Coming into WWE with a nickname like “The Prodigy”, is bound to bring with it certain expectations. Since signing the contract to join NXT over 16 months ago, Roxanne Perez has certainly lived up to the billing and proven to be worth the company’s investment.
That’s not just my opinion, but also that of Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels.
Cageside Seats took part in Thursday’s NXT: Great American Bash Media Call and had a chance to ask Michaels about his brand’s talented 21 year-old. And while the WWE Hall of Famer says Perez has exceeded her lofty expectations, she’s now learning the necessary tools to take her career to the next level.
“She’s a very young lady and she’s already had fantastic success here in NXT. And look, sometimes that’s tough, right? You have so much success early, how do you follow that?”
And that’s the next part of Perez’s progression as a Superstar that we may start to see take shape this weekend. She takes on Blair Davenport in a Weapons Wild Match Sunday night at the Great American Bash, and Perez has promised to unleash a side of herself that the NXT audience has not yet seen.
Michaels is looking forward to seeing just exactly what this new unshackled Roxanne Perez brings to the table, because figuring out who she is when she’s not in the title hunt, is going to serve her well in the years ahead.
“One of the things she’s learning here is to evolve and expound on who she is and who the character, and who the Superstar, that Roxanne Perez wants to be overall in the future,” Michaels said. “That’s something that all of us learn over time in this business, is to evolve and to have different layers to our character. And I think it’s a great learning tool. On one hand for Roxanne Perez, you know, the individual and the athlete, but also as the WWE Superstar. She might as well learn it here, now, in NXT.”
Cageside Seats also had the pleasure of sitting down with the former NXT Women’s Champion this week, the latest in our “Going Over” interview series. Roxanne Perez is thrilled to be heading back to her home state of Texas for Sunday’s Great American Bash Premium Live Event.
We dove into her match with Blair Davenport, this week’s brawl at a grocery store, and just how far she’s willing to go to shed this “sweet and innocent” perception once and for all. Also, which main roster Superstar would she challenge this Tuesday if she could? Read our entire Q&A below!
Roxanne Perez, Blair Davenport
Disclaimer: The questions themselves have been edited to provide additional information and better fit the written format.
Cageside Seats: So Roxanne, you have a big matchup at Great American Bash this Sunday against Blair Davenport. Ever since she attacked you, much of the build up has centered around the believe that you’re too sweet and innocent, or at least you look too sweet and innocent, for this business. And Blair aims to take you out for your own good. Listening to your promo a couple weeks back,