Alexa Bliss Talks About WWE's 'Unleash Your Warrior' Campaign For Breast Cancer Awareness
Oct. 16 2017, Published 3:25 p.m. ET
One of the biggest events during WWE Raw and Smackdown this week actually had nothing to do with blockbuster entrances or flashy finishers.
During both programs, Dana Warrior, the widow of WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior, announced WWE's new "Unleash Your Warrior" campaign in partnership with the Susan G. Komen for breast cancer awareness alongside the WWE's women's divisions.
According to Dana Warrior, the idea behind the campaign is to encourage people to fight against breast cancer by following The Ultimate Warrior's mantra, which was to "Be strong, act bold, and always believe."
During each program, Warrior also proudly presented three breast cancer survivors (Dianne Primavera, Julie Zaveral, and Sherri Goldstein on Raw and Lauren Schwartz, Rochelle McKenzie, and Michelle Segura on Smackdown) with honorary WWE Women's Championship belts in honor of their "warrior spirit".
For the month of October, WWE events will have Susan G. Komen co-branding, and the middle rope of the ring will be pink in honor of breast cancer awareness. Additionally, WWE is selling an "Unleash Your Warrior"-branded shirt online and at shows where 100% of profits will benefit Komen research grants focused on cures for metastatic breast cancer.
Breaking Celebrity News had the opportunity to interview current WWE Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss about her involvement in the campaign.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU INITIALLY HEARD ABOUT THE "UNLEASH YOUR WARRIOR" CAMPAIGN FOR SUSAN G. KOMEN?
Oh, I thought it was amazing. You know, being paired up with...I was actually talking to Dana Warrior about it. She was telling us about the Unleash Your Warrior shirt and how the proceeds will go to breast cancer research for Susan G. Komen and I think it's just such an amazing idea.
I KNOW THE CAMPAIGN'S BEEN SPEARHEADED BY DANA WARRIOR. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO WORK WITH HER ON THIS CAMPAIGN? DO YOU FEEL THAT THEMING IT AROUND THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR IS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND WHAT HAVE YOU?
Absolutely. You know, Dana Warrior is such a strong and motivating woman. And she has been amazing when it comes to any platform. And it has been awesome because she kept talking about how Warrior always said, "believe in what you can do. You can accomplish anything." And I think to relate that with battling and surviving breast cancer is awesome. And she's been such an amazing person to work with on this campaign.
HOW ARE YOU PERSONALLY CONTRIBUTING TO IT? ARE YOU MEETING WITH SOME OF THESE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS LIKE THE ONES WHO WERE FEATURED ON RAW LAST NIGHT?
Yes, so for the past few weeks. There were about six survivors that I've met with so far. And, you know, we got to hang out with them backstage, talk and share stories, and take pictures, do fun photo shoots. Last night we actually presented them with custom titles. Which was awesome and they were super-excited to receive them. And it's just been so much fun to have these women around. And it's so exciting and positive. And their positive attitudes are very infectious. And it's been a lot of fun to be around them and to hear their stories and treat them like the superstars that they are.
YOUR CHARACTER ON WWE IS INFAMOUS FOR BEING A HEEL OR A VILLAIN. DO YOU ENJOY OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS WHERE YOU GET TO HELP OTHERS OUTSIDE OF YOUR WWE PERSONA? DO PEOPLE FIND IT JARRING WHEN THEY MEET SOMEONE KNOWN FOR BEING A “DRAMA QUEEN” ON TV HELPING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE?
Yeah, I love doing everything that's outside of character. Just because, you know, I do play a bad guy on TV. But, you know, I love being able to do all of these outside of the WWE activities because it's just so much fun and it's so, so great because WWE does so much outreach to the community. We do a lot with charities. And to be able to be a part of that, you know being a bad guy on TV, it's so rewarding. And, you know, it's amazing to be around these people and to have these experiences with that. Good guy or bad guy. It's helping the community and that's what WWE's all about.