Not only does Raw celebrate it’s 25th anniversary later this month, where the women that paved the way for the current roster are set to appear, but January also marks a landmark moment for the females of WWE with the first ever all-women Royal Rumble match.
The annual WWE event will see thirty of WWE’s past and present compete in an over-the-top-rope battle royal, with the winner earning a title shot at this year’s WrestleMania. Already installed as one of the favourites for the match is Nia Jax, WWE’s wrecking ball with a million dollar smile.
Ahead of what is to set to a memorable month for the 33 year-old cousin of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, we jumped on a call with the Raw superstar to chat about what a huge year it will be for her and the women of WWE.
Nia, thanks for speaking to us. We’re now just weeks away from the first ever women’s Royal Rumble event. How excited are you to be part of this historic moment?
“It’s so cool we get to do this. We get to show everyone how much talent we have, and show young girls that they can do whatever they want to do – even when everyone says you can’t. They are looking up to us and I want them to realize they shouldn’t have boundaries. It shouldn’t be that they can’t do that because that’s what guys do, no, you should be able to do what you want or whatever you put your mind to. I’m really excited for the women’s Royal Rumble.”
Given the size advantage you have over the majority of the field, you’ve rightfully been installed as one of the favourites, even Raw General Manager Kurt Angle is tipping you as a likely winner. Does that put pressure on you?
“That’s awesome that Kurt is realizing my talent and appreciating it. I am the most dominant women in this company, but at the end of the day it won’t be just one woman I have to go through it’s the entire division plus whoever else gets to come. I’m up for the challenge and I believe I’ll be the last one standing at the end of the first ever women’s Royal Rumble.”
One of the highlights of a Rumble match is the likelihood of surprise entrants. We’ve heard a number of rumours on names who could be returning, but who would you like to see in the match?
“There’s so many, but the one I’d like to see and who I’d like to go up against is Beth Phoenix. I would love for her to return because growing up she was the most dominant women in WWE and I would really love for her to show up and be able to get in the ring with her.”
That’s a clash we’d love to see too. There’s also the name of Ronda Rousey being heavily suggested to make an appearance. Is that something you would welcome in WWE?
“Ronda started a women’s revolution outside of WWE, by becoming the first women to main event UFC, which was huge. Her coming over and showing her talent in WWE, maybe showing us how to do a few different things, it would be amazing and I’d be all for it. I’m not sure she’s faced anything like our girls, as they are extremely athletic and I think it would be an awakening for her as well.”
Before the Rumble, there’s also the small matter of Raw’s 25th anniversary show. How much are you looking forward to being part of that landmark show, and what can we expect?
“It’s going to be a crazy entertaining night, I wish I could tell you what I know, but you need to tune in to find out. I’m looking forward to seeing all the old veterans and the Hall of Famers to celebrate Raw 25. Twenty-five years is such a huge marker in history and it be cool to see Lita, Trish Stratus, Beth Phoenix, Alundra Blayze and Bull Makano as women who could show up. You never know who might turn up.”
Have you a favourite moment from Raw’s 25 years?
“It’s got to be Mick Foley and The Rock This is Your Life segment. I guess I’m biased because of who was in it, but that’s easily my favourite.”
Seeing as you’ve mentioned The Rock, you obviously come from a huge wrestling background. What are your earliest memories of being involved with the industry?
“I grew up watching with my brothers and watching my family member The Rock on TV. One of my earliest memories of wrestling was my Dad showing me a picture of Uncle Peter, Dwayne’s Grandfather, and he had a match, which was on the front over of this Hawaiian newspaper. I was growing up in Hawaii at the time and I looked at the picture and just started crying because he had been bleeding and had blood dripping all down his face, as well as holding up the title. So I asked my Dad if he was going to be ok and what had happened and he told me not to worry because he was wrestling. So that was how I was really first introduced to wrestling.”
Did it feel like it was something that you’d always going to go into yourself or was there a moment that it hit you and decided that the WWE path was for you?
“I think I first caught the bug after I went to WrestleMania 28 in Miami. I’d been to a couple of shows before that, but WrestleMania was phenomenal. It’s a whole different level of electricity and I just caught the bug there and then. I needed to be part of this.”
Then five years later you’re competing in your first WrestleMania. Would you say that’s the highlight of your career so far?
“The highlight of my career so far has to be WrestleMania. To be in that match with those incredible women and walking the long ramp down to the ring was amazing. It was insane, because I still felt like I was in my baby stage as I had only just really been called up to Raw. But to hear that many fans from all over the world cheer for me, I almost cried. I had all my friends and my aunts and uncle sitting in the front row too, so when I heard the cheers as well I literally had to bite my lip. 80,000 people cheering you, it was the coolest thing ever.”
Another one of those incredible women on the current roster is Alexa Bliss, who we’ve see across WWE programming is one of your best friends. How nice is it to have that close relationship with someone in this ever-changing business?
“Ever since I met her, it’s been something really natural and we’ve clicked as friends. It shows through on WWE where we together on Raw and through Total Divas, we are genuine best friends and we have so much fun together. She really is the Yin to my Yang, she always calms me down when I get a little be crazy and I pep her up when she needs that little bit of energy. We kind of balance each other out and I’m truly grateful to have a true best friend in this business. She is someone I trust completely and we know each so well we can read each other when we’re on screen together, whether it’s Raw or Total Divas. I have nothing but the best interests for her and she has nothing but the best interests for me and it’s really cool to have that.”
With Alexa the current Raw Women’s Champion, we may have to see that friendship tested on-screen if you were to challenge for that title. Could Team Rude survive such a predicament?
“I think it’s possible that we can still keep Team Rude together. At the end of the day, the championship is where we want to be in this division, and she understands that. I don’t want to be throwing her through the Barbershop Window, but if I have to I will. She’d smack me in the face with a barbwire bat if she could and it meant she could keep hold of her title. We understand that it’s all about the competition and the title, but we still have love for each other no matter what.”
We also saw you attack Asuka this past week on Raw. You had the chance to mix it up with towards the end of your run on NXT, but do you feel now you’re in the right position to be the women that ends her undefeated streak?
“She is undefeated and has the longest winning streak right now, but I’m very excited to lock horns with her. She is a force to be reckoned with, but although we had some matches down in NXT it’s a different ball game up here. I’m ready to take her one and show her what the true dominant woman in this company can do. The streak could end soon and I’ll be the one to do it.”
Away from the competition, we’ve got to see a different side to you recently during your angle with Ezno Amore. How nice has it been to explore a different side of Nia Jax?
“It’s great because nobodies really seen this side of Nia Jax; the vulnerable and mushy side of her, because she has a crush. We’re used to seeing her as the strong force, beating up all the girls but now you’re seeing this other side to her where it’s like oh she does have a vulnerable side to her. She’s smiling, she’s happy and she’s ditching her friend to go and get her man soup. It’s cool because it’s added more layers to the character. I’ve heard fans say that ‘Nia is boring’ and she’s this and that, but there’s a lot more to her and now everyone is getting the chance to see it. I feel like there are so many different sides to Nia and it’s awesome that this side is being well received. I’m having a blast, Enzo’s quite the character, but he’s a sweet guy and I’m really enjoying working with him. I’ve known him since NXT days and we’ve always got along; he’s always been nice and respectable to me and plus he’s hilarious. It’s easy for me to get on with him and enjoy working with him.”
Unfortunately Enzo hasn’t been chosen as your partner for WWE’s newest venture The Mixed Match Challenge. How are you feeling about being paired with Apollo Crews?
“I wasn’t too disappointed about Apollo Crews, it was more I was disappointed because of his whole entourage, Titus Worldwide. I was pitching to have Braun Strowman as my partner, so we could just decimate everybody, but that didn’t happen. I’m happy with Apollo because he’s a great talent, but I’m not happy to be aligned with Titus Worldwide and I am in no way part of it.”
Finally, with the first ever women’s The Royal Rumble the latest step in the WWE women’s revolution. What’s next for you and the women of WWE?
“The women’s evolution is getting better and better and showing the world what women can do. In the world today women are coming into their own and breaking down so many boundaries. Doing the first ever women’s Royal Rumble is breaking another boundary and proving to the world that we can do it all. Women are on their way to main event WrestleMania; I truly believe that will happen. That’s the next step for us.”
