In June 2022, former Bellator MMA fighter Valerie Loureda signed with WWE.
Loureda was renamed Lola Vice and made her non-battle royal debut at a NXT live event in November 2022. Lola has continued to work at NXT live events and competed on NXT Level Up throughout 2023. On the August 1 episode of NXT, she had her first non-battle royal TV match, teaming with Elektra Lopez to defeat Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Lola discussed her transition from MMA to WWE.
"People think because I come from a fighting background it's easier to transition to pro wrestling. That's false. It's way harder to have to pull than to learn how to give. That's why they're hiring so many young talented athletes because they can teach them the ways. With me, I've had to kind of erase the psychology and learn a new one. The first time I ever took a bump, I knew this career was for me. It's natural to me, I'm good at it, I love the performance. WWE did a great job with me last year. They gave me a lot of repetition, a lot of matches, teaching me with the best coaches in the world. I know I haven't posted a lot, or I've been low key, it's because I've been really indulging myself in this experience because I want to be the best superstar ever in the history of this company," she said.
When asked what the toughest part has been for her, Lola commented, "More the environment. In MMA, it was me alone with my camp and coaches. Now, I'm part of the best company in the world. It's kind letting go of that control and allowing others to take control of my career and take control of my name and my brand. The promo, I love it, I speak little Spanglish, and that's me. I realized after my fights, I would give promos in the cage in front of thousands of people without thinking about it. All of that comes to me naturally. It's more the environment and having to adjust to a different company life and being a girly girl. In MMA, I could never have my nails like this, my eyelashes done, my hair done all the time. That's how the business is, and I have to adjust to this life and be the best I can."
Lola is set to make her singles debut on TV against Roxanne Perez on the September 19 episode of NXT.
Fans can check out the lineup for Tuesday's NXT by clicking here. Fightful will have live coverage of the event beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
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