Former WWE Women’s Champion, Victoria, has storied how Bayley and Ruby Riott calmed her nerves before her appearance at the 2021 Royal Rumble.
Prior to being one of the surprise entrants on January 31, Victoria suffered a great deal of anxiety having not competed for the company since 2009. Though the real-life Lisa Marie Varon had only retired from the industry in 2019 after defeating Melina Perez at a Masters of Ring Entertainment event, the Royal Rumble was the biggest stage she’d competed on since departing TNA in 2013.
Speaking to GAW TV Podcast following her participation in the Royal Rumble, Victoria detailed how she only received the call two weeks prior and worried whether the roster would welcome her back. However, two of her biggest fans in Bayley and Ruby Riott made her feel more than welcome:
“I thought I was gonna come in there and bump and feed for everybody else, and let everybody else shine on me because that’s what I’m used to. When I found out, we had a rehearsal, just to find out what number we’re coming in and stuff like that and… I don’t know, it was crazy, and when they were like, Victoria is coming back, she’s gonna clean house, everybody’s been waiting for her to be coming back, I couldn’t even talk. I started crying. The response from the other workers, the girls, I didn’t think I was going to be, I thought they were going to go, oh, who the hell is this coming back? I don’t know, I had no clue.
Bayley, I remember coming to two autograph signings. I was with Maven and then I was with Edge on one. You hear a girl going, I’m going to be a wrestler just like you, but you hear that all the time. [Usually] They don’t put the work in, they don’t know you have to move to this place and give up your family and all that sacrifice you do. Bayley was like, her and Ruby [Riott] kept on coming up [and asking] do you want to go over anything, do you have it? They were just so helpful at making me feel calm.”
Following the 2021 Royal Rumble Match, former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley posted a then-and-now picture of her with Victoria and Edge at a fan signing when she was younger and backstage at Tropicana Field.
I’m the REAL (rumble) winner. Winner of my damn dreams and aspirations and goals and decisions and work and LIFE. #rolemodelpic.twitter.com/v4LAYI4RJB
— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) February 5, 2021
The Royal Rumble was Victoria’s first match back in WWE since competing in the Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal at WrestleMania 25. Unsuccessful in her final appearance, Victoria watched as Santina Marella triumphed.
Credit for the interview: GAW TV Podcast
h/t for the transcription: Fightful