WWE legend Summer Rae thinks her Royal Rumble return is a big step ‘in the right direction’ for a potential comeback.
The 38-year-old star – who signed with the company 2011 and spent time in FCW and NXT before getting called up to Raw in 2013 – will make her first in-ring appearance since her 2017 release at Saturday’s huge event, and she’ll have plenty of friends and family flying in for her big night.
She exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘I feel fortunate that I’m getting this opportunity. I can almost do it again, and I think I will be more appreciative this time.
‘I never had my last match – I didn’t know it was gonna be my last match, so now I can be like… “Wow, OK! This is it”. If I never wrestle again, this is it.’
Rae – whose real name is Danielle Moinet – admitted she has ‘always’ loved wrestling, and her passion hasn’t waned just because she’s been away from the ring.
‘I didn’t not come back because I hate it or there were bad feelings. I’ve been concentrating on finding out who Danielle Moinet is, versus Summer Rae,’ she explained. ‘I’ve been really successful and I’m thankful to myself for that, but it is my love. I don’t watch it a lot because it makes me want to go back.’
A big story heading to this year’s Rumble is the simmering tension between Summer and SmackDown veteran Natalya, who had very real beef back in the day on Total Divas.
‘There’s a part of me that thinks it would be such a waste to never have a real feud backed by the company,’ she said, reflecting on their rows on the reality show.
‘But I also honestly really – not even kayfabing you – I don’t even know if I could wrestle like that with my neck and my injuries. Saturday is definitely a step in the right direction to see how I feel, and how things are.’
And although she reserves some praise for Natalya, describing her as a Hall of Famer, she is still ready to take it to the former champion if they cross paths in the Rumble.
‘I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on her in the Rumble,’ she added. ‘I don’t know who’s first out of me and Nattie, but I know whoever it is, we’re gonna go for it.’
And while she would love to return for another run to give them a blow-off match, it remains to be seen whether she could handle it, or if there’s interest within the company.
‘Of course I want that,’ she smiled. ‘I just don’t know if it’s doable, I don’t know if the company would want me. There’s just so many factors. They never sign people for three months, that’s not how it works.
‘You don’t get signed for feuds, you just get signed. I know I’m not a special case. There’s so may factors, it’s so hard for me to be like, “Yeah, I wanna come back!” I really don’t know. That’s not even me trying to be mysterious. I just don’t know, you know?’
Rae is excited to lock it up with new stars like Bianca Belair – ‘she’s so amazing’ – and Shotzi, but a big part of the appeal this weekend is also a chance to be in there with some of her heroes.
‘Of course, I didn’t hesitate,’ she said of the first call asking if she’d be interested, when she made sure they knew she wouldn’t be ditching her red hair.
‘From that time to when they called me to say I got it, I started thinking about it more and more. I was like… dang. Then I heard Lita, Michelle McCool. I’m like, those are people that I watched growing up. LayCool was my jam! Just to be in the ring with them, it’s just crazy.’
There was plenty of social media chatter a couple of weeks ago when Summer herself was referred to as a WWE legend on television, with some fans criticising the move while others leaped to her defence.
For her part, Rae has released new merchandise to capitalise on the uproar, and she nearly took things a step further.
‘They’re really lucky I’m not putting “legend” all over my gear because I really thought about it,’ she laughed. ‘But it’s too close to the time to put “legend” on there.’
She is clearly loving getting to be back in this world and rile up the fans – so, what emotions she she feeling heading into the weekend?
‘I’m just excited to feel a crowd again,’ she beamed. ‘I’m gonna cry like a baby in the back afterwards. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. Wrestling is amazing. It’s just amazing.’
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WWE Royal Rumble airs Saturday, January 29 at 1am on the WWE Network and BT Sport. Follow Summer Rae on Instagram to keep up to dates on her projects with Hedge and more.
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