For Nikki A.S.H., the last few months have seen a fairly quick reversal of her prominence, or lack thereof, on WWE RAW.
Earlier this year, the women formerly known as Nikki Cross went more than three months without competing on the red brand. But once she returned to action in May, it was just a few short weeks before she entered a storyline with Charlotte Flair and WWE RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. At the time, fans questioned the booking because Cross outlasted both women in Beat The Clock challenge matches. But now, less than two months later, Cross, who now goes by Nikki A.S.H., reigns supreme as the champion.
In an interview with Scott Fishman of TVInsider, A.S.H. looked back on her rise to the top and pointed to the way the Beat The Clock series paved the way for her ultimate triumph.
“A couple of months ago we had the Beat the Clock challenges with Rhea and Charlotte both kind of underestimating me,” said A.S.H. “We had those really fun matches. It has been such a whirlwind. I love seeing everything come together and things that happened organically. I think you’re right. Those seeds were planted. I love the story we’re telling.”
A.S.H. went on to win the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match and cashed in on Flair later that same night. Her feud with “The Queen” has continued to escalate, and the two rivals clashed in a brutal No Holds Barred Match on the August 2 episode of WWE RAW. In the interview, A.S.H. expressed her excitement about how the match allowed her to show a new side of herself. She also stated that she’s “beyond happy” with how her run as the champion is going so far.
“I’m so incredibly proud of what we were able to achieve,” said A.S.H. “I do think people went in and saw another side of me, fighting for what’s right and standing up for herself. The Chicago crowd was absolutely fantastic. Hearing their cheers when I lifted my Raw women’s championship was an incredible feeling. I’m so beyond happy.”
Looking ahead to WWE SummerSlam, where she’ll defend the title against Flair and Ripley, A.S.H. made it clear that she knows she’s facing a tough task, as Flair and Ripley are two genuie powerhouses. But she emphasized that fans shouldn’t count her out, as she has already showcased her ability to defy the odds.
“I think if Monday is any indication, SummerSlam, you’re going to see an absolute fight,” said A.S.H. “You have two strong, powerful women in Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley. You have Nikki A.S.H. who is the underdog and has really proven it doesn’t matter how small you are. It matters the size of your heart.
“For me, that’s such a wonderful thing about SummerSlam is you’re going to see three different competitors for one of the greatest accolades in our industry. All I can say is expect the unexpected and you’ll see what I really bring to the table.”
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