WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair has revealed her mindset heading into Friday’s SmackDown match with Rhea Ripley, their first in preparation for the WrestleMania 39 match.
Flair was recently interviewed by Chris Boyle of The Daytona Beach News-Journal and was asked what goes into the two-month process of building a proper main event match like this, mentioning how Flair has stated that she wants to headline either Night 1 or Night 2 of WrestleMania 39. Flair was also asked if she and Ripley communicate frequently and if they stick to the plan laid out by creative.
“First, let’s start with the main event (aspect),” Flair said. “I always find it so odd when people say, ‘Why does Charlotte always want to main-event?’ Isn’t that what you want as a performer? If you’re a football team, you want to be at the Super Bowl, right? I don’t understand the criticism over that. Why wouldn’t you want to be a champion?
“With Rhea, we’re not starting from scratch. We have so much history. We have our first face-off Friday. I’m not planning anything in my head creatively because I want to feel the energy. I want to feel what the audience thinks of how far she’s come, and where I’m at now. Will it be a different vibe? Are they going to want to see her beat me, or do they know she’s not ready? I have to feel it out there, depending on my mind, what direction to go.”
She continued, “At the same time, I feel how Rhea feels will be much different. I beat her for the NXT title, I beat her for the Raw title. That’s something, in her heart: “I know I can beat Charlotte. I have to beat Charlotte.” I feel like she has something to prove to herself. … And we naturally have such great chemistry. I know she’s going to bring it, and she knows I’m going to bring it.”
For those who missed it, click here for Flair’s comments on the Triple H regime and her thoughts on unifying the WWE Women’s Titles.
