Before CJ Perry moved her managerial services to All Elite Wrestling, she served as her husband Miro’s manager in WWE, where they were known as Lana and Rusev. Perry reemerged on the pro wrestling scene under her real name and new “Hot And Flexible” moniker at AEW All Out in September. The blonde bombshell helped to ward off a post-match attack on her significant other by his opponent, Powerhouse Hobbs, but the Bulgarian Brute refused to embrace his wife once the dust settled. Their storyline has progressed on AEW Collision, where Perry attempts to find new talent to manage while Miro meddles in her affairs, trying to get her to quit and go home.
In an exclusive Haus of Wrestling interview, I asked Perry why she and Miro were not immediately paired up as a duo on AEW TV.
“I think that from a story arc position, you have to have a story arc. So, either you start together and then finish not together, or start apart and finish together,” she explained. “With that intention of going in, also, like just learning a lot from Paul Heyman, and I’m so thankful for him and how much he’s mentored me over the years and asking him so many questions, and he always was really clear where he knew where his money pockets were, and it was fighting against Brock Lesnar.
“Even if it was with CM Punk, Phil, or like, he’s with Roman, I guarantee you at some point, Brock’s gonna come back, you know? And so, it’s to me, I know, my money pocket has been we both, the wrestling world has been conditioned to see us together or fighting each other. Really think about all throughout the years, and if you look at the numbers, those are our best numbers.
“And in my opinion, our best numbers are actually when we’re the opposite. So, I think human nature likes that, and especially if we know people are really together and like that extra tea, we all are here for it. Even if some people don’t want to admit it.”
My full interview with CJ Perry is now available on the Haus of Wrestling YouTube channel, podcast feed, and X account.
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