During a SummerSlam weekend appearance on the Cheap Heat podcast, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez called for the company to run more non-televised live events, often referred to as “house shows.” Both stated that the current, limited schedule of live events presents challenges for them to develop their chemistry and skills as a tag team.
A Call for More Reps
When asked if she missed the more frequent live event schedule of the past, Raquel Rodriguez was emphatic. “A big part of me actually… I do miss them,” she said. “I feel like there are missed opportunities of us, like being a part of the group, being a part of the fans, bettering ourselves as a tag team, working together, and getting those reps that we haven’t had before. And so I think we should do more of them. I really do.”
The Pressure of Live TV
Her partner, Roxanne Perez, elaborated on why house shows are so valuable for in-ring performers, especially when developing new skills or tag team maneuvers. She contrasted the relaxed atmosphere of a live event with the high-stakes environment of weekly television. “It’s definitely nerve wracking to, like, try things on live TV,” Perez explained. “So it’s fun to be able to try things on live events.”
As a relatively new team, both women find themselves in the difficult position of having to build their in-ring cohesion in front of a global television audience, a different task from past eras where teams could spend months on the road together at house shows to perfect their act. With a reduced live event schedule, there are fewer opportunities to work out the kinks away from the cameras.
Recent Live Event Experience
Rodriguez also spoke positively about the non-televised “Super Show” live events they recently worked in Texas and Mexico, highlighting the unique energy of those crowds. “We just did a big Super Show in Mexico, in Mexico City and Monterrey, and it was, again, the hottest crowds that we’ve been in front of,” she said. “Mexicans xrowds always, they just always give their best.”
The full interview can be heard on the Cheap Heat podcast with Peter Rosenberg.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription
