Insight with Chris Van Vliet - CJ Perry On What She Couldn't Do As Lana in WWE, Joining AEW, Miro, Promo With The Rock

Episode Date: October 24, 2023

CJ Perry (@thecjperry) is an actress and professional wrestling manager with AEW and she is known previously for her time in WWE under the name Lana. She joins Chris Van Vliet to talk about joining AEW alongside her husband Miro, why she took 2 years away from pro wrestling, the biggest difference between being Lana in WWE and being CJ in AEW, her famous promo with The Rock and Rusev, what fans can expect from her website cjperry.com, what it means to be "hot and flexible", the popularity of Total Divas, missed opportunities with Rusev Day and much more! Join Full Time Creator for $1 at http://fulltimecreator.co Sponsors: MYBOOKIE: Get a 50% welcome bonus when you use the code CVV and sign up at http://mybookie.ag FITBOD: Get 25% off when you use the code INSIGHT at http://fitbod.me/INSIGHT ZBIOTICS: Get 15% off with the code CVV and have a better morning after you drink at http://zbiotics.com/cvv GHOSTBED: Get 40% of your purchase with the code CVV at http://ghostbed.com/cvv MIRACLE MADE: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to http://TryMiracle.com/CVV and use the code CVV to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF BLUECHEW: Use the code CVV to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at http://bluechew.com PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at http://plunge.com BONCHARGE: Go to http://boncharge.com/CVV and use coupon code CVV to save 15% Quote I'm thinking about: We are going to be perpetually disappointed by life if we spend our days anticipating something greater while doing nothing to obtain it. For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests. Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are go. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Bleas! Oh, good to see you here, my friends. Welcome back to another one on Insight. I'm CVV, Chris Van Fleet, and thank you for making Insight one of the top wrestling podcasts in the world.

At last check, we were number three on the charts, and that's all because of you. It's because you follow the show, you share the show, and you show up each and every, episode. And if by some strange chance you aren't following the show, let's write that wrong right now. Go click, follow or subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you're listening to this episode. You knew her as Lana in WWE. She got released in 2021. She took two years off,

actually a little more than two years off from wrestling. And she recently made her debut in AEW alongside her husband Miro under her real name, C.J. Perry. Yeah, you knew Miro in WWE, of course, as Rusev. A lot has changed for both of them. And it was so great to be able to chat with CJ about what she's been up to in Hollywood. There's a lot of music videos, movies that you may have seen her in. It was pretty fun, actually, to find out some little Easter egg moments for her. We talk about her goals in wrestling, her website, CJPerry.com. And, Of course, what it means to be hot and flexible. And if you've been listening to the show long enough, you know that I am no stranger to the

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I'm at Chris Van Fleet. and let's dive into it. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome. C.J. Perry. Oh, my goodness, CJ, so good to see you. Good to see you. Thank you for having me. Of course. You know, I think we got to start off with this because there's going to be so many people that are watching this right now who have never heard you speak with your real voice before. Wow. My American voice? What? You mean she's not Russian? I mean, I feel, I don't know. I guess it definitely still comes up on social media.

And I'm always like, I find it so fascinating because I haven't really been starting 2016. I started talking with my normal voice on Total Divas, which is a long time ago. And then a storyline with the Bobby Lashley story, I talked with no accent. And that was like really big. And that was 2019. And I'm like, wow, I guess they haven't been watching the product much. But anyways. I think people, you know, they associate an idea with something, and then that's it, as you know.

But for you to show up on AEW, I think people went, yes, oh my goodness, she's finally here. Thank you. I was really excited. I was so excited the return to wrestling. And especially in Chicago, it has, I love Chicago. I actually debuted in WWE in Chicago, my first live promo. was in Chicago at, it was like March 2nd or 3rd. I can't remember the exact date,

but it was beginning of March, ZANPunk had just left. So everyone was like, are you going to be okay? There will be Zampunk chair? And I feel like I held my own with Miro. And so then we did the first time that we want Lana chance happen was in Chicago. And Miro came out at the time he was Roussef,

came out with a really bad Russian lawyer. And it was on my birthday. and they started chanting, we want Lana. So that was cool. And my official baby face turn happened there in WWE. So it was really cool to be able to have that special moment with AEW of debuting there because I love Chicago. And the fans have always rooted for me so much.

So it's really awesome to be able to have that special connection with them now with AEW as well. I think it's so great that, you know, wrestling fans call him Rusev. And you say it with the accent. Like, it's always rusev to you. Yeah, of course. It can't be rusive. It just doesn't sound right coming out of your mouth, at least. It's like my last name, you know?

Like, our last name is Barneeshiv, and my parents still can't say it. They're like, but, but, Barneeshiv. Guys, you grew up. We lived in Latvia. Was it just, like, pure coincidence that you debuted in Chicago, or were you holding out, like, you saw that date on the calendar, and you went, oh,

Chicago, me, we've got this great history, it should happen there. No, it definitely was not that way. It was definitely, it was all Tony Kahn. Tony Kahn won it in Chicago. And when I heard he wanted this Chicago, it was like, oh my gosh, that's so cool. Because I love Chicago. It's my favorite American wrestling city. I mean, I say that about every city, but, you know,

I like trying to find the silver lining of everything. So there was, Miro was pushing, a lot of this was his idea and a lot of the story. And he wanted it to be in London. But Tony really had a vision for it to happen in Chicago. And he's from Chicago and loves Chicago. And so when I heard all that, I was like, oh my gosh, that's amazing because he loves Chicago and I love Chicago. So here we go.

I think when people saw you, they were like, like, it's been so long. Like, finally she's here. Was there ever talk of you joining A.A.W. around the time when Miro joined AEDW. Well, when Miro first joined AEDAW still in WV, so that was in 2020, and he started there September, I think. And so I was in W&WE still,

and I had a very lucrative contract. I was on TV every week, so it just made, we both thought it made sense for me to stay. And then I finished my time a year later. and Meryl wanted me to come over the AAW and he was plugging me in the story and that's how I got the name Hot and Flexible. So I needed a little bit of a break at the beginning. I wanted to be home for a little bit and I wanted to do things. I didn't want to jump right back on the road.

And so I took a little bit like about a year and I was just trying to figure out the time, you know, like Tony Kahn has great things going on his show and it's just I had things going on. Merohead things and we just, it's all about timing. Yeah, what do you think's been the biggest thing that you've learned in the, the break that you took from wrestling and now you're back in it, but what do you think is the biggest thing you learned during that break? God, I've learned so much. I think the first, like, year and a half, I really was focusing of, like,

just diving really back into Hollywood. And if it was taking just a lot of acting classes, producing classes, directing classes, writing classes, working on projects and producing projects, and just really diving into the distribution of film as well, of learning how movies are made, like the financing part of it all. And that changed my whole approach to the industry. Like, I think every talent should learn these things. It doesn't matter if you're an actor, wrestler, model, because you really start to understand someone has to sponsor this. Like, there has to be. money. And when you start to think like, okay, someone is basically going out on the limb to invest in

this. So everyone getting hired is like an investment to hopefully make money and return, then you start to look at it differently. And it's not as personal. Like when you're like, oh, that person got the job, okay, now it looks like stocks. You know, you're like, okay, we have to cast this person as this lead because they're going to move the needle in action comedy. They're not going to move the needle in a drama, you know? So like, really learning that stuff. It's all formulas and just like stocks. I really understood. I'm so thankful for it. And I would say the last six months has been a real more personal growth of mental health and emotional health. And I like in June, I think there was some,

there was something that really happened in my personal life that I felt I learned so much in a couple weeks that I was like, whoa. Like I felt like I had plateaued. And then all of a sudden, just learning so much about emotional and mental health, relationship health. And I'm just so thankful. It's like sometimes we have to hit like really lows to all of a sudden have those major breakthroughs. And I just encourage everyone to keep like wanting to learn, like go on that hunt in life and that journey in life to constantly be educating yourself.

Yeah. It's also the idea that like when you are at a low point, knowing that like there is light at the end of the tunnel. Like, this isn't it. It's going to get better. Yeah. Yeah, totally. And I think that's a big thing that I learned was this two shall pass.

And I saw on like maybe Instagram something Tom Hanks was on. Oh, that was so good. Yes. Yeah, the round. I think it was the Hollywood Reporter roundtable with all like the other, you know, best actors ever. Yes, yes. And he, um, he said, you know, what would you?

tell your younger self or what do you want people to like what's the best advice that you could give and he's like this two shall pass and he's like so when you're at those highs remember this two shall pass at the lows this two shall pass and it really resonated with me because i like i was on a job a really cool job that i can't say yet about and it was really you know mirror was on it. It was really freaking awesome job. And I was going through in a very emotional low, mental health low. And I didn't think I would be able to get through it. And I remember seeing that. And Mandy texted me. And she was just like, just remind yourself Mandy, Mandy, Max, also Mandy Rose, like, just remind yourself, this too shall pass. And I kept on telling myself that. And it changed my

life because you just know it will pass. And then at AEW, when I had my return, and I'm feeling like so high, I just tell myself, this two shall pass. And it helps me because I think as performers, all types of performers, we need things to ground us. So like I don't want to be self-centered or egotistical. And as performers, you know, you get all this high from like, especially the live energy.

And I think it's really important to ground ourselves in remembering that we're not the center of the universe. The work you've been doing in acting classes and just learning about that business in general, I feel like it's paying off so much in your promos. I don't know if you've seen the feedback online, but that first promo that you cut as CJ in AEW, everyone said, this is her best promo she's ever done. Thank you.

Thank you. I really appreciate it. Yeah, I think it's getting a little bit more creative control, you know. And I thank you so much because I love acting. I love storytelling. And I think in WWE, I often would just, for better or for worse, do what I'm told. You know, I'm not the director or the showrunner. And so, like, sometimes people would want me a little more over the top or a little bit more annoying.

And okay. And I feel like I did it very well. I was the annoying heel. And I don't think people realize, like, they're like, oh, she's so annoying. And they didn't really realize that that was a choice. Yeah. You know, that's a choice to try to be that, like, egotistical, narcissistic character that thought everything's about her, you know?

And so that could be a noise. So I was really happy to be able to have something that I could be a little bit more grounded. Yeah. I think of a lot of wrestlers approach promos as promos. And I might be wrong here, but it seems like you approach promos now, like, almost like they're monologues. Yeah, I mean, I definitely tried to approach all my work very, try the grounded. Like, it doesn't matter.

I think that's probably why I could do really outlandish stuff in WWBE because I would always be like, okay, let me make this. Have I seen this situation in life? Like, let me ground it, ground it, ground it, at least in my own head. So, you know, I just always ask the questions like what would make, what would make me do this? What would make me be this way or act this way? But the biggest difference between now that I do in AW that I did not do in WW is the hardest thing is the live crowd part, you know, because you kind of, if you go and you watch John Cena or the Rock or, you know, a lot of WWE style promos, they are slower. especially like they're slower and it's because they're trying to get the whole arena to get as loud as

possible so it does make it a little bit more of a promo like different type of flow and i personally feel that that style in w that style promo or that type of slower pace matches is what is losing the younger demographic. And I think AEW has a faster-paced match style, a faster-paced promo style. It's very natural. It's very organic. It's not like, okay, let's stand here so the camera can pan to us. So now they can have a pop in the arena and now pan, you know, and this is all very technical stuff. But people don't realize that's what makes those promos different. And so in AEW for WW, WW, they're going to be like, CJ, you have to stand there. We're going to pay. And hand to you, you have to stand, give it three, four, five seconds. Now you talk. Now you have to make

sure that you don't step over your pops or the, all those things. And AW, he doesn't, I mean, I don't, I just, I've noticed people don't do that. I like it better. I think it resonates with younger. And so I've been running with that. Fall is officially here, gentlemen, and it's about to get busy during the holidays. Don't let that stop you from sticking to your habits and being the best version of yourself. That's where our friends at Caldera Lab come in. These guys are the best in the skincare game, and with an easy routine, they're keeping your face looking great no matter what your schedule is.

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impression with the best gift this holiday season. 20% off at caldera lab.com with that code, CVV. What do you feel like you can do as CJ that you weren't able to do as Lana? Talk fast. Like what we're talking about? I guess it is a completely different character. Yeah, I mean, it is, it is for sure. I mean, yeah, just for sure.

I would like to look at it as a different character because it's a different television show. And also just with everything, like you're not going to compare a CW Riverdale show to Grace Anatomy, Shonda Ryan's show on ABC. You know, it's a different network or like East New York on CBS. It's all these different networks have a different fan base for a reason. You know, one might have more relationships, stuff. One might be more procedural. And so that's how it is.

with wrestling too. You know, AEW is a much more match driven company while WWE is more entertainment driven. Both of them, I believe, should all be story-telling

driven because as human beings we all connect the stories. It doesn't matter if it's wrestling, TikTok, sitting by the fire, it's country music. So I think that is important. But if

if WWE wants the relationships and the fluff and the entertainment, AEW is match-driven, but we still need stories. And I believe that's what I, is my strength as storytelling and really thinking about all those small things and connecting the people. One of the biggest things that has grown over the last year is what you're doing with CjPerry.com, I feel like that could be the whole business for you. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Yeah, subscribe to CJ.Perry. I just launched a new tier called Hot and Flexible. I love how much you're leaning into Hot and Flexible. This is a nod to the rock and that promo you did with him backstage, right? Oh, yeah. So I think that Miro named me hot and flexible because he was so annoyed that I was so, like, I guess, exploited in VE. And I, you know, I don't really look at it that way. I look at it as more of like I'm thankful for the opportunity and, you know, thankful that, yeah.

And apparently I was believable to be someone's girlfriend, someone's wife, someone's ex-wife, the adulteress, you know, the revengeful person. And it's TV, it's television, you know, and so it has to be believable. So because of that, and I was always stirring the pot of being the bad guy, the heel, in mint storylines, the only way. way that they felt creative that they could pay off getting like punching me in the face because they couldn't punch me in the face was basically calling me like a streetwalker like the rock called me or an escort or you know all the flexible things that I did with the rock. You did the Wisconsin wheelbarrow, right? Oh yeah.

That. I mean, I never said I did it. So he's just claiming that he did that. He did that. So I'm glad that he feels like he needs my clout, you know. I'm really thankful for that. Really thankful to the Rock need a mic clout for my flexiveness, you know. And so that's cool.

That's always encouraging. So Mero just was like you're hot and flexible. And I guess I am. So I'm just running my head. So on CjPerry.com, there's two tiers, right? 1999. And then, so what do you get for 1999? Okay.

So 1999 is CJ.perry. and it's my army and I love you guys so much. You just get a lot of content. I guess you could compare it to like subscription. You could compare it to OnlyFans, a lot of like sexier posts that I don't feel like is appropriate the post on Instagram because I do have a lot of children, fans. I have a lot of Christian, Muslim, Jewish fans, religious people.

And I just want to be really mindful of that and respectful of that. To the men that don't want to look at that, to the mothers and children. So that's why there's C.J.Perry.com where there's unlimited amounts of lingerie and, you know. How safe for work are these images? Well, I'm not, whoa, those are like really intense things, questions to act. Safe for work.

Like, what country are we talking about? Oh, that's a good question. That is a good question. It depends where you work, too. Exactly. Is that literally? Who knows? Literally.

So, you know, no. The next one, the hot and flexible tear, definitely. How hot, how flexible? It's very hot and it's very flexible. So definitely subscribe. You get a lot of really cool. I personally think it's way good for your money because one, you get DMs at, I want to say $2.

So super cheap. You also get all the BTS and inside scoop from AEW. So now that I'm back on AEW, I'm going to be putting a lot of things. on there. I've already been putting stuff on there. A lot of girls in the locker room want to be on the site too, and it's just a lot of fun. So subscribe. There's also, I'm giving, I do once a month, Zoom, which is really exciting with everyone on that tier and doing one today. So that's a really cool thing. And also, we're going to be doing a sale where people are going to get an item, a signed item. So that's a limited thing. So definitely subscribe, but it's going to be you either get a

trading card signed or an 8 by 10 or possibly an action figure or merchandise. So yeah, there's a lot of good stuff. It sounds like access, right? This is access because 10, 20 plus years ago, if you wanted access to your favorite wrestler, you maybe could write a fan mail letter and maybe they'd read it, possibly tiny little percentage, maybe they'd respond. Here, you're able to interact with fans in real time. Yeah, it's great. It's so amazing to be able to have that direct to consumer. Is that the word?

Sure. Yeah. And also just like being able to just hear immediately what the fans and followers want and connect. And there's just the wrestling world and fan base is amazing. They're so committed. They're so passionate and loyal. And I feel so blessed to have saved so much stuff over the years, like a couple of rooms of stuff. So now I'm like, you know, since I've been so supported by so many amazing fans and I just love my hot and flexible people that I can give back to them as well, you know.

With everything we've talked about here, I feel like you were destined to be in the spotlight. So when you were growing up, what was it that you? dream to do as a kid? I always wanted to entertain stadiums. Like, I'm not even kidding. Like, I always, I always wanted to perform. I always wanted to be a storyteller, and I wanted to do it in front of stadiums. And, yeah, I just never put my dreams in a box, and dance was my first thing.

That, like, my, I love dancing. It's still, like, my love of my life. And it opened so many opportunities. I mean, I really do believe that it got me my job with WW. I was speaking Russian, and I said I could break dance. And I break dance in front of Triple H. So, you know, it has led me to many things. And it's wild.

Yeah. Like now I'm excited to be doing more things on the other side of the camera as well. And if it's producing, managing, I just love storytelling. and I really do love the live aspect of everything. And that's the one thing I will say, traditional television and film doesn't have, and wrestling does have. It is that live aspect, that energy, and you feel it.

Like, that's why I would go to shows last year, just as a fan to watch, because I'm like, this energy, I love it. I love it. I love professional wrestling. Do you remember how you found wrestling or maybe how wrestling found you? Oh, yeah, wrestling definitely found me, for sure, definitely.

Yeah, I do remember. I was 22 years old. So I was young here and there watching it with my girlfriend's brothers. And my dad really liked Togan, but we weren't allowed to watch. My parents are really strict and very conservative, so we weren't allowed to watch. I wasn't allowed to watch either. So you get it. Look at us now.

So, and then when I was 22, I would do this calendar that I was on the cover and I was the poster in the middle and WWE stopped me out. So I was still in college. They flew me down to Miami. They tried to recruit me and I felt like I wanted to finish college. And I still had, there was still some dreams and dance that I really wanted to do that I wanted to close that chapter. And yeah, then it was just every year, I would get auditions.

I was out in LA, it would conflict every year in the fall. They would do these big auditions and it would always conflict because I would be on other jobs. I would be like on a Nickelodeon job or a pitch perfect job and just didn't work. And then 2012, again, it was a six-month call back. And here we are. Isn't it so interesting how life has a way of working out? Like if you had gone to that first audition and you didn't have other things that we're getting in the way, maybe you wouldn't have had the run in WWE that you had.

Maybe you wouldn't be in AAB now. Oh, I think about that all the time because I'm like, I do feel like I was very much that, you know, 2007, eight, that was when like Barbie, Kelly Kelly came in, the Bellas. And I feel, you know, we were all similar. I was a little bit younger, but similar. And I'm just like, wow, I mean, who knows what type of different path I would have had, you know, or would it have still ended up being in the end up with Mira at some point? You never know.

That's the whole concept of parallel. all universes. I mean, if it wasn't for the timing there, you wouldn't have met your husband. Yeah, totally. Totally. Take us to the first day that you met Mero. So my first day I met Mero, I don't remember, and he does. So that's like, and it was at NXT, it was my first day at, his first day at NXT too was when it opened. So we just hit our 10-year mark in July. And so that was Yes. Thank you. Thank you. So I remember him at the tanning salon the following day. And I went into the tanning salon and all the wrestlers were going there and he's clearly a big guy. And I'm like, oh, are you a wrestler? And he's like, what? Why do you think that? And I'm like, because you're a big

guy and we're all coming here. He's like, you may be. And I'm like, where are you from, Russia? And he's like, no, Bulgaria. And I'm like, oh, okay, cool. And then we started talking. I grew up in Lampi. I had been to Bulgaria. And then the following day, Dusty Rhodes saw my provo. I spoke Russian in it. And he pulled me aside. He goes, I want you to work with Rusinoff. I was like, who's that? Oh, I know him. And then that was we started working together the following day. So how does it go from working together to going on your first date? Well, I think he was in love with me from day one. Can you blame him?

But he says I was in love with him from day one. Not true. But no, he was really nice to me from day one. And so I really like that. And the Eastern European thing. And we just a really nice guy. And so, yeah, we were just working together constantly every day. and maybe like six weeks in, I started to have a crush.

I was like, no, I can't do this. And then one day we kissed and that was that. And look at you guys now. 10 years, congratulations. Yeah. Do you think about what might have happened if everything took off with the girl band that you were in? Was it called No Beans Yes? Yeah, no beans.

Yes. But like that could have been a thing, right? You know, all those things in my life, I learned something. that then carried me to the next job. Like the girl group really, I didn't know how to sing, really. So it taught me how the least carry a melody and kind of sing. So that's how I got. How are you in a girl group if you don't know how to sing?

I could break dance. And they're like, oh, okay, you can carry a melody. You know, usually those groups, not everyone is the lead singer. And so they had the lead singers and they really wanted like an entertainer. And so they're like, oh my God, this girl like great dances and heels. you know and I had the look I mean so much of this industry is a look you know it's 50% of it you have to and what I mean by a look just it's it's not like oh yeah be blonde hair it's just just having something that's so like mark something markable markable and so yeah just that's 50%

of it I see it all the time I see it all the time even when we're watching tapes like of auditions it's like that person is a better actor, but this person is literally this person. So this is going to be better for this job. And so it's so much of it like that. I remember a director telling me that during auditions, they already have in mind what they're looking for. And the thing that would shock them is to have someone come in and do the script or look a different way than what they had in their mind,

which would then make them go, huh, maybe I should rework this or something like that, but you're right. They already have an idea in their mind of what they're looking for. Oh, for sure. I see that too a lot. Like, I'll see something that, like, we'll watch tapes and we'll be like, okay, this person is literally the breakdown and is doing a great job. And this person is not the breakdown, but their acting is amazing. And this person is not the breakdown at all, but their acting is so phenomenal. Maybe we should rethink about switching the breakdown because they're just so compelling. And so that's what's like, it's just interesting. It's very interesting. Putting, I really encourage every all performers in front of the camera that, like, take a month

and try to produce things. And you're going to start to look at things differently. From your acting career, you're like an Easter egg in a lot of things. Like, I think people know pitch perfect one and two, but like there's so many other things and you're a backup dancer for so many huge acts. You were in music videos. What's, what's some Easter eggs that when this interview's done. People can go on YouTube and they can find C.J. Perry doing something in the background. There's a lot of Easter eggs for me, I guess. I think my role in life is to be great supporting. And that's another thing that's a lot of people don't like entertainers again. It's like not everyone is the leading person and that's okay. But Easter eggs, okay, so a really

cool thing was I was in the Afrojack video and it came out in 2010. and it's called Takeover Control and it went crazy. It was like I booked the job. I don't even know how I booked it because I was like hungover and I just it was meant to be. It was meant to be.

And then I got. You were the breakdown. It's crazy. That's what the director told me. And so that's really cool. So go look at Afrojack, Takeover Control and you're going to see Baby CJ in there, dancing.

You'll know the song. And that was cool because I would I would get messages from like friends in Australia. And they're like, you're literally on our gym screen right now. So that was cool. Also, I think, I mean, this is, I think making global news one time doing a Russian promo was kind of funny. And making the daily show of John Stewart called like basically global news everywhere. Because I said that I was unhappy that you're a blue.

blaming Russia for the current events. And it was one like the Malaysia plane. I don't appreciate it at all. And I made the world news everywhere, Australia. So that was fun. Yeah, I don't know. What movies are people going to find you in if they're looking really hard? Pitch perfect, one and two.

I don't know. Honestly, I forget. I'm like, oh, yeah, I did that. I was a Red Bull girl for a long. time and I would do the Formula One. I was a Miller Light poster girl. So I was like on all the Miller Light posters. Just like things like that. I'll forget. Yeah. Like now the be a fashion Nova, pretty little thing and like all these different brand deal like I was doing it like a long time ago. And it's just funny to me to see so many things like really blow up. It's really cool.

Is it true you're in American Hustle? It says you were uncredited in that film. I don't think so. The Christian Bale movie? Oh, this is great. In that movie, they must be. I guess there's somebody that looks like you're doing something in that movie. No, I was not. I was, I mean, some funny things was like I was a million dollar matchmaker, the, like, first season before it became the huge show.

Yeah, yeah. Same thing. Like, everyone's texting my mom, like, is she dating a millionaire? And it was like, it was six months before I forgot about it. I was like, oh, yeah, I needed $500. something. I did surreal life, which was fun. Of course, Total Divas. Total Divas, three seasons, which was fun, two weddings, one husband, which was fun. What's interesting about Total Divas is there's people that are just Total Divas fans that have never watched wrestling ever.

Yeah, no, it's awesome. I really hope we, like wrestling in both companies, AW and WW, they bring back some reality shows like that. Because it really brought a lot of women to watch it, which I think is really important. Really important. Yeah, I did dropping the mic. I won it, which was crazy. Scooby-Doo.

I was a voice on there. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. How long were you into your WWE career when you were sharing a ring with The Rock during that promo? Oh, which one? The one that he called me a streetwalker, or...

The first one. The first one. Just like six months, maybe. Isn't that crazy? It really is. I learned so much. He's so amazing. Yeah, he's great.

He's great. We learned a lot. We're very fortunate to be able to be in the ring with some really iconic people to learn from, like, The Rock and John Cena, Jericho. It's exciting to have Edge now over at AEW. Hopefully we get to work with him, too.

Oh, I'm going to be with that. edge. I forgot about that. Yeah. How do you keep a straight face when the rock's there saying that, you know, your husband smells like rotten testicles? I think I didn't keep a straight face. I think if you looked really hard at that YouTube, not the vlog, but the YouTube of us with the rock. Like at one point, like, I think I had, I was, I, you could see me crack because I was just like, this is so funny. And he's so funny. It was, that was such a fun time. what was the conversation before that segment with the rock? Like, how did you guys go over everything that was going to happen?

Oh, yeah, that was really funny. So we get a promo, like in the middle of the day. We were working big show at the time. And this is when Meryl was undefeated. And he was a hero of the rest of the federation. So they give us this promo. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Like, it just didn't make a lot of sense.

And they're like, look, at 715, meet us back by this. door and this bus and you're going to know what happens here. Like, okay, so I'm learning it. We go back there and then they open the door and it's dwaying in there. And I'm like, wait, what? And they're like, scratch that promo. So we had 45 minutes. It was maybe an hour we had to learn the whole new thing. But it was great. It was a lot of fun. Did he do anything, say anything that, like, particularly puts you at ease? I don't know if ease is the right word the use. I,

no, I don't think so. Nothing put me out to use. I was just like, whoa, this is crazy. And I was really excited. And now as a result of, I guess,

that second interaction with the rock, flexible, you're hot and flexible. I mean, this is the thing I've realized. If people are going to call you names, you might as well just call it to yourself first.

And then you, I take away all their power. And now you, well, not even taking away the power. hour. Now you've, like, you've branded this and now you're making money off of it. Oh, thanks, Duane. Thanks, DJ. When Miro got released in WWB, were you like, oh, my gosh, I've got to be next?

Like, I think people saw you guys as a package. Yeah, no, I definitely wasn't like, oh, my gosh, I got to be next for sure or not. And now maybe looking back, maybe I should have been. but you know that's what life is all about is about learning you know and i think we're both a lot happier working for the same company we weren't very happy um it's just not yeah we were we worked very we worked to get like everything that you just said is like we feel that too so um yeah i didn't that it wasn't a it wasn't the funnest time for me that that following year but we're here now so that's all it matters well now you get to travel to the events together, you get to work together, come home together. I don't feel

right now. He's running a room from me right now. That's what he wants everyone to know. That he is on his righteous path of destruction. And he is running a room from me. And actually, sometimes it likes to be in other houses because he says I'm temptation. So he's going on his path, and I'm on my path right now. Where did he go wrong? The thing about Miro is he's very stubborn. Apparently, I'm always drawn to very stubborn people. So, like, Liv Morgan and Miro are by far the most stubborn people I've ever met in my life. And, of course, they're like my husband and my best friend.

It has to be all in his terms. And right now, he is on his path. And apparently he's not happy that I'm on my own path looking for my new client. but he knows I'm stubborn too, so that's what we're at. Do you think? I'm the big champions. I'm going to be making champions. That's what you do.

Period. And of her. Do you think this path that you're on in AEW is going to have you back in the ring? Do you want to wrestle again? That's such an interesting question. So I want to be the best of all time. I want to be the best wrestling manager of all time. I want to be when people think of like I people often want to be managed by Paul Heyman because he's one of the he is the best manager of all time right now right I want to take that spot and so I want people to be like I want C.J. Perry the manage me. I would rather do that than try to become champion or fight whatever for championships and be the be the best hustler for those people to be champions and create a legacy and.

in a name that way, I just feel that's my calling. So if at some point I got to fight some bitches in the ring, of course I'll fight some bitches in the ring. The great thing about being a manager is there's no expiry date on it. When you're a wrestler, you can only wrestle until your body won't let you wrestle anymore. You could manage for the next 50 years. Well, exactly. And I think that's the top part of like really facing the music that I'm glad that I've faced it sooner than later. But I think for all performers, I just want to keep going and you have to know when the bow out. And also, yeah, I just feel a lot better fighting for other people than myself. And yeah. Yeah. How does one maintain flexibility, like the flexibility

that you have? Um, that's also why I like to be called the hot and flexible is because I'm redefining in everyone's brains what flexible actually literally means. And so, yeah, obviously I'm flexible. I can like do all the splits. But also, you know, being fluid, being flexible in life. And life is going to throw us a lot of things. And can we like maneuver it and be a chameleon? And I feel like I'm great at that. I try to read people. I try to read the room and, you know, navigate from there. So that's how I'm flexible. I feel like there was a real missed opportunity with Rusev Day. Like there was so much hype behind it, so much excitement, and nothing really happened. There was no real payoff there. Do you feel like there was a missed opportunity?

I mean, I just like going back and rehashing what could have been is just like pointless. Like people do that all the time in wrestling. And people do that in the industry too and like Hollywood. And really it's all the same. Like all the same. So I find it maybe a little bit easier for myself to be fluid and go with the flow with it. But look, we're literally not saving lives. We're not doctors. We're not lawyers. We're entertainers and telling stories and giving people hopefully a couple hours of an outlet from, you know, their troubles, really.

So, yeah, I forgot what the question was. Yeah, you're right. I think there's a lot of like revisionist history that. Yeah, it's just like, what are we going to look at? Like, yeah, like, are we going to be grateful for what was? Are you going to be look at the cup as like what could have been? I mean, that's not, I don't like to live life like that. You know, I know I should have been champion 25 times over in WWE and Mero too.

Like, you know, that's, you're always going to be negative. Always going to be. And so I'm going to choose to be thankful for all the opportunities that I was given and was able to create versus all the things I. I wasn't given. And I think I encourage my husband and all my friends to do the same. If not, you're going to be really unhappy in this business. I love that you brought up gratitude because that's such an important part of my life.

And look, I just want to say thank you. You're awesome, CJ. And I super appreciate this chat here. Thank you. I'm so glad that you had me. I appreciate you. I end every conversation talking about gratitude. I start every day.

I end every day. I say out loud three things I'm grateful for. what are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now? Oh my gosh, so many things. I'm very grateful for my three dogs that are over there. Oh my gosh. Look at them. You can't even see them.

We've got Joy Pickles and who's the other one? Charlie. Oh, my gosh. That's her cook off is looking up right now, her head. And then the blonde is Charlie and joy is the brown. So definitely them. They bring me so much joy. I'm very thankful that I'm on this podcast with you right now.

We're having this wonderful conversation and connecting. And I'm very thankful that I've returned the wrestling. And I'm going to be managing iconic talent and become the best wrestling manager ever. I think that a lot of wrestling fans are glad that you're back. So again, we talked about it earlier. Everybody go subscribe at C.J.Perry.com. What else should the people be doing? Definitely watching me on collision at AEW on TNT every Saturday.

And you never know. I might end up being on Dynamite and Rampage on Wednesday and Friday. I am scouting talent. I'm really excited. So you can also subscribe to CJPerry.com and put your application in so I can review it. If you want me to manage you, I am out. Yes, this is shoot too. Like, I'm shoot.

Like, great thing about wrestling is when the shoot and K-Fave start to blur. That's actually a great idea. Like for any independent wrestler out there, this is $20 well spent. Totally. Totally. And I, at the very least, we'll give you, like, talk to you about how, like, be a life coach. We all need them. What are how many people are actually going to take you up on this offer?

I mean, I would love that. I'm actually going to get certified by Jay Shetty. I don't know if you're familiar with Jay Shetty. Of course I know Jay Shetty. And I'm going to get my life certificate. I mean life coach certificate. You should be on, you should be on on purpose.

Oh my God. I would love it. I would love that. We need to make this happen. Manifesting. What are three things you're grateful for? Oh my gosh. Well,

I recently became a father. So super grateful for my daughter, Logan, and that she's healthy. Grateful for my wife. She's amazing. And grateful for my health. Without health, You've got nothing else.

Yeah. It's so true. So true. And thank you for, you know, flipping that back on me. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

All right, CJ, appreciate you so much. Thank you. You're awesome. Thank you. I really appreciate it. I had a lot of fun with you. I appreciate it. We'll talk soon.

What a lovely conversation with C.J. Perry. And isn't that nice how she asked me at the end there what I was grateful for, too? I always think that's so thoughtful when guests turn their net. that back around on me. And you should check out the YouTube version of this if for no other reason than to see her dogs at the end. Because, I mean, you could hear us talking about the dogs there, but you really got to see the dogs.

And I'm sure you won't mind seeing C.J. Perry as well. And if that is the case, go check out C.J.perry.com. I feel like we did a real good job there of talking it up. I mean, and especially if you're a wrestler, if you're an up-and-coming wrestler, it really feels like it's worth the 1999 a month to just get on CJ's radar. If she's going to watch these videos, that just seems like a great investment. 20 bucks. And speaking of great investments, if you're a fellow creator, feels like a good investment to spend $1 by signing up at full-time creator.co, which is my company. So if you are a creator who wants to take things to

the next level and you want to learn directly from me and my buddy Travis Chapel, Go sign up at full-time creator.com for $1.00. And I'm going to leave you with this quote, which actually ties in really well to what I was just talking about with full-time creator. We are going to be perpetually disappointed by life if we spend our days anticipating something greater while doing nothing about it.

So my friend, please do something about it. Be great, be grateful, and we will. We'll see you on the next one for some more insight with special guest, Baron Corbyn. Woo! Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do. With rapid fire takes.

So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. The spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of it. Get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast. What should be?

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