Exclusive: Liv Morgan says bring on the thumb tacks and light ‘em fire

Her run as SmackDown Women’s Champion can have gotten off to a rocky get started in the eyes of many, however those self same eyes can’t deny that Liv Morgan has in point of fact began to search out her groove those previous few weeks. The self assurance of the New Jersey local, each on and off the display screen, grows with every passing day.

Every morning Liv Morgan wakes up with a grin on her face as a result of she nonetheless has the SmackDown Women’s Championship in her ownership. Cageside Seats had an opportunity to talk with Morgan forward of Extreme Rules and you’ll want to see the glow radiating off of her. Or possibly it used to be the mirrored image of the name belt off her digicam lighting, however regardless, you get my level.

Liv Morgan resides the dream at the moment, however she discovered in no time simply how heavy the head is that wears the crown.

“You are the champion. You are representing the company. You are representing this title. Everything that you do matters,” Morgan advised Cageside Seats. “There’s a true, for me at least, there’s a true responsibility to the locker room, to the other women. Obviously, you’re representing this massive worldwide global company, especially during this insane time of transition that the WWE went through. It was a lot. But I am very proud and honored that I’m the champion during this time. I don’t know, it just, it means more to me. It’s so real to me. It means more to me than having a title or being considered champion. There’s so many layers that go into it. It’s truly an honor.”

One of the largest grievance’s of Morgan’s reign up to now has been her reserving. She’s been the recipient of an excessive amount of offense from her warring parties and has needed to play from at the back of, so that you can discuss, to win her fits.

That scrappy underdog mentality performed smartly to the crowd whilst she used to be chasing the gold these kinds of years, however now that she has it, what she used to be as soon as respected for is now noticed as an indication of weak spot. However, whilst others need her to tower over the remainder of the SmackDown Women’s Division, Morgan has a distinct imaginative and prescient. She’s opting for to make use of her time in the highlight, to polish that light on others.

“As I settled in as champ, it just became very clear and like natural to me, what those responsibilities are and what kind of champion I wanna be. I don’t wanna be the champion that is feeling entitled and is feeling like I’ve gotta look better than everyone all the time. It’s like, no, I wanna be the champion that literally and genuinely lifts up the division. That lifts up the locker room. That lifts up every single person that I work with.”

Morgan spent 8 years gazing different girls elevate the gold and noticed Bayley as any individual to emulate. It’s on this case that the Grand Slam Champion has lived as much as her Role Model nickname.

“She is someone that I’ve had my entire WWE journey with. She was locker room leader when I started in NXT. And she always wants what’s best for the betterment of the Women’s Division and women’s wrestling in general. You know, it’s not just about her or her being on top or her looking fantastic. It’s about who you’re in there with and everyone else.”

A commentary that also holds water to this present day. Bayley would possibly now not be the lovely hugger she as soon as used to be, however upon her go back to WWE this summer season, she nonetheless prioritized striking the development of others forward of her personal targets. It used to be most effective after she helped determine her Damage CTRL compatriots, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY, that she flip her consideration towards shooting the Raw Women’s Championship for herself. Proving that even in darkness, there is usually a trace of light.

While Bayley has been significantly lauded for her efforts to raise the department, it’s been the complete opposite for Liv Morgan. Immediately following her arguable victory over Ronda Rousey at Summer seasonSlam, the complete brunt power of the fickle fanbase got here crashing down on the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Just as a definite any individual predicted it could past due final 12 months.

Just name her Bex-tradamus.

Having the crowd flip on you that temporarily, are living on the maximum watched wrestling display on the planet, generally is a jarring enjoy for any performer. But Liv treated herself smartly. She advised Cageside Seats that she in reality wanted that fact take a look at, and in a unusual approach, she’s thankful and appreciative for the enjoy.

Ultimately, it will turn out to be the turning level in a long and a hit run as SmackDown Women’s Champion.

“It’s been a journey. I think in the beginning I just was so in disbelief that I made my dreams come true. That it took a couple weeks for this to like settle in and feel real. It didn’t feel real for what feels like forever. I remember people asking me like, ‘Does it feel real yet?’ And it’s been like a month and a half later and I’m still like, no,” Morgan mentioned. “I feel like over the last couple weeks, the last month or so, it’s really settled. And it doesn’t feel like, yes, thank you, I’m grateful to be champion. It feels like, I’m the SmackDown Women’s Champion. I’m the rightful SmackDown Women’s Champion and I’m perhaps the best woman for the job right now.”

In true Liv Morgan type, she’s in a position to battle. Fight to win again the admiration of the ones lovers she misplaced. And most significantly come this Saturday, she’ll battle with each ounce of her being to retain her championship in opposition to Ronda Rousey.

“There’s nothing that I won’t do. And I mean that so very genuinely. There’s absolutely nothing that I wouldn’t do. And there’s especially nothing that I wouldn’t do to keep this championship. Ronda’s gonna have to kill me. Like, I’ve said it before, but I just mean that so quite literally. You’re gonna have to get creative if you think anything’s gonna keep me down from keeping my championship.”

Win, lose or draw, Liv is happy for the alternative that lays forward of her this Saturday at Extreme Rules. She says rising up it used to be the hardcore taste, noting specifically the early TLC classics, that in point of fact attracted her to professional wrestling.

It would possibly appear loopy to a couple. Challenging Ronda Rousey to an Extreme Rules fit is like handing a can of gas to any individual with a blow torch. You don’t want to make any individual that’s a risk much more bad. That mentioned, Liv doesn’t see it that approach. This is her wheelhouse.

So bring on the tables, the ladders, the chairs, the kendo sticks, and sure, even the thumb tacks Ronda. Liv is in a position. And extra importantly, she in fact loves it. Seriously. She needs all of it. Liv Morgan is able to move out in entrance of a sizzling Philadelphia crowd, the birthplace of ECW, and put herself via Hell to hold on to her SmackDown Women’s Championship.

“There’s a passion about it,” Morgan mentioned. “You have to love something with your whole entire heart and soul. And I don’t know how else to show my love for wrestling then to like show you guys that I will do anything for this. I will put my body through anything just so you could understand how much this means to me and how much I love this. I don’t know how else to really explain it more than that. It’s like, for you to understand what this means to me, I will roll through thumb tacks, on fire.”

Flaming thumb tacks? Yea, you’ll signal me up for that.

Check out our complete dialog with Liv Morgan in the video above and remember to watch her this Saturday at Extreme Rules as she defends her SmackDown Women’s Championship in opposition to Ronda Rousey in an Extreme Rules fit. Coverage begins at 8pm ET7pm CT on Peacock.

Rick Ucchino will also be reached at Rick.Bleav@gmail.com. You can practice him on Twitter @RickUcchino and remember to subscribe to the Bleav in Pro Wrestling YouTube Channel.