Posted on 4/15/126 by Colin Vassallo
Stephanie Vaquer sat down with Chris Van Vliet in Las Vegas,
Nevada, to discuss winning the Women’s Championship at
Wrestlepalooza and celebrating with her father afterwards,
her upcoming championship defense against Liv Morgan at
WrestleMania 42, her new finisher and new entrance theme,
how Booker T reacts to The Devil’s Kiss on commentary,
possibly turning heel, how she has improved her English and
more!
So how does it feel going into your first WrestleMania, and
not just your first WrestleMania, but you’re going into this
match defending your world title?
“Yeah, I remember, one year ago, I was in the WrestleMania
arena. I saw all the arena, and I said, one day I really
want to be here. But in that moment, I never think I can do
that so fast. This year, I’m not just there with the title,
I’m with my WWE Women’s Championship. So it’s amazing. It’s
more than my dream.”
What a special moment when you won this championship. It was
at Wrestlepalooza, and your dad is sitting there in the
front row, and on top of that, it’s his birthday. Couldn’t
be a better birthday present for him?
“This is amazing, because that’s a long history. Before
Wrestlepalooza, [it was] supposed to be I go to Clash in
Paris. I was really, really sick, so they cancel my
participation in Clash in Paris. I’m so, so sad. So after,
WWE said, Don’t worry, we have iced the story for you.
Wrestlepalooza is a big event; it’s the first
Wrestlepalooza, so I’m excited. One week before, I get sick
again, I feel sick again. So medical say, Okay, I’m sorry,
but you can’t go to Wrestlepalooza. I already have the
ticket, the flight for my dad and everything and like that.
That was so hard in that moment, but I talked with Triple H,
and I talk with many people in WWE and say, ‘No, I’m ready.
I’m not sick. I feel good. I can do that. Please just let me
go, I can do that.’ Finally, I was there, and that was
amazing, because it’s not just Wrestlepalooza, big event
with IYO SKY, my dad was there and my dream that Women’s
World Champion.”
You’ve had some amazing matches. I want to start off with
this one that you’ve had with IYO SKY. You guys stole the
show in Indianapolis at Wrestlepalooza. What was the idea
putting that match together? Because it was just a banger.
“I really enjoyed that a lot, because I respect IYO so much.
She’s amazing. She’s really so professional. I really
enjoyed that match. It was an amazing match. I always say,
I’m not just the Women’s World Champion, I won with IYO SKY,
the best, one of the best in the world. So it’s like, for
me, it’s really special. I respect IYO SKY so much. I
remember after that show, many people say, Yeah, you really
make that show amazing, because that match was the more
important match that day. I remember Randy Orton saying you
and IYO made Wrestlepalooza, because that was the best
match.”
Why do you feel like you have so much great chemistry with
IYO SKY?
“I don’t know. I think maybe because I trained in Japan. So
I know the Japanese style and language. Not perfect, but we
can have good communication, and we can understand the
style. We have many, many things in the same style. So I
think for that reason, we can have really good chemistry in
the ring.”
Do you remember getting that call that you were going to the
main roster?
“I remember because when I was in NXT, I love NXT. I felt at
home. I remember many people say, okay, many people are
waiting for you on Raw, on main roster, but at the same time
Shawn Michaels is like, we need you here, and we want you
here. At the same time, I want to stay here, but I want to
go to main roster. In that moment, I didn’t feel very good,
because I’m still learning, and my English was not good. Now
it’s better, not perfect, but better. Sometimes I feel like,
no, I need more time. But at the same time no, I talked to
myself and okay, I need to be brave and just do it. So I
feel good, because people on Raw and main roster made me
feel so good. Made me feel at home too. Many different
challenges and big challenges.”