Lana joined the cast of Total Divas when the new season premeried on E! last night, but, according to a recent interview, she was previously passed over for the show.
During her interview with Channel Guide Magazine, Lana was on the list of potential cast for the second season of Total Divas. At the time, however, she was relatively new to the WWE developmental system and that open spot on the cast went to Summer Rae, instead,
“A month later I debuted with Rusev at Royal Rumble, and it would have been way too soon for me to come out as the Russian American that I am,” she said. “We had a great first year doing a lot of Russian patriotic, Vladimir Putin stuff on Raw. I think seeing my American family on Total Divas might have hurt the gimmick or confused the fans a bit. Then season four again they talked about it. I’ve always wanted to be on the show. I think it’s a great show. I think Total Divas has brought the women more mainstream and so many opportunities. However, I’ve always thought if I’m supposed to be on the show I’ll be on the show. It’s all about timing.
"Season 4 came and it was a big conversation whether they wanted the accent or didn’t want the accent. Did they want Rusev on the show because I was feuding with him onscreen because I was with Dolph Ziggler. The timing was always off. This was the perfect timing. It felt like it was okay for me to come on the show and fully be myself and not have to put on the accent or not.”
Lana noted that fans would "see me for me" on the upcoming season.
This season of Total Divas also will feature the wedding of Lana and Rusev, from earlier this year.
