Carmella Says It Would Be Weird to To Go to Raw in Superstar Shakeup, Talks NXT’s Growth

– Carmella discussed possibly switching brands in this week’s Superstar Shakeup, the growth of NXT and more in a new interview with TV Insider. Highlights are below:

On cyber-bullying: “As superstars we’re putting ourselves out there, so of course we’re going to be critiqued. That comes with the territory and our job. Obviously, now everyone has a voice and can say whatever they want and feel. That’s great, but it is hard not to take some things said personal. Especially, when I had the title. That was something really hard for me. Everyone was going in on me every single day. Ever since then, I realized that at the end of the day, it’s great everyone has a voice, but it doesn’t mean you have to listen to them. Doesn’t mean it’s right. I realize I know who I am and how hard I work. That’s all that matters.”

On her accomplishments in WWE so far: “Right now, we are in the middle of the ‘Women’s Evolution.’ To be a part of it and see women make history left and right with the first-ever Royal Rumble. To see everything come full circle with the women main eventing WrestleMania, it seemed like a pipe dream at one point. Now it’s happening and here. It has just become normal. WrestleMania was a great experience to win the battle royal and have my parents and sister there, front row and hug my dad. There is nothing like it.”

On her look: “I’m big into fashion. I’m always trying to switch things up as far as my gear goes. With my hair, I’m naturally dark. I wanted to go back to my roots, no pun intended, and switch things up. I was blonde for so long. It was nice to do something different…I feel like this is the most me that Carmella has ever been. I feel like I’m going out there and having fun as myself.”

On the growth of NXT: “Look how far NXT has come. When I was there I was really starting to get some steam. That’s when we started taking it on the road and started to do those TakeOver specials. To see NXT reach 500 episodes is so cool. I look around the roster now, and it’s everyone from NXT and those I trained with. A lot of the girls down there I like. I like what Bianca Belair is doing. I think Aaliyah and Vanessa Borne are doing this cool mean girls thing. I love that. Honestly, all the girls down there are doing great.”

On where she’ll end up in the Superstar Shakeup: “I don’t know. I have been on SmackDown from the beginning. I feel at home on SmackDown Live. It would be weird to go to Raw, but I’m excited for it regardless. I’m excited to see what happens now that I was a big winner [at WrestleMania]. I’m honestly excited for the women in general to see what the next step will be…As a last draft pick in 2016, I feel like I had a lot to prove. Then getting the opportunity to win the Money in the Bank contract and cashing it in this time last year. I beat Asuka twice. I beat Charlotte Flair twice. I did all these amazing things as champion. Then this stuff with R-Truth happened. It’s been really cool. I completely changed my character. People like me now, which is so crazy. Who knows what will happen from here. I’m just excited to have hopefully a cool run as a good guy. We’ll see what happens.”