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Stephanie Vaquer (@Steph_Vaquer) is a professional wrestler currently signed to WWE. She sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Las Vegas, NV to discuss her incredible first year in WWE, winning the NXT Women’s and Women’s North American Championships to become a double champion, her quick call up to the main roster, Booker T’s reaction to her Devil’s Kiss move, the meaning behind her horns and face paint, her Clash in Paris title match being canceled, facing IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s World Championship, future dream matches, and more!
On her past year in WWE:
“Crazy. Really crazy last year. Many people can say is quick for many things for me. But before WWE, I have 11 years in my career. So for me, it’s a long time working really hard, and for that reason I think of every sacrifice before and now I can see the rewards now, because it’s really crazy here.”
On her 2018 WWE tryout and why she did not feel ready then:
“That was seven years ago. And that moment I really knew I’m starting pro wrestling, I don’t feel good, and no good time in my life, personal life, and I’m not ready and in no good condition. I know I’m not ready in that moment, but when WWE called me for the try-out, I said, Yeah, I need to go and really learn about the WWE try-out, it is my dream. But in that moment, I feel like, okay, I’m brave. So I said, Okay, let’s do it. But I know I’m not ready. But, yeah, the thing happened for one reason, the important thing because there I say, I’m not ready, but I really know one day I go to WWE. So after the try-out, I travel all the planet. Learn more and different companies, different styles. I learn with the best coaches. So for me, after the try-out, I now I feel like, okay, this is over for me after the tryout. I say ok, I know now I know what I need to do, and one day I go to WWE. So seven years after, I’m here.”
On her jobs before WWE:
“Mesera [waitress], fixing shoes. Yeah, many things, because I need money for training and travel. So many weird things.”
On learning English:
“Yes, now I have been here 10 months. So I know my English is not perfect yet. I try, but I think for 10 months it’s good. I try to learn every day.”
Did you know any English before?
“A little bit, because I understand a lot, but I can speak fast, or sometimes I need to take my time for translation. Because, to be honest, for me, it’s hard. But I love it. Let’s do it. I try to be brave and say, Yeah, let’s do it. Because I know my English is not perfect, but if I try every day. I need to learn more.”
On her favourite wrestler growing up:
“Trish [Stratus]. At Evolution, we talk about that and I said, Trish. I grew up and experience a lot because you start this, you’re amazing. And now I know Trish personally, and it’s like, wow, she’s amazing. And yeah, when I was 15, I told my dad one day I will be WWE Champion, and my dad, yes, you’re so sure. And now my dad is my big fan, and he like amazing, yes.”
On meeting Rey Mysterio:
“I think I was 12, and WWE was in Chile for the first time. I talked with my sister, and I said, I really want to go. My sister said we don’t have money, so I talked with my parents and they said, No, we don’t have money. We need to buy the ticket and go to the capital, because small town. So I started to sell hot dogs in my neighborhood. When I take all the money and save the money for that ticket. I cry like for three days. I cry a lot and say, No, I really want to go and see Rey Mysterio. I’m big fan, and I remember three days after WWE say, Okay, we have a new day, but one day before that show. So I buy the ticket and I go and I see Rey Mysterio, but the cheaper ticket. Now I talk with Rey Mysterio, and I say, yeah, when I was 12, and now I can talk with Rey Mysterio. I’m a big fan, he’s amazing. He made me believe you can take your dream and really do it.”
On Rey Mysterio’s influence:
“That’s the reason, because I’ma woman. Many people say you are a woman in a tough sport. Skinny, short, and I was born in a country with no professional wrestling. So everybody says it’s impossible. No, if Rey Mysterio can have a match with Big Show, big guys, and win. Why can’t I do that?”
On a WWE show in Chile:
“I really hope soon. Because I’ve never had a professional match in Chile. So if I go to Chile, my first match, professional match with WWE in my home. I hope soon, I wish.”
On winning the NXT North American Championship:
“It’s a really nice experience. Because when WWE called me, they asked me if I want to go main roster or NXT. And I say, main roster. But after I think a lot I say, okay, maybe I know I need to learn how everything works here. So after I say no, I go to NXT, and many people say, What are you doing? You’re crazy. And I say no, because I’m in no rush. I like to do things step by step, no rush, and I need to learn English. I need to learn the style. I need to learn that WWE style, how they train in the PC, different training. So I started NXT slow, take my time and try to learn every day. But I really enjoy NXT because it’s like family. I really miss the people there and I had the NXT title and the NXT North American Title at the same time, in the best women’s division. So now I’m so happy. I’m so happy. Make history is my first title in WWE, yeah, so it’s the beginning of the big dream.”
Did you think it would happen so quickly?
“No, I think because before WWE always take a long time to take a title. But I know it takes more hard work. But before WWE, every company, I take the more important title before WWE. So when I come to WWE, I say, okay, the beginning, I’m here, but now I will be champion. So the first step is the NXT Championship, and after, yeah, double champ.”
On the meaning behind the horns:
“So you know horoscopes? I’m an Aires, and they didn’t start for that reason. I say, okay, for our show, something different. And people love the horns. So I say, Okay, I keep this forever. And actually, the truth is I hit. Yes, so it’s true, horns hit hard.”
On the story behind the makeup on her face:
“When I start in pro wrestling, my second match, I broke my face here and my nose. Knees in my face, so my nose broke, and my orbital bone. So I take one year and rest. It was a hard time for me, because in that time I live in Mexico, I didn’t have family there. I don’t have money. I couldn’t do work.”
How did you survive?
“I worked in a restaurant, and I talked with a boss and said, Can I sleep in the kitchen? And he said yes. I slept in the kitchen for almost six months, and recovery and waiting for my bone to finally heal and start training again. So really hard time in my life. More hard time in my life, and after my dream is to go to Japan. So I went to Japan. And in Japan, I learned about the Kintsugi. Kintsugi in Japan is when you break a plate and they put it together again with gold and silver. And for Japanese people that that means higher, stronger, it’s more special, because you broke and you make again. So when I learned about the history of Kintsugi. I say, Okay, I make my makeup, and I remember I literally broke my face. And then, yes, it’s something in Japanese culture. I try to add something for Japan, because I learned many things in Japan. I really love Japan.”
On nearly losing her NXT theme song:
“I remember when I went to Raw, they said, change my music. And I said, please. I talked with Shawn Michaels and said, Shawn, please, I love my music. I don’t want to change. And he was like, Okay, let me see what we can do. And, yeah, I think people love the music too.”
On Booker T’s reaction to The Devil’s Kiss:
“I love Booker T. I miss Booker T on Raw. Because he really made people feel my move.”
On pointing to Booker before doing the move in NXT:
“In my last title match in NXT, I saw a Booker and was like, this is for you.”
On future dream matches:
“One-on-one with Asuka. I really want because it’s not been one-on-one. Asuka or Rhea, Mami versus Mamasita.”
On saying wrestling is her first language:
“I think people need to understand it’s hard when you speak all the languages. It’s so hard. And sometimes I know my English is not perfect, so sometimes I say something wrong, and sometimes people can be really mean on social media with that. I don’t care. I speak it anywhere I can, because I need to learn. If I don’t do I can learn. But, yeah, people can see that. People really can see that wrestling is my first language. Because in the ring, don’t care if you speak English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, it’s wrestling. And wrestling, you feel your life. You don’t need to speak the language. It’s wrestling.”
On her match with Naomi being cancelled:
“Yeah, everything changed about that. So I’m sad for the match, I’m so happy for Naomi. But everything I think is better because I have more time for training, focused on the next match with IYO. Amazing. She’s amazing. So versus IYO and ESPN, big show with WWE Wrestlepalooza. So it’s like, amazing. It’s really, really amazing. Sometimes everything changes for one reason as my birthday, my dad’s birthday, and he come for first time, watch my match live. So everything is perfect.”
What is Stephanie Vaquer grateful for?
“Fan support, WWE and the people who could say I could do it.”
Quotes have been edited for clarity.
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