Lola Vice, real name Valerie Loureda, is the latest MMA fighter to make the jump to the wrestling business after fighting for Bellator MMA, where she held a pro record of 4-1.
She signed with WWE last year, went to NXT and has wrestled 32 matches where she is currently a part of a team with Elektra Lopez. She worked a singles match against former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez on this week’s NXT, where she lost.
Before the bout, Vice spoke with TMZ Sports about her journey. Here are the highlights:
On proving she can be a wrestler:
“Just so excited for the past year and a half that I signed you. I’ve been working really hard. I started from scratch. I’ve been proving to myself I’m a martial artist and entertainer. I know I am. And tonight, I kind of have to prove that to the world.”
On knowing WWE was for her:
“In that moment. I got goosebumps when I went to that WrestleMania, and I saw this for the first time and I spoke to Triple H and everyone, and I just knew it was for me. And I’m just so grateful for this opportunity. A lot of people would kill to be in the position I am right now, and I will never take that for granted. Tonight is a huge match against a former champion tag champion, iron challenge survivor champion. But I’m going to show her that I might be new to NXT, but I’ve been fighting my whole life.”
On her goal:
“I am going to be the best superstar in the history of the WWE, and I’ve been trusting the process and it’s very cliché to say, but you kind of have to do that here, and they really did a good job at making sure I’m prepared and this past year-and-a-half, I’ve been a little bit more low-key, not posting as much, kind of just training in silence. Starting from scratch, paying my dues.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit TMZ Sports with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
