The Undertaker has forgotten more about WWE than most people could ever know, and he’s imparting his wisdom on the current generation.
The Dead Man, who retired in April 2020 after WrestleMania 36, has been backstage at AAA and NXT in recent months, while he’s also been helping the Raw and SmackDown superstars grow as performers.
Speaking days before tonight’s Clash In Paris premium live event, Raquel Rodriguez exclusively told Metro how the legendary Hall of Famer has impacted her recent growth.
‘Undertaker’s really stepped up, and he’s been giving a little bit more of his time and advice and his knowledge to everyone in the business, including myself,’ she smiled.
As well as getting ‘a little bit of tips’ from the Phenom, 34-year-old star Raquel has also had some advice from Kevin Nash, who criticised her earlier this year for ‘selling [and making] herself small instead of staying up and selling big’.
Raquel made it clear publicly she was taking his words to heart, and that’s been clear from the way she works in the ring every week.
‘Kevin Nash has been so gracious since the comments, and I think he really took my response in a very nice way as well,’ she smiled. ‘He’s been nice enough to message me here and there and give me a little couple of tips about videos and matches that he’s seen.
‘So I know he’s watching the product. I know he’s watching me, and that makes me feel good, because he’s out there to want to make me better.’
Meanwhile, the Judgment Day star credited her match against Rhea Ripley at Night of Champions earlier this year for helping turn the tide and get fans behind her as a wrestler.
‘When I had my match with Rhea Ripley in Saudi – that was absolutely an epic match, and it reopened a lot of people’s eyes,’ she said. ‘It really made me believe that every single person that I work needs to be worked like Rhea Ripley.’
Raquel noted that her ‘mindset’ shifted, as she realised she needed to approach matches in a different way.
‘I am the bigger person. I am the more dominant one,’ she explained. ‘If Kevin Nash thinks that that that I need to work on that more, I mean, absolutely, I definitely will.
‘He’s a man who’s made money in this business. You know what? I mean, he’s made a name for himself. And so why wouldn’t I take that advice and run with it?’
However, Raquel argued she was ‘working big’ earlier in her career against the likes of fan favourite Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in NXT and during her first few months on Raw.
‘I was having epic matches. I mean, there’s matches that I think everybody has forgotten, like the matches I’ve had with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in NX,’ she pointed out.
‘When I started on main roster, I think I had some really amazing matches with Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax so it’s not like I haven’t been working this way.
‘It’s just people haven’t really noticed Raquel Rodriguez, and now I think she’s kind of in here, and she’s like, “No, you’re gonna notice me. I’m gonna get in your face”. And I don’t care who you are, but Raquel Rodriguez is the one that everybody’s gonna leave remembering.
Raquel has loved being on the road in Europe the last couple of weeks, which included her first time wrestling in cities like Manchester and Cardiff.
Although she’s not booked on the Clash In Paris PLE, it’s likely she’ll be part of Monday Night Raw the following night in the City of Love.
‘Oh my god, this tour has been absolutely amazing. I’ve gotten to go to some towns of cities I’ve never been to,’ she beamed.
‘France will be a first for me, Paris is going to be a first for me. So we’re just ticking off the boxes, baby! I cannot complain.’
Watch WWE Clash In Paris from 7pm tonight (August 31) live on Netflix.
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