The Dazzling World of AEW Wrestlers: Inside Leila Grey's Take on Jade Cargill's Impact as a Baddie on Netflix!

Summary

Wrestlers documentary series on Netflix focuses on Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and the behind-the-scenes struggles faced by CEO Al Snow and his team.

OVW is optimistic that the show will garner attention and bring about a positive change in their fortunes. The response thus far from wrestling and non-wrestling fans has been overwhelmingly favorable. Leila Grey, who is affiliated with both AEW and OVW, shares her insights about being on the show, collaborating with AEW superstar Jade Cargill, and her aspirations as an individual character in AEW.

Leila Grey is a member of both the All Elite Wrestling roster and Ohio Valley Wrestling. The new Netflix documentary series, Wrestlers, focuses on Ohio Valley Wrestling, where CEO and head of creative, Al Snow, faces the challenges of running his pro wrestling promotion in Kentucky. OVW has a live weekly television show and features a dynamic group of wrestlers such as Mahabali Shera, HollyHood Haley J, Ca$h Flo, Mr. PEC-tacular, and Freya the Slaya. Throughout the series, Snow must also report to OVW's co-owner, Matt Jones.

Leila Grey Discusses Netflix's Wrestlers, OVW & All Elite Wrestling

Screen Rant: During SummerSlam weekend in Nashville, there was a significant moment in an episode of Wrestlers where Certified Luke Kurtis surprised everyone by stepping into the ring and proposing to you. As I watched the scene unfold, I couldn't help but question its authenticity.

Leila Grey confirmed the authenticity of her marriage by stating, "It's true. The ring remains on my finger." She explained that numerous individuals reached out to inquire whether her wedding was for wrestling purposes or if it was legitimate. Leila emphasized that it was indeed a real marriage. However, she advised against getting married in a televised ring, as it rarely yields successful outcomes.

Leila Grey: No, I refuse to get married in the ring. Getting engaged was sufficient.

Being a fan of wrestling, I was familiar with OVW due to John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Batista, and Randy Orton emerging from there. Wrestlers provided me with a great insight into the backstage of OVW, which I was unaware of after the formation of NXT. How has the feedback for Wrestlers been?

Leila Grey: The response we've received for Wrestlers has been incredible. I constantly check the #WrestlersNetflix hashtag on Twitter and haven't come across any negative reviews. Everyone is absolutely loving the show, with many sharing how they binge-watched it and are craving more. It's fantastic to hear. What's even more amazing is that the show has managed to attract a broader audience beyond wrestling. Many comments express, "I'm not even a wrestling fan, but I can't get enough of this show" or "I haven't watched wrestling in 20 years, but this show reignited my love for it." It's truly heartwarming to hear such sentiments, and I'm thrilled that we've been able to provide that experience to people. Hopefully, it will entice them to start watching what we're doing and get into wrestling in general today.

Are you still affiliated with OVW, or are you exclusively with AEW now?

Leila Grey: I am currently affiliated with both organizations. The remarkable aspect of AEW is that despite being signed with them full time, I am still able to work with independent promotions. This opportunity allows me to further develop my skills, particularly when working with OVW. At AEW, we have the privilege of participating in weekly live television shows where we practice various aspects including following time cues, delivering promos both live and backstage. By simulating the real television experience, it greatly enhances my preparation for my appearances with AEW.

When you observed other wrestlers, did you ever find yourself astounded by what they were showcasing?

Leila Grey: The most memorable moment for me was during episode 3 when Matt Jones unexpectedly had a seizure. It was a truly traumatizing experience. During the filming of the show that summer, I had no idea that Matt had epilepsy. I had only heard whispers about him having a seizure during one of their meetings. That was the extent of my knowledge. Matt had mentioned to us that he had a mild case of epilepsy, but witnessing it firsthand was an entirely different story. Prior to this, I had only seen one person have a seizure in my life, and that had left a lasting impact on me. To witness it again, especially captured on camera, was beyond words. It genuinely made me empathize with him on a deeper level.

After the filming ended, OVW has continued to operate in a similar manner. However, since the release of the show, we have noticed an increase in online engagement, followers, and ticket sales. Tonight's OVW show is anticipated to have a full audience, which is encouraging. We have also launched the Shop OVW page, where everyone is successfully selling their merchandise. Our main goal is to capitalize on this momentum and further expand the reputation of OVW and our individual brands.

That's incredible. There was a specific moment when Al Snow mentioned that the pay-per-view OVW organized needed 500 purchases in order to cover costs. However, when the actual numbers were revealed, only 74 purchases were made. It was quite disappointing.

Leila Grey: Indeed. I believe our summer tours played a significant role in our progress. As you can see on the show, we embarked on a summer tour which greatly contributed to our overall success for the year. Surprisingly, even though we weren't able to film this summer, we still managed to go on another summer tour. This allowed us to generate enough funds to sustain our operations. Ultimately, we are relying on the Netflix project to be our saving grace, as it has the potential to secure the future of our gym at OVW.

You are now officially a part of AEW as well. Your career took a significant turn when you had the opportunity to join Jade Cargill and become a Baddie. In fact, you were the final Baddie in the group.

Leila Grey: The sole surviving Baddie! The epitome of badassery.

Working with Jade was a fantastic experience for me. She embodies everything that I aspire to be - strong, muscular, and a true superstar. We formed a great bond and understood each other on a deep level. Collaborating with her allowed me to have consistent TV time every week on both Dynamite and Rampage. It was an amazing opportunity that introduced me to the masses and helped me transition from AEW Dark to AEW television. I am incredibly grateful to Jade for letting me be a part of the Baddies and I believe we had an incredible run together.

What a fantastic run it was! There's talk circulating about Jade potentially joining another company. [Recent rumors suggest that Jade Cargill has inked a contract with WWE.] How do you think she'll fare in her new endeavor?

Leila Grey: Well, let me tell you, Jade is an absolute force to be reckoned with. She's a true superstar, a megastar even. So no matter where she ends up, she's destined for greatness. While she hasn't confirmed anything yet, I've assured her that she will thrive no matter what. Rumors can be uncertain, but one thing is for sure - she's a superstar through and through, and she's going to dominate.

I was thrilled to hear that Mercedes Moné could potentially be one of my opponents at AEW All In London. Although I couldn't be there, seeing her presence got me even more excited. She is my absolute dream match and serves as a major source of inspiration for me. I find her incredibly relatable, and it's common for people online to point out our resemblance or compare me to Sasha Banks. However, let me clarify that I am not trying to imitate anyone—I can't help but look the way I do. Mercedes Moné is someone I greatly admire, and I strongly believe that she and I would have an amazing match together.

The AEW women's locker room is filled with incredibly talented individuals, including Dr. Britt Baker, Kris Statlander, Toni Storm, and Saraya, just to name a few. What are your aspirations within AEW?

Leila Grey: With the changes happening and the Baddies moving on, my focus is to establish myself as a unique and independent character. While it was a fantastic experience working alongside Jade and being part of the Baddies, my primary objective is to prove to AEW, their fans, and Tony Khan that I am capable of holding my own ground and making a significant impact. I possess charisma, a captivating appearance, and the skills necessary to thrive. I am confident in my abilities and believe I can bring valuable contributions to the table. Thus, my aim is to raise my profile, expand my presence, and become a key player in AEW.

I think should go after Kris Statlander and the TBS Title.

Leila Grey: I'll do it for the Baddies. I'll do it for Jade. I'm getting that TBS Title.

Leila Grey: Prior to my wrestling career, while living in Miami, I worked as a model. Many of the modeling gigs I had involved appearing in music videos. The most significant and enjoyable experience was being part of the "Mia" music video by Drake and Bad Bunny. Interestingly, I stumbled upon a Facebook memory yesterday, reminding me that we filmed it five years ago, in 2018. Collaborating with Bad Bunny and Drake was fantastic. Bad Bunny, in particular, impressed me with his down-to-earth nature, which was unexpected considering his status as a megastar. He was a pleasure to work with, and the "Mia" video holds a special place as one of my favorite projects. I've been fortunate to be a part of many music videos, but this one stands out above all.

Leila Grey had no prior knowledge of his passion for wrestling during their time working together. However, when she discovered this fact, it did not come as a surprise, considering the immense popularity of wrestling in Puerto Rico. Leila admires and looks up to La Rosa Negra, one of her favorite Puerto Rican wrestlers. Understanding the significant presence of wrestling in Puerto Rico, Leila could envision Bad Bunny being a dedicated fan. To her pleasant surprise, Bad Bunny exceeded everyone's expectations with his remarkable wrestling skills. Leila imagines him as one of those adventurous youngsters who fearlessly jumped off everything. She finds it incredibly exciting and hopes that more mainstream celebrities would openly express their love for wrestling. Leila believes that many individuals conceal their fondness for wrestling out of fear of being judged, but she firmly stands by the notion that wrestling is undeniably cool.

Certainly! Wrestling is incredibly popular right now, with numerous remarkable companies like AEW achieving unprecedented success and drawing massive crowds in sold-out stadiums. It feels like the mainstream interest in wrestling is resurging, reminiscent of the vibrant enthusiasm during the 90s in the Attitude Era, where being a wrestling fan was a source of pride.

Leila Grey: I'm thrilled that AEW has been able to attract talented artists like Rick Ross. His contributions were outstanding, and I strongly believe he should join as a full-time manager for someone because he's truly fantastic. Rick Ross, I'd love for you to be my manager. Moreover, we've also had the pleasure of bringing in celebrities like Trina this year. I definitely hope to see an increased collaboration between professional wrestling and mainstream entertainment.

About Netflix's Wrestlers

"Wrestlers, a compelling 7-episode documentary series streaming on Netflix, takes viewers into the world of Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a renowned professional wrestling organization. Led by the esteemed wrestling icon, Al Snow, the new owners and promising talents of OVW are determined to make a lasting impression both inside and outside the ring."