CJ Perry Reflects on Her WWE Lana Era, Ric Flair Pitch, and Life Beyond the Ring

CJ Perry, who portrayed Lana in WWE for roughly a decade, now reflects on that chapter with humor, candor, and appreciation.

Speaking recently on “Nick Club Wrestling Happy Hour,” Perry shared that she regularly pitched storyline ideas and stood behind each concept. She frequently received input from Vince McMahon, whom she respected as the company’s leader.

When WWE later assigned some of her concepts to other performers, Perry refused to resent the decisions. Instead, she viewed it as validation of her creativity and recognized that she may not have been the right fit for every role.

One such example followed her Bobby Lashley storyline, when she jokingly suggested Lana become Ric Flair’s romantic interest—even referring to the possibility of being his sixth wife. Lacey Evans eventually received a romantic angle with Flair. While Perry stopped short of claiming her idea was passed along, she believes Evans was the stronger choice: a tougher in-ring opponent for Charlotte Flair, similar in stature, and with a Southern background. Perry emphasized that casting is crucial, since audiences must fully buy into the character.

Life after WWE has presented its own challenges. Instead of penning a memoir, Perry opted to write a fictional spy novel. She has also grown significantly while addressing personal matters alongside her husband, Rusev, acknowledging a roughly two-year period marked by mental health struggles and manic episodes.

Perry admits she misses the adrenaline of performing before a live audience, likening the sensation to chasing a high. She has had to discover fulfillment outside the squared circle while retaining fond memories of her WWE days. Today, she attends Hollywood events sober, experiences fewer mood swings, and is focused on her path toward starting a family.

Source link