Former IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Madison Rayne has had a great first week in All Elite Wrestling.
All Elite Wrestling’s Madison Rayne was a guest this morning on Busted Open Radio with Dave LeGreca, Mickie James, and Tommy Dreamer to discuss a wide variety of topics. When asked about how her time has been with the company so far, Rayne went out of her way to put over the backstage environment and how welcomed she was in the locker room by everyone.
“My first day on the job was last Wednesday in Columbus,” Madison Rayne said. “And I remember the whole day is still a bit of a blur but in the best way possible. Everybody was so welcoming and warm and kind, and they showed me where catering was. I didn’t have to question anything from the second that I walked in until the second that I left the arena last Wednesday and I went home, and my husband was like, Okay, tell me everything. And the only thing that I could verbalize and articulate to him was, I love my job.
“I don’t even know the specifics yet. I haven’t even gotten my hands dirty yet, but I love my job. Just because this entire locker room is so excited every time they show up to work, and they want to put out the best product and use this platform that they’ve been given. And so have I gotten to dive in? Mentally? Yes, then I’m making notes and talking to people, and having conversations. But I’m also still kind of trying to get my feet settled. So I’m taking it a day at a time and one show at a time and now also wrestling, so I’m trying to pace myself and not get too overwhelmed, but also like let’s hit the ground running. Let’s go.”
She then noted that she couldn’t have been greeted in a more positive way upon her arrival in AEW, and she’s thankful to have a seat at the table.
“This whole last week has been just such a whirlwind of emotions and moving parts and pieces and again. I walked into the unknown last Wednesday and couldn’t have been greeted in a more positive way. The first time I passed Tony Khan in the hallway, he was like, Hey, let’s go. We’re so excited to have you here. All of these people just are so excited and happy and working towards the same common goal, and that’s putting out kick-ass TV every single week. And I think we’re at a time in professional wrestling where women do have a seat at the table and women are able to use their voices, and Mickie [James] is a perfect example of that, and Gail [Kim] and what Maria [Kanellis] was doing with Ring of Honor. There are still so few spots like that in professional wrestling, but they are growing, and I’m fortunate and thankful to be able to have one of those seats at the table.”
When asked about her match tonight on AEW Dynamite against the undefeated Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship, Rayne described how she hopes her experience will make the difference in the matchup. That being said, she noted her daughter humbled her this morning by saying she thinks Cargill might win because of her abs.
“Yeah, I mean, look, I came in. I was just happy to be there, and they made the announcement last Wednesday that I was being brought on board as a coach. I don’t know if Jade took offense to that or if she wanted to solidify her place in women’s wrestling at my expense, but I’m while I’m here to coach and cultivate and encourage these women, I can never back down from a challenge,” Madison Rayne said. “And this isn’t the first time that I’ve stepped into the ring with somebody bigger and stronger than me. Not the first time that inevitably, at some point in the match, I will literally have my back against the ropes.
“But again, I have something that Jade doesn’t, and that’s experience. And when things go wrong, I know how to pivot, turn and redirect and so we’ll see if she can do the same thing. And if she walks out champion. I have my opinion on that. But I was humbled this morning when I left for the airport and my daughter told me you know, Mommy, I don’t know, she might beat you. I mean, look at her abs. So yeah, so we’ll see.”
READ MORE: AEW Expands Talent Relations And Development Team, Madison Rayne Hired As Coach
What do you make of Madison Rayne’s comments? Are you excited for her match against Jade Cargill tonight on AEW Dynamite? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit Busted Open Radio with a link back to this article for the transcription.