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Mike Johnson: You started with an interesting WWE PC class because Otis was in that class, Lacey Evans, a number of others. What's that first day of school like? Obviously, you get signed and you're excited. This is a huge opportunity. It's a very unique life experience. There are very few people who are going to get a chance to do this compared to the average population of the world. What's that first day of school like? What's it like going into that Performance Center for the first time, and what's the grind in the schedule like for someone who's just starting out in terms of learning the business?
Danielle Kamela: Right. Well, of course, a week before I had to report to the Performance Center, I ended up breaking my hand. So, I couldn't believe something like that happened. When I got to the Performance Center, my right hand was broken, which already, I felt like, set me off on a bad note because I had to shake everyone's hand with my left hand. It was so awkward and bizarre; and when you start in the wrestling business, handshakes are everything. Right?
Mike Johnson: Right.
Danielle Kamela: So, for the first few weeks I sat out and had the opportunity to watch. So, I guess I got a little bit more eased into it. But once my hand was healed, the grind of the Performance Center, especially when I started out, it was real. It was every single day you're in the Performance Center; and on the days you're not, you want to go in for extra training because you want to show people you're hungry to learn. And you do want to learn. There's so much to learn. Then the traveling on the weekends was, of course, a lot as well when you're driving to three different cities in Florida a night. So, it was a lot, but it definitely helps you learn as quickly as possible. It just set a great foundation for you. So, anyone who goes through the Performance Center and does the training mirror has a leg up because they really know what they're doing when it comes to that.
Mike Johnson: So, I guess it was probably the summer of 2016, maybe the fall, you started working a lot of the NXT live events in Largo, in Fort Pierce, and all these other small towns, the Coconut Loop, as they say. What was that experience like for you when it's the first time you're out there performing in front of an audience and you're dealing with; there's fans who may not be familiar with who you are yet; there's catcalls; there's trying to do everything to put on the best performance, but now you're in that live, in the moment, there is no second take experience? What's that like for you in the beginning, and what were the highlights and the lowlights of that feeling out process?
Danielle Kamela: It was definitely scary because when you first start wrestling and having matches, you think, "I literally have no idea what I'm doing." I'm just going out there and like trying to remember what I'm supposed to remember and feed off the crowd and bring your real emotions into everything. So, it was exhilarating. It was frightening. And it definitely was a huge learning experience when it comes to learning how to work in ring. I think the best part about it is being in there with someone else who's experiencing and going through the same things as you and working with another individual. That's one of the most fun things in wrestling, I think, and just creating that inner ring magic with them.
Then, of course, like the fans, yes, there are always those asshole fans who do cat call and who are rude and this and that. But a lot of our Coconut Loop had a lot of amazing fans as well. So, I liked getting to perform in front of all of those people. That was a lot of fun. At the time it's hard work. You're setting up the ring. You're prepping for your matches and all of this and that; but in hindsight, when you look back on it, you're like, "Wow, those were some great memories. I learned so much, had a lot of fun stuff."
Mike Johnson: You mentioned the fans in the Instagram and the farewell tweet, and you just mentioned some of the negativity of the fans now. What was the most surprising thing to you about how harsh a segment of the audience can be? Because obviously, it imprinted on you at least enough that you wanted to acknowledge it in the post release message. What was it about the fans that took you aback or brought you down? And how do you deal with that, because obviously, you were in the public eye before this. You had worked for Fox Sports, and you were pursuing acting. So, you know there's a certain segment of, you have no choice but to give into the public spotlight. But what were the negative things that drove you nuts as a person?
Danielle Kamela Well, I think a lot of fans are not just mean to me. I see fans be mean to a lot of different performers and a lot of different wrestlers and across the board when it comes to any kind of career where you're in the spotlight. It just makes me upset because luckily I've learned to deal with it. It doesn't bother me as much when I get these hurtful comments, but I do see people who it really affects. When you're trying to get better and you're new at something like professional wrestling, and you have people constantly like berating you and talking down to you and saying, "You suck," or, "You don't know what you're doing," it can affect someone's confidence and hinder their growth as a professional wrestler.
So, I think in the beginning, for me, I got a little bit of that where I'm like, "You guys don't understand. You don't know what's going on behind the scenes. You don't know that I'm playing this certain role where I'm not going to do a billion cool moves that you want me to do."
So, I think it can affect people and their growth; and if you care about the growth of your favorite wrestlers or even people who are coming up in the business, I think you could be a little bit nicer and encouraging. That was just my two cents on it, but it's been a while. I get hate on a bunch of different things all the time, and it doesn't bother me anymore.
Interview continues on Page 4!
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