ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke with WWE Famous person Zelina Vega about her podcast, ZELVX and CHARLIE GIRL. Vega mentioned her affinity for anime and nerd tradition in addition to her position as an announcer in Avenue Fighter 6. Episodes launch as soon as per week each Friday.
“Cyberpunk meets Kawaii on this gamer podcast: ZELVX and CHARLIE GIRL,” reads the present’s description.
Tyler Treese: You latterly began the ZELVX and CHARLIE GIRL Podcast. Inform me a bit about this podcast. You get to share your love for some exterior pursuits with Dakota Kai.
Zelina Vega: Properly, it was humorous as a result of we realized that we had a lot in frequent as a result of I’ve identified her for therefore lengthy. But it surely’s only a enjoyable, nerdy get-together. I like to consider it like we’re going to have some new friends on the present — different nerdy individuals who like to speak about video games or anime or no matter it’s that connects us as buddies. I believe, too, lots of people wouldn’t anticipate her to be so educated about video games or me to be so educated about anime or no matter it’s. So it’s Simply attending to know us on a deeper stage and having enjoyable with no matter finally ends up developing. We truly sort of did a deep dive into some Pokémon conspiracy theories and enjoyable stuff that we don’t actually get to speak about after we’re within the ring, cursing one another out. It’s the flip aspect of us.
You’ve all the time had a very nice connection together with your fan base and have all the time been very open. I bear in mind you probably did a Twitch stream after you have been launched and you actually let individuals in to get to know your character. What’s been most rewarding about having followers of you and never simply the WWE famous person Zelina Vega, precise followers of Thea?
Properly, I really feel prefer it’s a pleasant mix of the 2 as a result of, to be sincere, loads of them wouldn’t actually know Thea if it wasn’t for Zelina and if it wasn’t for WWE. So it’s having the ability to take these newly gained followers and get them to know Thea and get them to understand how I took place and what this journey seemed like method earlier than WWE to indicate them, yeah, it’s okay to love video video games. It’s okay to love anime. A Lot of individuals don’t even understand that each my legs are utterly coated in anime tattoos, ? It’s cool to have just a bit little bit of realness, I suppose. It’s simply because, once more, in WWE, you’re enjoying a personality.
It’s a little bit of you, however you’re below a distinct identify, and also you’re enjoying as much as that. I really feel like as soon as individuals get to know me as Thea, they sort of perceive Zelina somewhat bit higher. So I believe it simply goes hand-in-hand. For as a lot as Thea is me, Zelina can be essential to me.That’s partially why I’ve the LWO tattoo and why this entire wall is simply coated in — I name it my accomplishment wall. So it’s acquired, on the one aspect, me being a commentator in Avenue Fighter 6 as Thea, however then, additionally, me going into WrestleMania as Queen and Tag Workforce Champion as Zelina. So it’s a pleasant mix of the 2.
We noticed a change in route with the corporate the place they’re permitting wrestlers to do these aspect avenues and these ardour initiatives, and it’s nice to see you get to specific your curiosity and do stuff like this podcast as a result of there’s a interval the place it wasn’t taking place. How rewarding has it been simply having that entry and getting to do that stuff?
It’s been actually rewarding, particularly as a result of … I imply, it’s no secret that it wasn’t a simple journey — particularly for me. However I additionally really feel prefer it was a crucial one as a result of it acquired us as expertise and the workplace on a way more enjoyable web page, and we get to do that collectively. All I ever needed was to do that collectively and to mix my loves collectively. It’s humorous, not too long ago any person mentioned to me, “How does it really feel to know that this entire factor sort of began with you?” And I’m like … that’s sort of loopy to consider that little loudmouth from Queens. [Laughs]. That’s the one which began this entire factor. I similar to that I could be, I suppose, a constructive mild in terms of this. There have been some ups and downs, however general, all of us got here out on prime due to this. Now we’re all doing this collectively and hand-in-hand. I believe that’s a very powerful half.
Your co-host isn’t as educated about anime as you’re, so that you really useful Demon Slayer as place to begin. What are some anime you’d suggest to people who are rookies?
So I’d say Demon Slayer I like as a result of the characters are compelling. The illustration is totally stunning. You fall in love with these characters and it pulls at your heartstrings in good and dangerous methods. So I like Demon Slayer to begin with, but in addition Loss of life Notice — and I’m truly telling Dakota this, too, to begin with Loss of life Notice, as a result of it’s solely 37 episodes, however they achieve this a lot in these 37 episodes that you simply both come out feeling like this can be a nice story, or you find yourself feeling like me. I felt very empty inside afterwards. I used to be like, “That is so good. However now it’s come to an finish.” These are the 2 I often wish to suggest first, however should you’re on the lookout for one thing that’s going to carry you for some time, Naruto, One Piece, Inyuyasha — these are those you could get into for some time.
Who’s your favourite Naruto character? Rock Lee might be my greatest boy, however the place do you stand?
I like Rock Lee. He holds a really particular place in my coronary heart. It’s so exhausting for me to select one character, as a result of I like Neji, as an example. I really feel like he simply acquired the quick finish of the stick when it got here to his growth as a personality. Not growth I suppose, however his ending because the character. Itachi has such an exquisite story, and as soon as that story is definitely instructed in full, you find yourself falling in love with him much more. I additionally suppose that Madara Uchiha is simply so epic, ? There are such a lot of epic characters and also you get to lose your self within the aspect tales. It’s not similar to, “Oh, right here’s our most important man, Naruto and that is all you care about.” Like, I like Naruto, however I used to be like, “Yo, what’s occurring with Neji and his uncle? What’s occurring there? What’s Itachi out to get Sasuke? What’s occurring?” So it’s actually tough to select a favourite. I even have all of them tattooed on me. [Laughs].
I used to be curious what your introduction to anime was, as a result of individuals are actually spoiled now. They will go on any streaming service and have an infinite quantity. It wasn’t that method after we have been youthful. For me, it was loads of Toonami or anime on Grownup Swim. What was your introduction?
Once I was round eight or 9, I began watching Pokémon. That period of Pokémon and Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z and Digimon — that entire time interval. I believe Pokemon was on WB11 or one thing like that. I don’t bear in mind precisely the place it was, however I bear in mind Toonami being a giant factor for me, after which Inyuyasha got here round for me. My introduction was watching it by means of these channels. I believe Toonami was the most important one. It’s attention-grabbing as a result of, such as you mentioned, you get to actually go on any streaming service — Netflix or Crunchyroll — and get to seek out out like, “Oh, if I’m feeling this fashion, possibly I may return in time and watch Naruto.” Or if you wish to watch My Hero Academia. There’s so many various ones you could delve into now. I similar to that it’s turn into so accepted now and so celebrated.
You’ve all the time been open about being a giant preventing recreation fan, so it will need to have been superior to be concerned in Avenue Fighter 6. I like the commentary function since you actually get that hype event really feel whilst you’re simply enjoying at your own home. You’ve carried out these superior cosplays previously for wrestling occasions and elsewhere, Juri and clearly Vega, so how did that come about?
Once I was a child, I used to get so mad that I must wait till Halloween to decorate up like Bubbles or Harley Quinn or no matter it was. I shortly realized after that cosplay’s a factor, so meaning now I can do it any day of the week if I wish to. I simply put it below the class of cosplay, and it’s not bizarre. [Laughs]. Quick ahead, I needed to make the Royal Rumble particularly particular. I imply, it’s already particular, however extra particular in my very own method. Clearly my final identify, Vega, got here from Avenue Fighter’s Vega. So I used to be like, “What’s extra becoming than to deliver him to my first Royal Rumble look?” So yeah, it began there after which I used to be like, “Ooh, what am I going to do subsequent yr?”
I believe bringing in Avenue Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and that sort of stuff has simply been so distinctive since you’ve seen like Alexa cosplay Freddy or Chucky or one thing like that, and also you’re like, “Okay, so she’s acquired the horror/Disney sort of really feel.” However I believe anime, so far as that goes, or preventing video games … it’s so particular to me. I do know Ricochet’s carried out — which I assumed was so cool — he did Jin Kazama from Tekken. Clearly, Tekken is massive and for Xavier and Kofi, so it’s only a cool … you get the bunch collectively, and also you simply nerd out and it’s like we’re 10 years outdated once more. I believe that’s actually what it comes out to is you bear in mind the way you felt and the way excited you have been with that infantile marvel.
You simply wish to get again to that, even in your later years in life. So I gained’t say the quantity precisely, however I’ll say it’s good to get again to feeling like a child with your pals and also you’re simply hanging round and enjoying video video games with them once more. That’s, finally, the way it began, was simply making an attempt to make one thing distinctive to me and seeing the place I can take it and to the purpose the place I truly acquired the English voice actor for Madara to do my entrance as I used to be Madara for the Royal Rumble was the craziest factor. Then, clearly, with Juri and asserting my involvement in Avenue Fighter, I used to be like, “My God, I don’t know prime this”. So I’ve been making an attempt to rack my mind for this coming one. I’m like, “What do I do? How do I prime this? It’s so loopy.”
You even have had a little bit of an appearing profession. You have been in Preventing With My Household with Florence Pugh, who has turn into a famous person since then. How was it sharing the display screen along with her and doing these scenes?
It was superb. Typically you get somewhat … I suppose you’re not likely positive how individuals who aren’t concerned in wrestling are going to take wrestling or they’re going to deal with it with care, however she dealt with it like a professional. She was so respectful, so humble, and so appreciative. Saraya was out there to her at any level, so she may name her with a query at any time. It was simply cool to be alongside any person who appreciated it and revered it a lot, realizing that she didn’t know a lot about it.
I believe that’s such a cool factor. Once more, wrestling could be checked out a bunch of various methods within the media and also you aren’t actually positive, however I believe, now, WWE particularly has made so many strides in such a constructive method that folks respect it they usually wish to be part of it someway. Which is why you will have individuals like Unhealthy Bunny coming into to WWE or Logan Paul — so many individuals that wish to be part of it in several methods is absolutely, actually cool. However Florence is a badass and I like her a lot. It’s so cool that I get to look again and say, “Wow, we actually did that.”
Sooner or later, are you seeking to do extra appearing if alternatives come up?
Sure. It’s humorous, I thought of — after Avenue Fighter — how a lot I liked voice appearing. I didn’t understand how a lot I used to be going to fall in love with it. However I’d like to voice somebody in anime. That might be so enjoyable for me, to be part of some anime that I like in that method. Clearly, the One Piece present on Netflix is doing rather well, so even to be part of it in that method could be actually cool. I’d like to be doing a little extra appearing going ahead, however I additionally know that I’m not the kind of particular person to simply soar right into a venture simply because it’s a venture, ? It must be one thing that I’m tremendous captivated with. So I’m actually choosy in terms of that stuff. No matter’s going to be subsequent goes to be one thing that’s actually near my coronary heart, for positive.
