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Busted Open Podcast.
fdfdfdfddfdfdfdfdfkjfhaelhfakwjefhskjfasdhfdfdfmvvsdmdmdmdfdff; January 28th, 2023.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
 Sonya Deville talks to Dave Lagreca and Sam Roberts on SiriusXM Busted Open about being immediately put into a story with Charlotte Flair, what she learned as GM, adapting as a performer, and more, on Notsam Wrestling.
Dave Legreca: So, we just saw an amazing Raw 30 where they brought back legends and there was a 3 hour show.. it was a good time. What was that like for you to get to be apart of that?
Sonya Deville: It was incredible. I mean, I love being in the company of legends and legends to be and I felt like I belonged there. So, I had to show up and make a little appearance to let Charlotte Flair know that I was on her coattails and ready to take that title from her.
Sam Roberts: Yeah, it's been kind of amazing to watch you over the past few weeks because Charlotte shocks the world by returning and kind of throwing everything on its head and becoming the Women's Champion once again; immediately. And you just stepped right up. Like just to say.. 'we're not waiting.. this is the time'. Was this an opportunity that you were just waiting for? Did you resent that Charlotte came in and decided to take the title for herself right away? What motivated that?
Sonya: Well, I've had my eye on the title for a long time now. Um, but I think it's been a process and an evolution to get to where I am now. I was GM for a while and I acquired a lot of knowledge during that time. I did a lot of homework on certain Superstars, so to speak, and the second that the title went on Charlotte, I knew that I wanted to go toe-to-toe with her. She's got something that I've always found admirable in some senses but, I also think that there's also a bit of smoke and mirror with her and I think that if there's anyone that's able to poke holes through her exterior; it's Sonya Deville.
Dave: Well, that's interesting because.. I've said this on Busted Open many times, I think Charlotte Flair is the best, she's the greatest, and I really do feel that way. If you look at what she's able to do in the ring.. BUT everybody has somebody that when they go head-to-head with someone, they have that certain advantage and you feel like you have that advantage over Charlotte?
Sonya: I do, and that's what I was just saying before.. is that I do think Charlotte is the best to ever do it. 100%. That's why when she got the title, it meant so much to me because now, not only am I going after the championship, but I'm going after something that's a bit more personal. Charlotte Flair is THE person to beat. She's the pinnacle in the women's division right now. So, my admiration, mixed with my distain, is why I think I'm the perfect person to throw her off her toes.
Sam: Right. And not only do you want to be the champion, but you want to beat the champion that Dave over here says is the best. Who he's implying is better than you, which is kind of rude.
Dave: No, I don't think it's rude. You have to take it in consideration the amount of reigns and who's champion right now. Like you have to. Though, I will say this, you talked about the GM role that you had and I think you did a great job. We saw a different side of you when you were GM but I did want to see you back in the ring. Did you feel that way? Was there something missing in that GM role when you weren't able to compete?
Sonya: Yeah, I took a lot of pride in the GM role because I think it's really cool that I was able to be in that position. I think that Stephanie, Paige, and myself, were lucky enough to fill that role and I take a lot of pride in myself because we got to see a whole other side of Sonya that we didn't know existed. At the end of the day, I'm a fighter. I started here as a fighter and I'm going to end here as a fighter. So that urge and itch inside of me never went away. All of those months that I sat there doing that, being in the segments with the other women, being in the title picture as a woman and not as a competitor was really hard to do. The segment I was in with Charlotte and Becky when I was holding the titles for them in the middle of the ring.. I was thinking.. 'I should be in the title picture.' So, I think it was just a year long journey in a full circle to get back to where I belong.
Sam: And I'm glad you brought that up, I was thinking about that era as well. Do you think that people forgot that you were that level of a competitor? Because I think you gained a lot of fans who loved your performance as a GM. That you got to go out there and be entertaining, but, people may have forgotten you were a competitor. That you're a beast. That you came into this world from MMA and this is what you do. Do you think people forgot to consider that part of you?
Sonya: I think it's like... it's such a double-edged sword because when I was a badass MMA fighter I don't think people thought I had the ability to speak on the mic the way that I have in the most recent years. So, I think I gained their respect in that facet. But, then they forget about the MMA, which is.. you can only get one or the other.. and I feel like I'm finally getting into the groove where it doesn't have to be one or the other and I can do it all. I am well rounded, I can sit there and make my opponents feel terrible about themselves and want to cry to their moms. I love it.
Dave: But, I think a lot of people sometimes, myself included, forget about your MMA background because you're so good at what you're doing right now. Because you shine so much, people probably forget your past. And that's a compliment more than anything else. Because it looked like the transition was almost seamless.
Sonya: Thank you. Um, but you know what? A really important thing to me; when Ronda and Shayna got signed was 'okay.. now there's a lot of us that come from a fighting background' I was one of the first ones to come from MMA and into the WWE, and then it was like okay, it's not the cool thing anymore because there's a bunch of us and those girls are really badass. So, I really took a lot of pride in trying to differentiate myself and provide a lot of depth so I wasn't JUST the fighter. I didn't want to be just one thing. Not one dimensional. And, god forbid, if that didn't work out.. or there's too many of us, then I'd be left out of a spot. So when I started developing the Sonya character with Superstars in the past vs the Sonya that you see now.. I enjoyed doing that because it showed that there's was more places that I could go with it.
Sam: When did it really click in for you? Because you're like one of the rare cases that if fans want to, they can go onto Peac*ck or Youtube and literally follow your whole career. They get to see you in Tough Enough as someone who didn't really know quite what to make of anything. It was your first time experiencing this whole world as opposed to now where you're the most comfortable Superstar that I've seen in the ring, in front of an arena or stadium full of people. When do you think that moment kind of clicked in where you were like 'yeah, I'm prepared to call myself the best at this'?
Sonya: I think the greatest I've ever been is within these last couple of months. I've really been falling back into my groove. Every single storyline I've been part of has been part of my character development that I've gotten to use. Right now is my time. Right now is where I think Sonya Deville thrives and feels comfortable. I feel comfortable every time I go out there, truly. It's not an act. I've been here for 7 1/2 years and I've gotten to try so many things and be put in storylines with so many people. Working with Dolph Ziggler 2 years ago was so cool and learning from him and just being thrown in with so many different characters. Taking that GM role, for sure, leveled up my confidence on the mic because I was getting these like 5-6 segments back to back a week. It was like getting reps that I needed and now I'm getting the reps back in the ring that I really needed since I was out of the ring for 2 years. So, I think right now is my time.
Dave: Sonya, for you, people dislike the character that they see on Smackdown every Friday night but yet if you read social media; they love you as a person. How do you work that balance between what they see on TV and who you really are?
Sonya: I'm not doing my job unless they hate me. Like I LOVE being hated. I really do. It's my passion.
Sam: it goes back to making people cry to their mothers.
Dave: So it doesn't bother you that people like you so much off their screen?
Sonya: No, because I feel like the fans know. They know when Sonya comes out, they're booing the crap out of me and it's undeniable. It's like.. what I say and do on the mic? You can't like me in that moment. But then if you flip over to my Instagram and you find what I posted relatable, then great. You can follow my journey, but I think they understand that Sonya is a character and she's super hateable.
Dave: See, now after talking to you and knowing how much those Jersey roots come out, it's impossible for me to go against you. See, Sam? I'm very conflicted.
Sonya: Ahh, come onnnnnnnnn.
Sam: Dave,.. literally in this interview you said someone else was the best, but go ahead.
Sonya: He did, he did.
Dave: Hey, I get it. You're very busy. It's the Royal Rumble. Enjoy the moments and thank you for your time.
Sam: And nice watch, by the way.
Sonya: Thank you. Can you believe we're twinning? We have the same watch. Anyways, thanks guys, you're awesome.
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