Madison Rayne Says There’s Nowhere She’d Rather Be Than ROH Right Now

– Madison Rayne spoke with Channel Guide Magazine promoting her return to Ring of Honor and more. Highlights are below:

On her ROH return: The company gave me the chance to test myself against the best women’s wrestlers at the time. Daizee Haize, Sara Del Rey, Serena Deeb. Here I was this 21-year-old terrified girl, who probably had no business being in a match with those caliber athletes at the time. I have always been grateful to Ring of Honor. To have it come full circle really is exciting. There is no other place in my career at the moment I would rather be.”

On the state of ROH’s women’s division: “Deonna Purrazzo, Kelly Klein, Mandy Leon and Sumi Sakai, those women laid the foundation for what Women of Honor is right now. I have the opportunity to come in now to put my name and brand on the division. Brandi Rhodes is doing the same thing…Back when I was wrestling infrequently with them, they had some incredible names and could have easily formed a championship and division. But I don’t think women’s wrestling was where it is right now. There was a lull in the amount of activity women had at Ring of Honor for a few years. I would say this is the perfect time for them. Women’s wrestling is probably at its highest point right now. So, for Ring of Honor to capitalize on it, I think it’s brilliant because I think Ring of Honor is growing just as quickly as women’s wrestling is going. I feel like it only makes sense right now.”

On not the debate of who started the women’s revolution in wrestling: “The Knockouts division was a launching point for women’s wrestling all those years ago. I know right now there is a lot of contention of, ‘Well, the Knockouts started the Women’s Revolution.’ At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. The Knockouts in 2007 did their thing and probably inspired many who are doing it now in WWE and Ring of Honor and Impact. I hate getting caught up into who did it and who did it better. I think for many years it has been growing and getting bigger and better. It makes me feel good that I was part of this first generation and did it at such a young age. I think I was 21 when I had my first tryout match at TNA. I’ve done it for so long. I’m in that really good spot involved heavily back then and involved into it now. It’s fun.”

On working as a producer and commentator in her last Impact run: “All credit goes to John Gaburick and Christy Hemme because they first carved out that position. It was something that Christy brought to John saying, ‘This is something I can do and do it well.’ So, just like he did with me, here is the ball. It’s up to you to run with it. She did, and I feel like I did the same thing. I could go on and on for an hour about how I love being a part of the creative process and loved getting to put my creative brain toward helping other women and talent. I was primarily focused on the Knockouts. It was so much fun. Producing that’s story with Laurel and Allie and Braxton Sutter and Mike and Maria Kanellis, that was my little baby. John let me take the ball and run with it. I wrote that whole storyline and sketched out all those pre-tapes. The talent, they’re the ones who put the whole thing together. Credit for them on that. The pride I felt watching it unfold backstage as it was happening, it made me almost as excited, if not more, than having a really good match of my own. It was really cool, I enjoyed my time on the creative time. Forever grateful for that.”