Charlotte Flair is chasing her 15th world title at SummerSlam: Night Two, facing Tiffany Stratton, Chelsea Green, Jade Cargill, and one more qualifier in a Ladder Match.
During a recent interview with ESPN’s SportsCenter, Flair noted that this win would prove that consistency and perseverance definitely pay off, no matter your age or industry. She said,
“Oh, man. I’ve spent my entire career chasing titles, and I feel like titles chase me now. And to hold number 15 — what has made the last two years so special to me is that I haven’t been in the title picture, and I haven’t wrestled for a world title since WrestleMania 41. So to hold [number] 15 — I think that as much as it means to me, I hope it means something to men and women everywhere watching that no matter your age, no matter what you’ve been through, consistency, perseverance, and just showing up for yourself will get you to where you want to be.”
“And for me, it’s breaking records and making history, and I love what I do. And it’s — when I wake up every morning and having that passion, it just hasn’t gone away. And I hope that’s — for anyone in any industry, that’s what number 15 I think means. It’s bigger than just me. I think it means that anything is possible, especially for me in a male-dominated industry.”
“I’ve had this incredible career, and to think that I’m going into my eighth SummerSlam wrestling for my 15th title as a woman in a male-dominated industry on ESPN? I would have never imagined that when I debuted in 2015. So, I hope those other four women in this ladder match — Tiffany Stratton, Chelsea Green, Jade Cardill, I don’t know who’s going to win the qualifier on Friday. But they better know that I’m not playing around.”
Meanwhile, Flair and Alexa Bliss revisited their Survivor Series 2017 clash on Hot Ones Versus, calling it their favorite match together.
You can check out some highlights from the conversation below:
Bliss: “That was our first time really like working with each other since NXT.”
Flair: “At that time, she was the bad guy and I was the good guy. And with the size difference, what we do is hard to make it believable. And with the storytelling and her character work and the viciousness, it just worked.
Flair: “Plus, we like each other, so that helps, too.”
Bliss: “You have better matches with people that you like.”
Flair: “You hit your friends harder.”
Bliss: Yeah. And then you after the fact, you’re like bloody and they’re like, ‘You good?’ I’m like, ‘I’m so good. Thank you. Thank you. That was so good. We should do that again.’”
Flair: “([laughing] ‘I can’t feel my leg.’”
Flair: “It’s like taking your first bump. It’s like, ‘Oh, and then they just get easier.’”
Bliss: “For those of you who don’t know, a bump is when you take a [backdrop and hit the mat].”
Flair: [Realizes the double meaning of ‘bump’] “Oh! I mean wrestling bump. My mind didn’t even go there.”
Bliss: “And it shouldn’t! But mine only did because in the ring, if you’re not part of the business, you don’t know [wrestling terms].”
Flair: “It’s why it’s hard to be friends with civilians.”
