Felix Upton on July 9, 2021
Nikki Cross is now Nikki ASH, because she’s “almost a superhero.” That new gimmick is very fun, and she’s making the most of it while rolling into Money in the Bank. This new gimmick might also be a huge hit with live crowds once WWE gets back on the road.
While talking to Wrestle Talk, Killian Dain joked that his wife, Nikki ASH, is now his “sugar mama,” because she’s still with WWE while he’s out of work. He then went on to talk about Nikki’s new superhero gimmick and how her gimmick “wasn’t supposed to start” the way it did. He spoke about the start/stop pushes a bit as well which is an ongoing problem in gaining momentum.
“I’m like, ‘Hey Nikki, you’re the sugar mama now, so you need to do well here (laughs)!’ In all seriousness, I’m sure, for her – because she was with us at training when we found that I was getting the heave ho (released) – obviously there’s a part of her that’s utterly gutted because we’ve done this journey together and we’ve been very lucky to have been able to do it together to be honest.”
“But, out of all seriousness, the best thing that happened to her was the split from SaNITy worked out great for her because it got her a chance to do her thing and start exploring who she was. And then she goes to the main roster and goes with Alexa, and again going away from Alexa has been better for her as well, because being attached to somebody’s great and everything, and they made some brilliant moments when they won at WrestleMania and everything and it was fantastic, but the truth is you need to flesh out who Nikki Cross is, and finally we’re getting that opportunity.”
“Obviously I’m slightly biased, but I don’t work for the company anymore so I can say what I want! So when it comes to Nikki, I think she’s an incredible talent and they’d be idiots to not be using her on a regular basis, and I think they’ve kinda realized that. So just before they started the superhero character, somebody got sick or hurt or something, and they needed Nikki to fill in. And they loved how she did, they had her on TV week-by-week-by-week.”
“The superhero wasn’t meant to start this way at all, so they were just like, ‘Err, let’s just ride the momentum and go for it’, and that’s literally what they did. And I’m so glad they did because sometimes with the stop-start, it can take so long and then people lose interest and whatever else. But she’s getting a chance to talk before every match, which is her at her best, is on a microphone.”
“And obviously there’s a slight difference in having to get her diction right on an American product as it would be back home – it was a lot easier for her to just be Scottish. So here she has to be a little bit more wary. Drew Galloway (McIntyre) has been great for her to give advice on that because he went through the wringer when it came to his accent, because he’s from Ayr which is a much thicker accent than Nikki’s in Glasgow. But Nikki’s having now to work a little bit harder on that, just so she can be as presentable as possible for kids all across the world.”
“We need to have characters that kids can get behind, because that’s what brought all of us in, was the cartoon aspect of the WWF and WCW. And I can’t really think that we have too many at the minute, because – I know society is a lot grittier and everything these days and whatever else, but kids are still kids, the Teletubbies are still going! But honestly for me, having a fun, energetic character who can fall and can fail, but can always pick herself back up again, I think that for me is incredibly important because we’ve been in this period for ages where everybody’s a badass. I mean, come on, we need to start thinking long-term, because how many badasses can work? Not that many – if we’re all badasses then who loses?”
“So it’s great that she’s willing to be a little bit sillier, dorkier, whatever word the Americans wanna say, camp is the perfect word for what we would say back home. That’s what it should be, because that’s what wrestling was the entirety up until the last maybe 10 years or so. I know MMA’s got massive, and movies and TV shows, everything’s getting grittier, and things have changed and whatever else. But to bring kids in, we need to make it fun and she’s definitely a character who can make it fun, and I’m really excited for it and I hope that they keep using her the way they’re using her right now.”
We’ll have to see what’s next for Nikki Cross. She seems very optimistic about what’s to come. Now fans will get to enjoy it as she continues this new gimmick on WWE television. She worked hard to get this opportunity, and Cross is certainly making the most of it.
Killian Dain will likely pop up in another pro wrestling company. A man his size with that ability is certain to be a use for someone. In the meantime, he will certainly pay close attention to WWE’s newest superhero character.
What’s your take on Nikki Cross’ superhero character? Sound off in the comments!
July 9, 2021 7:48 pm
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