stars align, it was the
universe wanting something to happen.
Paige: Oh, yeah. It was definitely the timing and everything
was strange in the best way, but yeah, they were like, “All
right,” and it was the Monday before Mania, and then I was
like, “Okay, well, I’m going to be in Vegas anyway, because
I’m going to be doing my podcast and signings and all that
kind of stuff,” so I don’t think it will look too strange if
I’m around, but everyone was kind of guessing. Everyone was
just like, “Oh, Nikki’s hurt. The only person I could
potentially replace that would be Paige, right?” So, people
were starting to guess, and then the day of Mania, I was
supposed to go to a signing, and then the last second, they
pulled the signing and got me to go to Mania, and I was
like, “Well, that gives it away then,” because I had to
cancel the signing, and also, we got so frustrated, you
guys, because it leaked the day before.
Brie Garcia: Yeah. I’m so gonna find that stooge.
Paige: I know. I was like, “We can’t have surprises
anymore?” It was the most frustrating thing ever and we were
just like, “Okay, well, we’ll just make the most of it.
People are kind of guessing that I’m gonna be there anyway,
but the reaction was just bonkers, dude.
Paige says her heart wasn’t in AEW (20:14-21:32)
Paige: I did go to AEW and you guys, I did have a great time
there, but my heart wasn’t in it. I feel like you could see
that in my performance when I was in the ring, and my
character, and it was just like, I’m a WWE girl, man. I love
WWE, so yeah. I went there for a couple of years, and we
went our separate ways, and it ended really, really great. I
have nothing but love when it comes to AEW and Tony and
stuff like that, but yeah. When it comes to WWE, that’s just
where I’ve wanted to be forever. I had been there since I
was 18 years old. I gave my neck for this company. I grew up
here, you guys. I was a kid. I was a baby.
Nikki Garcia: You were such a baby.
Paige: Yeah, and then when it comes to getting the call, I
was so excited, but I didn’t have any preparation time for
the match at all. It was Monday, and then I had stuff like
my managers, he was like, “Oh, we got stuff Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,” and then we have the main here
on Saturday. I didn’t have any time to get in the ring, and
then we did have rehearsals, but it was like, I was just
coming in at the end of the match. I was like, “Well, thank
gosh, I don’t have to do too much,” but then obviously we
end up winning the Tag Team Championship.
The Nikki & Brie Show hosted by Nikki & Brie Garcia is
available anytime on the SiriusXM app. New episodes every
Monday and Thursday.