Entertainment
WWE’s Nikki Cross reveals big impact Drake Maverick and SAnitY have had on her career
Nikki Cross made a very welcome return to Raw on Monday night – and she’s ready to make the most of every opportunity in WWE.
The Scottish superstar – who signed with the wrestling giant in 2016 after making her name on the independent scene – is a two-time tag team champion, and had her first slice of in-ring action on the red brand in a long time as she lasted two minutes against Rhea Ripley before the time limit ran out.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, she said: ‘Every opportunity, you just take it, you make the most of it, and you have to hit the field running. Monday was just incredible.
‘You’ve gotta roll with it, just like the famous Oasis song! It was a great opportunity, an amazing opportunity. Getting to compete against Rhea Ripley, the Raw Women’s champion – how many people can say that about their Monday night?’
There aren’t many – and Cross certainly had plenty of viewers on her side, with plenty of goodwill built up with her endearing charisma and in-ring skills.
Her attitude of making the most of every chance – no matter how small it might seem – is reminiscent of NXT’s Drake Maverick, who has a very familiar outlook on the business.
‘I met him when he was Rockstar Spud – we crossed paths a lot,’ she recalled. ‘I was actually able to learn a lot from Drake.
‘That mentality, that scrappy – that excitement for sports entertainment, for WWE, for professional wrestling. I think a lot of that, he did influence me.
‘I feel like even as a child, whether it was doing drama in high school, doing PE, performing, dancing – I was at dancing school for 10 years, and I always give it my all.’
Another key part of Nikki’s development as a performer came during her time with SAnitY alongside Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe and her real-life husband Killian Dain.
It’s not surprise that run on the black and gold brand is a period she holds fondly, as she said: ‘I’m unbelievably so grateful for my time with Sanity.
‘I don’t know if I would be a two-time women’s tag team champion without them because they allowed me to grow and pick their brain. They helped me develop so much as a person and a performer.’
She learned a lot from her teammates in terms of creativity, character work, psychology and even professional conduct.
Now, EY can be found in IMPACT Wrestling, Wolfe’s contract expires soon as isn’t being renewed, and Dain is tearing it up on NXT with Maverick.
However, Nikki added: ‘All three men are so, so creative. They work hard, they have this great work ethic, and they’re passionate, they love this. The four of us are this family, even though we’re separated now – we are a family and we always will be.’
With everyone doing their own thing- including Nikki’s former tag team partner Alexa Bliss – now is time for the energetic Glaswegian to continue to build her own legacy.
‘With the last few months, I’ve used the time to be in-ring training. I’ve been looking at adding new stuff to the move set, looking at ways I can improve, or looking at techniques I’ve maybe not used in years and bringing them back,’ she told us.
As well as looking back over her own past matches, she’s also been studying the work of legendary grappler Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat – and she’s ready to see all her hard work pay off.
‘I’ve been able to watch a lot of wrestling over the past few months. I feel liek I’ve thrown myself into that and then with that, there’s always ideas,’ she said.
‘I always give it me all because I think, if you give it you all, then you can always look yourself in the mirror at night. I’m a big believer in that – always give it your all and always give it 110%.’
*WWE Raw airs every Monday night at 1am on BT Sport.
