It was a matter of circumstance when Raquel Rodriguez started to group with Roxanne Perez in WWE. The 2 got here collectively underneath the Judgment Day faction after Rodriguez’s Girls’s Tag Staff Championship accomplice Liv Morgan went down with a shoulder harm. They’ve proved to be a successful duo towards the likes of Bayley and Lyra Valkyria and Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane).
Their reign with the titles might have come to an finish due to Charlotte Aptitude and Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam, however they continue to be very a lot within the combine. Perez scored an enormous victory over Iyo Sky through the August 11 episode of Uncooked. Rodriguez is ready to affix different group members Finn Balor and JD McDonagh in a blended trios match at AAA Lucha Libre’s Triplemania XXXIII in Mexico.
These alternatives to carry out are usually not misplaced on Rodriguez, who has overcome a debilitating uncommon pores and skin situation generally known as Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MACS). The 34-year-old Texan has bravely been open about her struggles. Even sharing in emotional social media posts when she had flare-ups of hives and swelling. She hopes to encourage others, powering by these tough moments. Perez has related intentions of going from diehard fan with huge goals to “The Prodigy” of WWE.
We caught up with the 2 to speak about their partnership and respective journeys.
WWE
Discuss the way you had been capable of construct your bond.
Raquel Rodriguez: Our bond type of began a very long time in the past with each of us being border women from Texas and realizing of one another. It was when [Roxanne] was beginning to practice proper after I was making an attempt to get into the enterprise. We’ve had just a few tag matches on the principle roster, stay occasions, and at all times identified about one another. So, constructing that bond wasn’t too laborious for both of us.
Roxanne Perez: I agree. I’ve this tattoo on my wrist referencing the primary day I had my first ever match on the indies (Independents). She was there. I feel again, “You had been right here.”
How outdated had been you then?
Roxanne: I used to be 14.
Wow.
Roxanne: So, now we have a variety of historical past.
Raquel: We positively do.
Coming to the principle roster, how essential is it to construct this sisterhood with somebody like Raquel, who additionally got here from NXT and has been down the same street?
Roxanne: It’s so essential. I really feel particularly me being new to the principle roster and making an attempt to determine all the pieces out. Not even simply within the ring, however outdoors the ring. It’s very completely different on the principle roster with touring and reserving motels and rental vehicles and all of that. She has been such an enormous assist with all of that, together with having a journey buddy. So, yeah, it’s so essential. I really feel the sisterhood in WWE is without doubt one of the finest components of being a part of this firm.
WWE
Is there something you do to move the time on journey days that we don’t see whenever you’re on the street?
Raquel: We don’t have something actually set in stone but. It’s nonetheless new. We did go to Mexico and Texas the weekend earlier than that. I feel we attempt to implement doing little issues after we can. We went with Santos Escobar and his household to get tacos within the metropolis as a result of that was completely different, and we needed to discover time to do it. It’s actually nearly making these little moments occur with the little time now we have.
Roxanne: We eat a variety of tacos collectively.
Roxanne Perez (WWE)
Roxanne, I really like when WWE has revisited that scene the place you had been a younger fan on Complete Divas. We’ve seen Nikki Bella come round. You’ve labored with Natalya. What has that been like? Would you need to be a part of the present if it had been rebooted?
Roxanne: That might be superior. I wouldn’t be against that. It’s actually cool arising and being impressed by all of them and now working with them. I feel I lastly solidified myself as somebody that’s the prodigy of the ladies’s division and on their degree. So, carry it on.
Raquel, it has been wonderful to see you come again after being so open about your well being struggles. How do you look again in any respect you’ve been by and the way you’ve helped others along with your story?
Raquel: I’m going to be extra open concerning the issues which have affected me in terms of being a part of this enterprise and being with all these lovely girls. Issues like in terms of make-up. For us, I perceive we’re women, and in terms of make-up, [we] say, “We don’t want it. We don’t want it.” On the similar time, it’s our struggle paint. Once we go on the market, it’s one thing that provides the of completion to make you are feeling just like the dominant girl you’re. Not having the ability to put on my full make-up like I often do and constructing my confidence up from having my pores and skin situation and nonetheless having it whereas I used to be nonetheless collaborating in issues like WrestleMania. I really feel like I’m actually getting a maintain of it now.
There has positively been some trial and error, however I feel I’ve understood my physique a little bit bit extra. I hearken to it extra. I like to be open about how the results of stress and sickness can have an effect on our our bodies and the way we as girls ought to actually take note of our our bodies and hearken to ourselves. Take that point to offer ourselves what we’d like as a result of it’s so essential. This world is transferring so quick. There are such a lot of issues taking place and so many issues altering. With that little little bit of time we will take to be a little bit bit egocentric, I feel girls would simply thrive in the event that they took these 10 minutes.
It’s additionally nice to see the corporate has stood behind you thru such a troublesome time.
Raquel: Yeah, it’s wonderful they’ve allowed me to hold titles and symbolize and simply actually assist construct my confidence. That has been actually cool.
Roxanne: I imply, look how lovely she is.
WWE Uncooked, Mondays, 8/7c, Netflix
WWE SmackDown, Fridays, 8.7c, USA Community
AAA Lucha Libre Triplemania XXXIII, August 16, 9/8c, YouTube