Naomi on Developing Her Character and Upcoming Women’s Rumble

TV Insider held a recent interview with Naomi discussing a variety of wrestling related topics including the evolution of her character in the WWE and her thoughts on the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match.

On the topic of developing a character, Naomi felt her early struggles on the main roster were due to not being able to find an identity or personal connection with her gimmicks and storylines at the time.

“I think that is why I struggled in the beginning, because I feel like I was put in storylines that weren’t me.

“I did the heel stuff. When I first came to NXT, I was wearing the neon stuff. Then I got away from it and ended up being a Funkadactyl dancer, which was awesome. Then I ended up being with Tamina and Team B.A.D. Then I was with the Usos for a little while. I just felt like I needed an opportunity to be on my own. I knew that once I got that moment the ‘Glow’ was what I wanted to do. That’s who I was. I really believe in the ‘Glow’ and live my life that way. It’s about being positive inside and out, and being the best version of yourself possible. I really wanted to incorporate that into wrestling. That was my way of doing it.”

On the topic of developing the “Glow” character after Team B.A.D. split up, Naomi stated Vince was very receptive of the idea for the new character and helped with the process needed to make it successful.

“I went and had one of the many talks with Vince [McMahon]. I went to him with the idea and he was like, ‘Well, we will give it a try.’ It was an at a point where they weren’t doing anything with me. Thanks to Vince and Triple H and Road Dogg, they really helped me get everything off the ground. It was rough trying to get the gear, trying to get the lighting. I just had to stay on them on that, because this is a machine. There is so much going on each day.”

On the topic of her television entrance, Naomi stated a lot of work was done to get her gear to glow correctly for television.

“We couldn’t get it to translate right on TV. It looked cool. It glowed in person, but for some reason on TV, the glow in the dark fabric wouldn’t translate on TV. I literally had to charge it backstage with the bright lights. Let it charge and go out. It was just too much. It wasn’t going to work. Then we ended up doing the UV reactive stuff, which is where we are now. All of my gear has to be certain fabric that glows. Not all neon things glow. That was tricky, too.

“I would find all this stuff off of rave sites and trying everything. I would get to TV and the stuff wouldn’t glow. I got it down now. I have a closet, a whole room of glow stuff that never made it on TV yet or didn’t work. Money I’ve spent on all this stuff.”

On the topic of the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match, Naomi stated everyone in the locker room felt this would eventually happen in the WWE and were ecstatic when the official announcement was made on RAW. She mentioned Kharma, Beth Phoenix, and Melina as some of the former WWE women wrestlers she would love to see participate in this match.

“I knew a women’s Royal Rumble would happen eventually, but nobody was sure. We speculated about it in the locker room, we were all so excited. I was watching Raw, and we were all so ecstatic when it was announced. We all go on the phone texting each other and calling each other. It’s very fulfilling.

“I feel like all the hard work for decades the women have been putting in is why we are here in this moment and getting that opportunity. Just us delivering on the prior opportunities that have been given rewarded us with this first Royal Rumble match. Everyone is so happy and proud about it.

“I’m excited about what women who are coming in there. The surprises. That’s going to be so awesome. I’d like Kharma to come back. I would love to see Beth Phoenix, Melina. I am a huge fan of Melina. Trish Stratus, Lita, Victoria, Molly Holly. The list goes on and one. If we get any of those, I’ll be happy.”