Here's your fight size update for Friday, August 20, 2021:
- Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Bobby Lashley praised all three members of The New Day when discussing his recent program with Kofi Kingston.
“100%, that meant a great deal to me,” Lashley says. “To share the ring with Kofi in that setting, it was an honor. And I need to say this—The New Day is incredible. Kofi, Xavier Woods, Big E, they are going to have jobs as top guys for life. Me and Big E have barely even touched. He’s not as strong as me, but that’s something that could be special down the road.”
- Speaking with WrestleZone, Melina discussed what her current program with Deonna Purrazzo.
“I do not get offended easily, that doesn’t bother me, and I think because of that, I needed it to be personal. I needed to be able to put in everything I had coming forward because I need more fire. Before, I could go ahead and start fighting because I know it’s in my heart to do the best that I can because I want,” she explained. “It was personal for me before because of my age and sometimes I feel like people don’t respect the things I’ve done in the past because it’s hard work to be the first, to lay down the tracks. I know the people before me, they didn’t have the respect that they deserved, and when I talked to them, I realized that I’m going through the same thing they did, but they deserved more credit than I do.
“In my heart, I know I have to give it my all because of them, as well as myself and my friends and my family, but then oh, Deonna just gives it a little bit more and I’m like, ‘You know what? I needed that. I need you to give me more’ so that I can bring the pain. Before it was just about winning, but now it’s more personal.”
- Bianca Belair a Blog on See Her talking about what her SmackDown Women's Championship reign means to her.
To see my name as a WWE Superstar and SmackDown Women’s Champion on the same list of other ESPY women winners like Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Candace Parker, Simone Biles and others is an honor that I will always cherish. We continue to make Herstory, and people want it and support it, but there’s still work to do.
So, while I’m grateful for the success I’ve had, I continue to seek inspiration wherever I can find it to be the absolute best version of myself. My mama is my biggest role model and the wisest woman I know who instilled in me how to mentally stay in the game. My daddy is one of the most successful men I know who instilled in me the grit and the don’t mess with me attitude. Being blessed with two amazing parents provided me with stability, love, encouragement and confidence. My husband is a constant source of support and love. He taught me how to give myself permission to live for me! Outside of my family, I admire women like Regina King, Viola Davis, Issa Rae, Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Angela Davis. They are all unapologetically who they are and utilize their talents to the fullest potential. Nothing is impossible for them. There are so many inspirations out there – both female and male – that we all should look up to and emulate.
With those incredible role models in mind, I say to young girls who want to be WWE Superstars, or who yearn for any dream: do not be afraid to try. Don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself. WORK. Stay true to yourself. Be unapologetically you. Be unique. The greatest gift you can give someone is yourself. Because there is only ONE YOU! That is your superpower!
- Speaking with The Battleground Podcast, Matt Riddle opened up about why he believes that people dislike him at first but open up as they get to know him.
“I mean, I don't know if we've buried the hatchet. But I think just like other people, just like Mr. Rollins and other people that might have not been a fan of me, and they still might not be a fan of me. That's completely cool, completely fair enough. But I think they also respect my hustle and respect my work ethic and respect my passion for what we do and they know I care a lot and that's why I have you know, that's why I do the things I do and say the things I do and everything else and when I speak to these individuals that I think they get, I think a lot of times, you know people forget, and people take things personally. But we're in a business where we got to sell tickets, right? I like to sell tickets. I like to be valuable. Yeah, you know, so that's what I do. I've ruffled some feathers on the way but I think they're all starting to understand why.”
(If you use any of the above quotes, please make sure to credit Fightful for the transcription by linking back to this article.)
- Pro Wrestling Tees has advertised a new event for September 2 in conjunction with AEW.
- EJ Nduka spoke to the official website of MLW about his 12 eliminations in the recent battle Riot Battle Royal:
“The feedback online was incredible. It was nothing but support,” he said before noting about the live crowd on hand at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. “It was just really in tuned and excited because I gave it my all and like I said, when I go out there I’m not giving a 100%, I’m giving a 150% and I’m glad that the people that came to watch, felt that because that’s what I gave and I’m going to continue to do that. I’m here to get better, I’m here to learn and you know, the sky’s the limit.”
“I’ve been an athlete all my life and one of the things that helped me get this far is being able to self-evaluate, look at myself on the other side of the spectrum,” he said. “Whatever profession you’re in, when you stop learning, you stop growing and I realized that that wasn’t going to be me” EJ wanted to be certain to dismiss any negative connotation to the term, ‘learn.’
“I’m gonna keep learning until the day I die,” he said. “So just because you say you learn doesn’t mean that you’re new, doesn’t mean that you’re a rookie, doesn’t mean you’re green, it means that you’re hungry. You always learn, no matter what.”
“It’s always, always imperative to keep learning and give you’re best cause that’s the two things you can control: your effort and how much you want to learn.”
- Booker T talks to Sammy Guevara
- Speaking with Chris Mueller of Bleacher Report, Malakai Black detailed his inspirations in wrestling:
"Hayabusa was definitely one of [my favorites]," Black said. "I was always infatuated with his move set and his unique look. He had a Japanese luchador look, but he did it differently. He just had a way to make it his own. His moves were very high-flying and martial arts-based and that's a lot of what I do.
"Another one would be Yuji Nagata. I was a big fan of New Japan growing up. I did not grow up watching WWF back in the day because it wasn't accessible to me in the Netherlands. Eurosport got New Japan and that's where I got to know guys like [Jushin] Liger and Nagata."
- Check out the latest vlog from Allie:
- Speaking with Sports Business Radio, Stephanie McMahon spoke about Triple H behind the scenes and how he enjoys being a father.
“He is the most wonderful Father, I am so blessed in so many ways and that's one of them. You know, when they were growing up, he'd play dolls with them, and create characters that were just, you know, awesome. He's quite creative himself. This Bartholomew was one of them. He's the coolest cat ever. He was always cooler than anything, any of the other dolls, and just outrageously funny, full of dad jokes. He loves to go to their sports, he loves to be involved. He's, you know, he's just a hands-on dad who truly loves his kids, you know, and my husband and I were so lucky because both of our parents are still together and we were really raised with the same value system. I think you know, the key to any real successful relationship partnership, you know, business or professional or personal as it is shared values, and I'm really lucky that we have each other.”
(If you use any of the above quotes, please make sure to credit Fightful for the transcription by linking back to this article.)
- Today, WWE stock traded at $48.50 per share.
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- Check out the latest Off Her Chops podcast featuring the former IIconics:
