Shazza McKenzie shares her rollercoaster ride to AEW All Out.
Speaking with Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, McKenzie explained how she met Brandi and Cody Rhodes in November 2018 while they were on tour in Australia. Remember, this all happened before AEW was announced. Brandi wrestled Shazza at a show and after their match, pulled her aside and told her that the rumors she was likely hearing were true.
"But, yeah, so she’s like, ‘This is true. We definitely want you to be a part of it in some way,’ and all this stuff. So, keep in contact. Blah, blah, blah. ‘Come to Vegas and we’ll chat more in Vegas.’ ‘Cause I was already gonna be in America at that time anyway when Vegas was happening, and then I ended up getting booked at Starrcast and everything. So, I was in Vegas anyway. I went to Double or Nothing. I have my Double or Nothing, this is real lame Shaz stuff. I have my Double or Nothing ticket in my wallet every day. So, it’s like a reminder because that’s the goal. AEW will always be the goal."
McKenzie says she kept in contact with Brandi and had always been told that they were doing a battle royale at All Out. Unfortunately, one month before the event, Brandi sent her a message about there being an issue with the VISA's and not being able to use her on the card.
"So, I went into a deep depression, ate my body weight worth of anything I could find. ‘Cause I’d spend the past seven to eight months being like, ‘I’m fucking making it, guys. This is it, let’s go!’ Then I was like, ‘Oh, I hate my life.’ So, then I was miserable for two weeks. Then one morning and I woke up. I had a text message and she said, ‘Hey, are you still free on August 31st?’ I said, ‘Yes. Yes, I am."
The Australian star describes her time on AEW Dark as much less overwhelming. Being booked for SHIMMER and Starrcast, with a week in between, Shazza flew to America and messaged Brandi, asking if they had any work available while she was in the country. Here is what happened next:
"She was like, ‘Let me message Tony.’ Then twenty minutes later, she’s like, ‘Yep. So, this day.’ I was like, ‘What?’ ‘Yeah, (Christopher Daniels) will send you all the information. It’s fine.’ I was like, ‘What? Why was this so easy? What?’ So, that happened, and then I just stay in contact I guess for whenever the world decides to stop ending. Which, you know, it is what it is."
While on Dark, Shazza teamed with Shalandra Royal to face the team of Leva Bates and Nyla Rose. McKenzie, who has wrestled for GCW, SHIMMER and RevPro, has also appeared on NXT, competing against Emma in 2015 and Kairi Sane in 2018.
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