Athena Recalls Managing The Usos While They Were All Training Under Booker T

During a recent interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena spoke about her relationship with The Usos, recalling how she used to manage the team while training under Booker T earlier in their careers. Below are some highlights from Fightful:

Athena on Her Time Managing The Usos

“Oh, yes, the baby Usos. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I actually ended up managing them at Booker’s for their very first match. So it’s wild that I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh. Oh, that was that was back there, wasn’t it?’ We were cooking back then.”

On Booker T’s Name for the Group

“I think at the time when I met them, though, it was just like a normal day at work. I believe we’re in Pasadena when I first met them. I remember Booker going, ‘Alright, guys, you’re a group.’ We didn’t know each other. We met that day. We were coming out and they’re like, ‘Y’all are Yin Yang in Trouble.’ It’s like, ‘Oh, okay, sure. Whatever you need Booker, I got you, whatever.’ I was just happy to be there in the moment like Mick Foley is backstage and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, it’s the craziest thing in the world right now.’”

On Umaga Coming Out During the Match

“Then I remember post-match, I hear Umaga’s music play and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s interesting. We didn’t come out to that,’ and then all of sudden the guys that we wrestled—all I see is, I looked towards the entryway and Umaga like kicks him in the next year and I go, ‘I don’t know what’s happening. No one told me this was happening.’ So he gets in the ring and I remember being in like high heels and I never wear high heels. I am a baby giraffe in high heels. I can’t do it. He got in the ring and he’s like, ‘Hey,’ and like hugging him and stuff. I was like, ‘What is happening? That’s Umaga!’ I’m having the ultimate fan girl moment because I’m reliving William Regal in my head yelling ‘Umanga.’ I’m sitting here like, ‘Is he gonna hit him? I don’t know.’ Then he hugs him and then they gesture for me to come in. They’re like, ‘This is our uncle.’ I was like. ‘Hi, so nice to meet you.’ So that’s actually how I got to meet Umaga.”

On Still Joking With The Usos About Their Partnership To This Day

“I joke with them about it. I was like, ‘I’ve technically been down since day one.’ I literally managed them their first match. We were a thing for a hot minute. They ended up getting signed to WWE and I went on indie journey. It’s really cool. We sit back and talk about it when we cross paths and it’s just like, ‘What are we doing?’ Like, life was crazy, but it’s really cool. It’s part of the reason that I preach just be nice to everyone. You never know what’s gonna happen. You never know who’s gonna cross paths or help you out and it’s something that I’ve learned by experience and I don’t really think I have a lot of enemies out there. Like as far as like opponents, sure. But like, far as like people I’ve crossed paths with in my life, I’ve always enjoyed almost every single person I’ve met. So try to keep in touch with the ones that I can when I can. So it’s really cool to see everyone’s journey and the road that they went on to get where they are now. It’s cool. It’s one of those weird, cool, like out of body experience things.”