WWE superstars Bianca and Montez talk WrestleMania 40, their marriage and unlikely journey into wrestling, answer to the scripted speculation vs reality of WWE athletes and how they continue to pave the way for young black men and women in the sport.
Podcast:Pivot Podcast Published On: Tue Apr 02 2024 Description: The WWE continues to grow to new heights as one of the biggest attractions in sports and entertainment, and this weekend, Philadelphia plays host to Pro Wrestling's Super Bowl as Wrestlemania takes over on April 6 & 7 and will be their grandest stage yet. Extending the event from one night to 48 hours with a WWE roster of superstars and storylines, two of the biggest names in the sport are sitting down with Ryan, Channing and Fred to share their unlikely journey to the top of wrestling and how it has shaped their lives in and outside of the ring from being apart of one of the fastest growing movements in the world to the battles they've overcome to be successful. Bianca Belair and Montez Ford, the WWE superstar couple, talk about wrestling, their relationship on “Love & WWE”, finding the person they love while doing what they love and their storied journeys into their individual careers. Both former champions, Bianca and Montez have proven they have what it takes to succeed in wrestling and share how they have paved the way for other black men and women to have similar success and open up about how the spotlight away from the ring has affected their careers and personal lives. Bianca opens up about how her highly competitive track career in highschool and college led to a battle with her diet, body image and eventual depression. The mental struggles mixed with her unhealthy relationship with food created a scenario where she was unable to perform at her best despite her insane amount of athleticism and talent. Afraid of failure, Biancaa leaned on her family and went back home to reset her life and eventually pivoted into a new endeavor, joining the WWE. For Montez, it was a different path, as wrestling was always a passion of his, and when he lost his older sister to a car accident in 2000, wrestling became a true escape and a way of life. Overcoming his own setbacks, Tez discusses how he was too skinny compared to other men in the sport when first trying out but it was his family’s motivation and philosophy to always max out in anything they do that motivated him to keep going. The two's success opened doors for young men and women who not only looked like them to believe they can have success but all young people to believe that not all journeys are direct paths to the top. With Bianca being the longest reigning RAW world champion during her meteoric rise and Montez winning three different championships as a member of the Tag Team Street Profits alongside Angelo Dawkins, the couple has put on for not only themselves and their families but the black community too. Captivating fans worldwide with their skill and contagious personalities, their on screen love and support for one another has elevated the two into a different level of stardom. Fred and Ryan can't help but ask the obvious question about the scripted reputation of WWE and ask how Tez and Bianca explain what they do to others and how they deal with their constantly changing storylines while keeping from one another too. Setting the record straight that WWE is non-scripted at its core and what happens from week to week is unknown to them as they go in-depth about how grueling the schedule is, how tiring the performing can be from high-octane jumps to painful moves on the ground, the sport is difficult on the body and mind. With Wrestlemania on the horizon, the two talk about the title fights they are supposed to have but how even being a few days away from being on the biggest stage in wrestling, the two don't quite know what's in store match wise for them. Their chaotic lifestyle of the WWE is transparently shown in their new Hulu series, as the two figure out what fits their careers while making big decisions about having a family and what's next. Bianca’s Kiss of Death and Montez’s Frog Splash are two of the best finishing moves in the WWE, but this couple’s story is very far from over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices