Charlotte’s had quite the journey with the WWE. The second generation superstar has what she calls the “mixed blessing” of the legacy of her father Rick Flair, after all, something she says means she has to prove herself even more than some of her fellow competitors. In fact, some of the legacy aspects were impressed upon her by the company.
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“I did not pick my music!” Charlotte revealed to ComicBook.com at the WWE 2K17 and SummerSlam kick off party this weekend. “They chose my music and I was like… okay! I like to work out, and I like Techno, so they picked techno then fused it with my dad’s music. But I love it now. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get into it, but now I’m just like, I have to own this. Carrying his legacy is a mixed blessing. I have to come to terms with myself that there will always be someone who thinks I am where I am because of who my dad is, and doesn’t want to give me the credit. I just have to not let that eat me alive.”
While she grew up in the business, she said that she didn’t know “anything about the business until starting out at NXT.” As a kid, she just enjoyed herself backstage with her superstar father. She was the first “home grown” NXT talent, though, not being recruited from another indie wrestling organization and making it all the way to the main roster.
When Charlotte was at NXT, the WWE’s developmental program, she was a Babyface, a pro wrestling term for a good guy. When she came up to the main roster, they tried to debut her the same way and… it didn’t work out that way. A quick heel (bad guy) turn with the assistance of first her father, then a protégé in Dana Brooke led her to superstardom and the first title run for the new WWE Women’s title.
“I want to do my dad’s legacy justice,” she said, respecting his incredible achievements.
However, she’s ready to step out on her own, as she’ll have to tonight at SummerSlam when she challenges Sasha Banks in a rematch for the Women’s belt.
“To be honest, I’m pretty excited. I haven’t had my entrance to myself yet on a pay-per-view! So I’m nervous, but excited,” she said. “It’s time. It’s another evolution of my character.”
