Candice LeRae Talks Her Marriage To Johnny Gargano, Her Journey In Wrestling, Why It's Important To Be A Role Model, More

WWE.com posted an exclusive interview with Candice LeRae ahead of her number one contender’s match next week on NXT TV. She talked about why it’s important to be a role model and her marriage to NXT Superstar Johnny Gargano. Here are some highlights:

WWE.COM: You’ve got an opportunity to possibly challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship coming up. How poetic would it be to challenge Shayna Baszler, the same woman who eliminated you from the Mae Young Classic last year?

LERAE: I haven’t forgotten that match against Shayna in the Mae Young Classic. More importantly, I haven’t forgotten about how disrespectful Shayna was toward me and my husband after the match. Earning an NXT Women’s Championship opportunity is a reward, but to face Shayna, knowing that I could potentially be the one to dethrone her? it would be the cherry and sprinkles on top!

WWE.COM: Since we are on the topic of last year, you’ve obviously been through a lot with your husband, Johnny Gargano. To someone not familiar with sports-entertainment, what are the benefits and challenges of working alongside Johnny in the same company?

LERAE: A massive positive is that we can travel together! There were times before I got here where I would be wrestling in Japan or the United Kingdom for weeks at a time. Trying to talk to each other when I was basically a day into the future was challenging.

I half joke with him that my biggest challenge is trying to keep up with him. He’s just so talented. It puts this added pressure on me because I don’t want to be an embarrassment to Johnny. Plus, my husband worked so hard for his name, and I absolutely refuse to ride his coattails. I know I have a challenge in proving to the fans and my peers that I belong here too. I want to make a name for myself here in NXT because of my own work and not because of who my husband is.

To read the full interview and learn more, click HERE.