Q&A with wrestler Charlotte Flair

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/02/2020 (2260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) isn’t close to finalizing the card for WrestleMania 36, it’s clear that Charlotte Flair will be a big part of the show.

The self-proclaimed “Queen” of WWE, and daughter of legendary grappler Ric Flair, secured herself a spot on the biggest wrestling pay-per-view of the year last month when she was the last woman standing in the 2020 Royal Rumble.

Flair is no stranger to being in this position, having taken part in the last four WrestleManias, including the main event of last year’s spectacle at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

But the former Raw, SmackDown and NXT Women’s Champion isn’t content with waiting until April to show the world what she’s made of.

This coming Sunday, she and several other members of the WWE’s Raw roster will drop by the Keystone Centre in Brandon for a non-televised event titled the “Road to WrestleMania.”

As of publication, Flair is scheduled to face off against fellow superstars Asuka and Becky Lynch in a triple-threat match, which is appropriate since the Queen previously squared up against these two during WrestleManias 32, 34 and 35.

In an interview with The Brandon Sun on Feb. 11, Flair talked about her state of mind heading into this local bout and whether current NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley could serve as worthy WrestleMania opponent.

The Brandon Sun: You’re scheduled for a triple-threat match against Becky Lynch and Asuka. How do you approach a match like this when you know these two women so well?

Charlotte Flair: What’s special about live events is the audience gets to interact with the talent more, and being able to face two opponents that I have a lot of history with and being able to take each other to our limits … is awesome. I get really excited since I get to show the audience what I can do and what we can do with a little more freedom compared to when it’s Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown.

SUN: This upcoming live event is titled the “Road to WrestleMania.” So how has the Road to WrestleMania been treating you since you won the Women’s Royal Rumble back in January?

CF: The Road to WrestleMania is known to be the most exciting time in WWE, so I’m still on cloud nine from winning the Rumble.

Just like last year I could taste the win and I didn’t win and then this year it was so bitter-sweet to win and feel that moment.

And every year has been a journey for me going into WrestleMania, going from WrestleMania 32 with … the introduction of the new women’s championship and winning that to the four-way (match) in Orlando right in our backyard into my match with Asuka (at WrestleMania 34) to the main event (in 2019). Every year has been such a growing experience and a challenge and I feel like I always shine the most at WrestleMania.

So going into ‘Mania and having all of these options I feel like, finally, the ball is back in my court and it’s pretty cool.

SUN: Are you leaning toward one specific opponent for WrestleMania?

CF: I think I’m going to leave it up to fate to decide because I have the history with Becky, I have the history with Bayley, but, at the same time, why does Rhea (Ripley) get to come and say “I want to face you.” To me, I go “what makes me want to give her that opportunity?” Because to me it’s not a challenge, it’s an opportunity for her … so I’m taking my time to really decide.*

SUN: At this point in your career you feel like you’ve earned the privilege of keeping your options open?

CF: 100 per cent.

SUN: How do you keep yourself motivated and hungry moving forward now that you’ve been women’s champion 10 times, won the Women’s Rumble and main evented several pay-per-views?

CF: If you knew me on a personal level (you’d know) I am competitive to a fault. And I always want to be the best and I always want to be on top, no matter how much I have been on top (before).

And just like at the Royal Rumble when I said “this is my division” I wake up every day going “this is my division and I’ll do whatever it takes to stay on top.”

That’s just my mindset. I always want to be the best.

SUN: And that’s a 24/7 mentality?

CF: Yes. My dad was the same way.

SUN: For the fans coming to the show on Feb. 23, who are maybe seeing a WWE event live for the first time, what can they expect?

CF: What makes WWE so special is that when you come to a show or watch our program, there is something for everyone, from the grandparents, to the kids, to the uncles, the aunts, the moms and dads, somewhere throughout that show you will find a character who you connect with and who you’ll want to cheer for or you’ll want to boo. And it’s the easiest story: it’s good versus bad and everyone understands that. And that’s what makes them so special.

SUN: Anything else you would like to impart to local wrestling fans in the lead-up to this event?

CF: It’s the Road to WrestleMania and if you haven’t been able to catch a live event you should come out. We have Drew McIntyre, myself, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Kevin Owens … just a bunch of superstars, so you should come out and enjoy.

WWE’s Road to WrestleMania live event in Brandon is set to kick off at Westoba Place at 7 p.m. on Sunday. To purchase tickets for this event visit the Keystone Centre’s official website (tickets.keystonecentre.com) or call the box office at 204-726-3555.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

*Flair would go on to accept Rhea Ripley’s WrestleMania challenge at the NXT Takeover: Portland pay-per-view, which took place this past Sunday.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @KyleDarbyson