IN AND OUT OF THE RING | CHELSEA GREEN

For our WWE fans, we all have our favorites that we enjoy watching their storylines, promos, wins, and all the moments in between. Over the course of our 129 issues, we have enjoyed sharing these athletes on our cover. For our SEP ISSUE #129, we sit down with Chelsea Green who is the current WWE Women’s Champion! Whether you have seen her in WWE 2K26, Netflix’s Unreal or follow her on her IG, we enjoy seeing her energy and athleticism as she navigates the WWE Universe. We wanted to know more about how she got into this industry, being in the ring, and putting her passion and love out there as performs on global stages!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve had the pleasure of watching you wrestle for a number of years.

CHELSEA GREEN: Love!

AM: We’ve loved seeing you on Netflix’s WWE: Unreal and seeing what happens outside of the storylines that take place in the ring on WWE.

We’ve watched you over the years. Obviously, those in the WWE Universe have watched you. What is the first wrestling match that you remember watching?

CG: You know, I actually didn’t grow up a huge WWE or WWF fan, but I went to a live show. A couple of friends from school dragged me to a live show. I will never forget seeing Kelly Kelly in a purple sparkly beautiful outfit and it was the first time that I had connected the thought of you can be badass and also look like a beautiful Barbie, you know? I think that that’s what really got me thinking that the 2 can coexist together. That’s how I’ve always been. I’ve always played a million different sports, but I still wanted to wear makeup. I still loved, you know, like cute outfits or getting my hair done.

AM: Yeah.

CG: That was kind of the most beautiful combination of those 2.

AM: At what point though, did you think to yourself, okay, well, I want to wrestle. I want to do this professionally.

CG: I was going to school for Kinesiology in Calgary and I was also bartending on the side. People kept talking in Calgary about this infamous Hart family. A quick Google search would show me that they were basically the biggest wrestling dynasty family ever! That kind of snowballed into Googling how to be a WWE Diva and turns out, there was a school, one of the best schools in the world, only 10 minutes away from where I lived at the time.

AM: Oh, wow.

CG: It was just perfect because I wanted a new hobby. I kept hearing about this wrestling thing and I decided, that they had a 3-month course. Let me check it out. So I ended up signing myself up for Storm Wrestling Academy. I mean, I took one look at the ring when I got there and I fell absolutely in love.

AM: It’s always interesting to hear how people come to whatever it is that they do.

What’s an average week like for you when it comes to training and getting ready for matches? One of the things that we really respect, and we’ve interviewed a tons of athletes across an array of sports. But the WWE athletes that we have had as covers from Nattie, Leah Van Dale, Daria Beranato, Danielle Moinet, Trinity, etc – you guys are traveling 300+ days a year! You’re wrestling, doing promos, special projects philanthropy initiatives, being with fans – the schedule is not easy. You were in Indy Thursday night and you could be in Dubai 2 days from now!

What’s that average week like for training?

CG: Of course, growing up being an athlete and then getting into personal training and Kinesiology, I loved to work out 6 to 7 days a week. Even when I said I wasn’t working out, I was still doing active recovery. I was going for walks or I was doing something that kept my blood flowing. But I’ve had to learn to be really forgiving with my body since getting into WWE. For the past 3 years, I have been lucky if I had one day off a week. So with all that traveling, and of course, now being in my 30s, I’ve really had to make sure that I take time not so much for lifting, or for getting cardio in, but for sleep, and for healthy habits. So if that means, you know, just making sure that I get all my protein in, or if that means getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep, if that means just making sure that I walk from point A to point B in between my appearances. That’s what I do. I give myself that grace and that freedom to take time off.

You know, that’s easier said than done because mentally I want to work out 6 to 7 days a week and I want to go hard. I want to always feel the burn that you feel when you’re having those amazing workouts and the sore muscles. We have to be careful because we are on the road, like you said, basically 365 days a year. So it’s my workouts and the way that I frame working out that has changed.

AM: What are 3 workouts that you do that optimize you as a wrestler that could be beneficial for those of us who are not wrestling, but would be great for our fitness routines?

CG: I love. a plyometric workout and I think the beauty of plyo is that you can expand on it. So you can do little mini jumps and then you can also go faster and harder and higher with plyo. You can pick up the pace, you can slow down the pace, you can do long jumps as opposed to high jumps - like there’s just so many ways that you can fit plyo into a short workout. You can do a hip plyo workout for 15 minutes and be absolutely drenched! So I think plyo is the easiest way to be able to do a workout without weights, without anything - except body weight. You can take that with you and workout anywhere.

Okay now I know everyone is on the pilates train!

AM: Yes

CG: I’m absolutely here for it. I like a high intensity low impact pilates class. I like one with a mega reformer. I think that people are so afraid of that machine, but if you just go in and face your fears one time everything else after that in that class will be such a breeze. It’s like plyo where you can add the weights and you can take them away. You can build on it. So I think that’s a beautiful workout to do to be able to keep kind of growing in your stability, flexibility, or lengthening your muscles.

The third one is a good old fashioned only dumbbell workout. It’s gonna get you everywhere. I’m telling you people who say that they don’t have the knowledge, the time, or the equipment for a workout - like you’re lying! You can pick up milk jugs, you can do body weight things there’s always an answer. All I need personally and this is coming from somebody who I’ve been working out for over 20 years. All I need is 10lb dumbbells. That’s it. That is it. I can build any workout I want with 10lb dumbbells. There’s no excuse.

AM: So true. We love Pilates. Like you said, it was intimidating the first time. I just tried a new method called the Nofar Method, they have them here in NY and in Miami they have the Classic Reformer and the Cadillac Reformer. So you do the 50 mins class and you have half of it on one maching and the other half on the second machine. It was the first time we were on the Cadillac and we were a little apprehensive, but you could feel the benefits a few hours later so we may be bringing that into the rotation.

CG: Ooh, that’s a lot. I get it. You know what I have taken? So I do, Hili here in Florida. It’s not everywhere, but it’s growing in South Florida and Central Florida. I brought some fellow athletes with me.

AM: Yeah.

CG: Some are totally intimidated. They hate it. They’re shaking the minute they get on and some think it’s a breeze. So, I think that’s kind of the beauty of these Pilates classes. We’re finding all these different methods, but, but they all have something in common, which is using some form of reformer. I mean, they’re hard as hell.

AM: Oh yeah, such a respect for it.

CG: I’m going to be taking my husband there. He agreed. He would try it out.

AM: What was your road to getting to the WWE? Years ago, MTV had a show where you had WWE hopefuls and you saw them compete to get a contract.

CG: Yes! Tough Enough!

AM: It was a great show because you saw people taking that step towards their dream, dedicate their time, but not everybody gets to win. The WWE has so many tracks/organizations as a way to get in, what was your road?

CG: So that’s funny you say Tough Enough. I actually was on Tough Enough, but my journey started before Tough Enough. So I started in 2014. After, you know, what I thought was going to be a fun little hobby for 3 month training at Storm Wrestling Academy, I fell absolutely in love with it. And I decided to kind of plunk myself in the middle of independent wrestling. So I wrestled all around North America. I wrestled in Japan. I wrestled in Mexico on the indie scene.

AM: That is very gritty.

CG: I was only getting paid $20. I’m killing my body. I’m doing death defying stunts. It was a lot, but for me, it was about showing my respect for this sport – professional wrestling. That was the right avenue and I’m so thankful I did that. I actually ended up on the indie scene for years and years and years on and off. I was hired at TNA for awhile and became Knockouts Champion. I went to Lucha Underground and wrestled Penta who we now know in WWE. I ended up having a brief stint at WWE for about 2 years before the pandemic.

Then with everything that happened with the world, I was actually released. That’s when I kind of reinvented myself. I changed my mindset. I reinvented myself as a wrestler. You know, I really had gotten into this vicious cycle of negative self-talk and negative talk within work. Instead of walking into the Performance Center and walking into WWE saying, “what an amazing day it is and how blessed we are to have this job.” I was like, “oh, it’s raining out and we have to wrestle for the next 8 hours.”

AM: Right.

CG: When I was released, I was like, “what was I thinking?” That was everything I have worked for since 2014. So I tried to do a master reset on my brain and just get into a space of being grateful. And that changed everything. When I was rehired back at WWE in 2023, I looked at the opportunity as, anything that I do from here on out is a blessing because I’m at WWE. I have a beautiful life, a beautiful husband, beautiful dogs. I’m building my dream house. I have everything I’ve ever wanted. So anything past this is just, it’s the icing on top of the cake. So that really changed everything for me because I said yes to absolutely everything that came my way in WWE. I never said no to an opportunity whether I was exhausted, sore, I hadn’t been home. I was losing a match or it seemed like it wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I just had this mindset of say yes and smile about it for everything.

Eventually after a year of doing that people started to recognize that and they started to appreciate it. They were able to rely on me. They knew that they could ask me to do things within WWE and I would never, ever complain or I would never make them feel like that was an opportunity that I was too big for. Eventually, that is why I ended up as the first United States Women’s Champion and again as the WWE Women’s Champion because I became reliable and there’s something to be said about just being a good hand.

AM: Agreed and I think that’s why it’s enjoyable to watch you because we know that you’ve been busting your butt while being authentic and staying present even when something wasn’t exactly what you wanted. You’re like, you know what? There is this grit and you just get in there.

CG: I grew up in a household where there’s no pitying ourselves. We’re not having pity parties. We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves. We’re going to do the job. We’re going to do it the best way that we can. We’re not going to quit. If we don’t want to go back and do it again, fine. But that’s kind of like what was instilled in me. So I tried to take that mindset that my parents gave me at an early age and apply it to WWE and to the workplace because trust me, there’s a lot of stuff that I don’t want to be doing! I want to be at home with my animals cuddling up to them on the couch but there’s only so much time that I’m going to have in this industry and I want to make the most of it.

AM: For someone who’s new to the sport, describe who Chelsea Green is when we’re seeing her on the screen, in the ring, and we’ve entered your bedazzled world in your closet in Unreal – who wouldn’t want to be in there?

CG: I’m literally talking to you right now from my closet!

AM: Thought so!

CG: I’ve taken the fans on a crazy ride for this character in the past 3 or 4 years. We started out as a very typical Karen character. She was annoying. She was outspoken. She was a complainer. Then it started to kind of shift after Unreal came out. Even though I was still playing that character in my heart, the fans kind of switched me into more of an underdog character where it didn’t matter that I was complaining. I deserved and I was allowed to complain. They got behind me because of, you know, the journey that I’ve been on, the indie scene, the broken bones and the blood, sweat and tears that they’ve watched me shed for 12 years. And so that’s where my character ended up becoming a good guy. And now, I’m in this new era where I am Champion and I am a good guy and that’s everything I was in 6 months ago. So, I’m trying to figure out who am I now? Because I never want to just night and day switch up just because the fans decided that I’m a good guy. I want to keep that character that has fire and spice and she’s quick-witted. She says exactly what’s on her mind and she’s got comedic timing. She makes people laugh and she’s the butt of the joke. I don’t want to lose that, but now we’re going to shift into a more likable version of that. So, you know, TBD on who Chelsea is in the following 6 months.

AM: Speaking of Unreal, this show lets us see what’s going on on the stage, how the stage comes together and the lives of the wrestlers as they navigate their world. In many way, it fills in the gaps. So in watching you, we know that you’re resilient, you bounce back, you have tenacity, but getting to know more about you to fill in the gaps at home.

What did it mean to you to be a part of the series? It’s really nice that they highlight and showcase Cody, you, CM Punk, Triple H, as well as those that are coming up.

CG: Well, you know what’s funny? I’ll never forget sitting in the Salt Lake City airport and getting the call about Unreal. I had no idea how big it would be. I had no idea that it would change the trajectory of my character and my career within the company. I just wanted to do it because I knew I had so much more to give to the WWE Universe. I understand that people watch me every Friday night and they think I’m annoying or they think I’m funny or whatever it is. But I’m just, I’m a normal Canadian girl who loves her family and who is on this journey building this house and who, you know, dated a wrestler and ended up marrying him. Like, there’s so much more to all of us that we don’t always get to show. And that was why Unreal really meant so much to me because I finally had the platform to show people that I am just a human and I am just a normal girl when the cameras go down. I have the same feelings everyone else does at their 9 to 5. I’m exhausted, I’m emotional, I’m just trying to make money for my retirement. All those things are relatable and all those things are what we are like on our days off. I think it’s really important. There’s some people who may not want to show that side of them, but for me I want everyone to feel like they can come up to me if they see me in a grocery store and talk to me. I think that that’s exactly what Unreal did.

AM: We used to watch WWE Divas when it was on E! We loved seeing how these women interacted with one another, being on the road, and in the ring. Once we started doing photo shoots with them, it was amazing to see those personalities in real time with us and we have had a number of those from the cast in our issues as covers. With Unreal, it has elements of that show but still feels new and different. There’s even more of a realism and being able to see the balancing act between the ring, reality, and planning. It’s a phenomenal show. I’m glad that they’ve brought that element back for those of us that want to see all those intricacies and how they come together.

CG: Yeah, you know, there’s something really special about being a fan of somebody and then finally being able to see the curtain pulled back and see who they really are. You know, I always loved watching documentaries about my favorite celebrities. So I knew that that’s why Unreal would be special. And I laugh every time I see online people say, like, “Unreal is scripted.” It’s not. It’s exactly what you see. It’s cameras following me. And sometimes I don’t even know they’re there because we’ve got so much going on. It truly is very, very real. When you watch Unreal, I also am watching at the same time. So when episodes drops, I’ve never seen a single episode ahead of you. I have no idea what you guys are going to see. I’m watching it at the exact same time. It’s really, really a unique experience.

AM: Wow.

What’s match day like for you? Do you have things that you have to do or want to do prior to getting into the ring just to get ready for that match?

CG: So there are a lot of wrestlers that have pre-match rituals and I’m actually trying not to. And the reason that I try not to is my schedule and my life and the companies I’ve worked for have been ever-changing since 2014. I have never been able to keep a routine on show day ever because sometimes we’ve got media, sometimes we’ve got meet and greets. Sometimes I’m filming a pre-tape, or like liners for social media, 10 minutes before I go out there. So I never want to rely on something and feel that because I didn’t do that thing, that everything’s going to fall apart.

Of course, you know, there are certain things like the night before. I need to make sure I get X amount of sleep. I need to make sure that when I get off a plane, I walk to try to get my body moving and try to get that puffiness out because I’ve got to get in my tiny little outfit. You know, it’s all those things. It’s taking electrolytes. It’s making sure I get enough protein on show days. It’s just sitting in the locker room with the girls and decompressing. It’s all of those things that matter. Making sure that I get enough food and water on show day is my number one priority outside of just being at work and doing the work.

AM: When the match is over, are there treats that you give to yourself for doing everything that you just did?

CG: On the road, every little city or town that we’re in is going to be different. The one thing that almost is in every town is Chipotle.

AM: There you go.

CG: I love me a little queso and chip Chipotle. Oh, damn.

AM: Yeah.

CG: So good. So, you know, unfortunately, like show days, we go from 8 to 10. So it’s tough because a lot of things are closed when we get out of our show. But I will try to pre-order some chips and queso and I will enjoy that in bed watching my favorite reality tv show and decompressing. You know, one thing that people forget is we are on such an adrenaline high after our show and that adrenaline - I mean it can really stop you from sleeping so a lot of us, we don’t get much sleep on show nights. Then we usually are on a flight around 6am the next day to go to the next city or to go home. So it’s just a matter of getting yourself as comfortable as you can for those hours until you have to catch that flight.

AM: You’ve had such an amazing ride. As you said, you’re the current WWE Women’s Champion. You’ve been in a number of WWE video games, which we think is so cool. What has it meant to you to be a part of this organization?

CG: I mean, it’s the top of the mountain, isn’t it? I am the WWE Women’s Champion, the champion of the best wrestling company in the entire world! If you had have told 8-year-old me that this is where I would be at 35, I would be absolutely amazed with my future self. I just every day, I wake up and I feel incredibly grateful. I feel surprised and amazed with myself. I thought when I first started wrestling that I was just going to blow up immediately. So the fact that I’ve now been doing this 12 years and I’m still going strong and I’m still in love with it - it just feels surreal. To be able to have these moments where you see that you have tangible moments of success –

AM: Yeah.

CG: The action figures and Unreal and a number of WWE video games (Editor’s Note: Chelsea Green has been in WWE SuperCard, WWE 2K24, WWE Champions, WWE 2K25, and WWE 2K26.) It’s just, it’s truly crazy. I’ve got a really amazing group of girlfriends back in Canada that they keep me equally humble, but equally, equally in that, “wow, you made it.” They remind me that I did the thing that I set out to do, they watch me, they support me, they buy my T-shirts and it’s amazing to have a support system that they don’t let my head blow up, but they also remind me that I did that. I did that thing that I set out to do.

AM: With all of the things that you have going on, how do you take time for yourself when you do have moments off?

CG: Well, My husband and I are Disney adults. Luckily, we live in Orlando, Florida. We’re close to Disney. We can go and treat our friends to Disney days and little mini staycations. I think that’s the key is just to fit fun into the work. Even if that’s something little like going with WWE’s Maxxine Dupri to the coffee shop and enjoying a iced vanilla latte or walking around London with my makeup artist, Ian. It’s just bonding, finding moments of beauty within the chaos because our lives are chaotic and the bigger you get, the more chaotic it is. The more chaotic it is, the more money you make and the more money you make, it’s just this cycle. So you just have to kind of take those little itty bitty moments that you get to just relish in whatever it is you want to relish in depending on the city.

AM: We call it a positive snowball because there’s a lot going on and you’re super happy about it, but it is still a snowball.

CG: That’s a perfect example of it. It is this snowball effect. It’s this vicious cycle, but it is a cycle. The bigger you get, there’s amazing things that come with it, you know?

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share with our community that we should know about?

CG: I’ve actually got a horror movie coming out. It should be coming out in 2027. It’s starring Rory Culkin from Scream and Signs and Lauren Lavera from The Terrifier – these are horror actors. I’m excited to be a part of that. It was the first horror movie I’ve ever done. I’m trying to break into that moment. It’s very exciting that I get to be a part of that with 2 incredible actors.

IG @chelseagreen

PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM CREDITS | FRONT COVER, BACK COVER PG 18 - 22 Chuck Jackson, LOOKS Ryde Swim, TAN Tinted Sunless | PG 16, 30 Netflix/Unreal | PG 25 Michael Marques, GLAM TEAM - Jet Emini + Karen Perez , DESIGNER - Bohemian Prince |

Read the SEP ISSUE #129 of Athleisure Mag and see IN AND OUT OF THE RING | Chelsea Green in mag.

HER RING OF TRUTH | SARAYA

As avid readers know, that have enjoyed reading our issues have included a number of wrestlers who performed in the WWE in their career. Saraya, who was known as Paige when she was with the WWE was one of our favorites that we enjoyed seeing in the ring as well as seeing her on E! Total Divas where we got to know more about her between each ring experience as well as how she connected with her fellow Superstars.

Even after leaving the WWE, Saraya continues to embrace her passion for wrestling as it is a family business. We wanted to know more about how she came into the industry, what it's like when she is going into the ring and out of it, currently wrestling with AEW, and upcoming projects that she is involved in!

ATHLEISURE MAG: It's amazing that your family runs the World Association of Wrestling promotion, your mom owns and operates the Bellatrix Female Warriors, and your brothers wrestle as well. What led to you eventually participating in the sport as originally it wasn't something that you, thought that you would do.

SARAYA: I’ve been surrounded by wrestling my whole life. I’ve often made the joke that I have been wrestling since I was a fetus. My mum was pregnant with me and didn’t realize and was having matches with me all snuggled up in her womb haha. I’ve always loved it, but I was stubborn and tried to fight it since my whole family was in it. I tried to rebel into a different field instead. But one day my dad was one woman short in a match, she had not turned up, so he asked if I could fill in and I already knew a few moves since I grew up in the business. I said to my dad “Yes, but my brother has to wrestle in the match too so I’m comfortable.” So my brother dressed in a pink Power Ranger outfit. He threw on a padded bra, I did the match and the rest is history!

AM: We know that you come from a wrestling family, but when did you fall in love with wrestling?

S: When I was 13. Once I had that match, I knew there was nothing that would make me feel the way the adrenaline of wrestling made me feel.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to do it as a career?

S: Also when I was 13. My dreams of becoming a vet or a zoologist quickly left my brain after that first match. (Thanks dad).

AM: I remember when I saw you on the E! show Total Divas where we got to follow you along with other WWE Superstars to see about your life in the ring and outside of it! What did it mean to you to be part of the WWE and to share your life on the E! show as well?

S: WWE was always my dream. I always, from the very beginning, wanted to be a WWE Diva. They were so beautiful yet so bloody badass!! That was so inspiring for a little girl like me.

I never thought I would get in, though. I looked very different to the women back then but that didn’t mean I was gonna give up trying. When I finally got signed my life changed forever. I remember Triple H coming up to me on the side of the stage and saying “welcome aboard” and shook my hand. Then a hell of a rollercoaster ride started.

I loved being asked to be a part of Total Divas. I was younger and a little more wild so it was good TV and the producers always make sure you have a drink in your hand haha, but I had a lot of fun with the girls and got to bond extra with them because not only were we on the road every week of the year but during our days off we would be filming together. It made for great lifelong relationships and memories!

AM: While at the WWE you had a number of accomplishments from being the youngest female champion in WWE history, a 2X WWE Divas Champion, and the inaugural NXT Women's Champion as well as being the only woman to hold both a WWE and NXT Women's Championship simultaneously. When you look back at your time there, what are you most proud of?

S: All of that!! Haha those would be my most proud moments. I would say my merch numbers too. I got my first merch tee, which said “Think Again” on it and it sold out quickly. I believe that gave me leverage to get on the main roster because they were like… “Hang on this girl that isn’t on Raw or Smackdown is selling numbers like that??”

I’m always proud that I remained myself. The weird little pale emo kid, that helped me big time with the fans I believe.

AM: You currently wrestle for AEW and you were the AEW Women's World Champion! How has your time at the AEW been and what does it mean to have acquired a title there too?

S: Being at AEW has been a lot of fun. I love love love the women’s locker room. They’re all so supportive of one another and everyone gets along so well. Being in another larger company at first was hard. Even though my contract had come to an end, I had some guilt like I betrayed WWE, but I didn’t do anything wrong! Haha. Then being out of wrestling for so long made it difficult to adjust to the newer fan base. They can get pretty toxic these days and I remember thinking, “Did I make a mistake coming back?” But AEW has treated me so wonderfully and I’ve loved my time here so far. And to win the Woman’s Championship on top of all that?? Incredible. I never thought I would wrestle again so I cried when Tony Khan told me haha.

AM: What are some upcoming matches that you can share with us that we can keep an eye out for?

S: I’ve actually been taking a short break the end of this year. Just for other projects and to take care of my mental health a bit. I never give myself time off, so it was much needed. But I will say to look out for someone else and that’s Harley Cameron! She’s the full package and an all-around amazing person!!

AM: We know that as a wrestler, you spend a lot of time on the road. What is an average week like for you in terms of travel, training, resting your body etc.?

S: WWE days were more hectic with live events. But these days with AEW, for me personally, they have given me a more relaxed schedule. Which I appreciate. I fly Tuesdays, work Wednesday and fly home Thursdays and will have the odd PPV at the weekend. I try to eat as good as possible and I should be in the gym more than I am if I’m being honest haha.

AM: Before you go into the ring, do you have any routines that you do to prepare for your fight and are there things that you do when you come out of it?

S: I pee lol and go into a corner and relax for a second. I get very, very nervous beforehand and need that time alone. When I come back out from the match, I hug whoever I wrestled and thank them, shake my producer and Tony Khan’s hand and then go to the locker room and just sit for a second.

AM: Outside of the ring, you're a board member for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Why is this so important to you?

S: It’s important because abuse is not just physical. It’s financial, mental, and verbal too. If I can use my platform to save someone’s life, I will absolutely do so.

Domestic Violence is extremely common and being part of something like that and also knowing so many women and men who’ve gone through something like that is heartbreaking. I’ll always use my platform for good.

AM: You shared your story in Fighting with My Family and you have a memoir that is coming out, Hell In Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives. Why did you want to share your story and what does the memoir cover that we may not know about from the film?

S: Well my movie was the PG version haha. I want people to know exactly what I’ve been through since birth to now and hopefully be inspired. It’s not for the faint of heart though.

IG @saraya

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 67, 9PLAYLIST PG 72 + 9DRIP PG 74 Shaun Vadella | PG 68 + 9DRIP PG 74 + 76 Phil Chester |

Read the NOV ISSUE #107 of Athleisure Mag and see HER RING OF TRUTH | Saraya in mag.

BEYOND THE ROPES WITH DANIELLE MOINET

We always love our covers and it's always fun to have the opportunity to work with someone that we have previously worked with before. We're excited to have Danielle Moinet as this month's celebrity cover and our first person to grace two covers for Athleisure Mag! We enjoyed our photoshoot with Danielle and we sat down to catch up on what she's up to since we last spoke to her. We talked about her life as an athlete, about her road to the WWE, new projects that she's excited to be apart of, running the Chicago Bears out of Soldier Field, the importance of empowering women and girls in and out of sports and her love for the fans that she continues to see on her many trips as she is always on the go!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your athletic journey as we know you have played a number of sports!

DANIELLE MOINET: For me I always played sports. I was an athlete growing up - I ran track, jumped hurdles and played tennis. In college and when I got out of it and moved to Chicago, that's when I joined the Lingerie Football League, the LFL, and I played for the Chicago Bliss and I played Corner Back and I loved it. I played 3 years and it's full contact 7 on 7 football - very aggressive.

Then I went on to wrestle and a lot of the girls that hadn't wrestled before in WWE had some form of an athletic background. Health and fitness has always been a big thing for me and getting to the gym, so I think that people that work out a lot too are athletic as well and being in a women's sport is very important.

AM: Specifically, tell us about your journey into wrestling, WWE and what you are currently doing.

DM: I was working a Comic Con in Chicago, and WWE was there and it was a dream of mine to get in. There was not an application process setup like there is now when I first started, so I ran over to their booth and told them that I was interested and that I had been wanting to do this for years. I decided to play football for another year and then that's when I went down to WWE to have my tryout and 6 weeks later I was down there training and working out and I got my contract. So it was really a great place in time. There were only 6 girls training at the time. I was the 6th girl and now there is something like 20 or 30 girls training. WWE was amazing - I wrestled there for 6 years and I was on the main roster on Mon. Night RAW, Tues. Night Smackdown for 4.5 years and got to live out my dream.

As of Nov, I left WWE to spread my wings to other avenues and to be able to enjoy life and live it through new eyes. It's bittersweet as I miss my fans and the people I worked with, but I see my fans more often because I do so many appearances where I get to travel the world to meet them.

AM: We caught up with you when you were in the midst of a media tour - can you tell us what you were promoting?

DM: During my time in NY when I did my photoshoot, I was doing a lot of things! I was taking meetings, doing photoshoots with a number of modeling agencies and then I was also there for my first non WWE appearance that was in Manhattan and so I was able to go onto CBS Radio and talk to them about women in sports and the importance of women having a presence in athletics and for young girls to have role models to look up to - being athletic and knowing that strong is beautiful. Body positivity is something that is very import ant to me and I think it's great to be able to speak out to that! It was so much fun and I love everyone in NY!

AM: On set, everyone loved your hair, what products do you use and what tips do you have for healthy hair?

DM: My hair! I'm very fortunate that my mom is a hairdresser and growing up, she never let me dye it crazy purple or orange and crazy colors. I had actually never even dyed it until my mid twenties. I am super blonde naturally and I was always in the sun as a kid by the pool. I always used great products like Biolage or Matrix. One thing that was really amazing that I started to use the last couple of years is a wet brush. The wet brush helps with the breakage in your hair and having bangs, I have really noticed the difference using the wet brush because my hair doesn't break as much and it's able to stay long and healthy - that is something I absolutely swear by and love. And also, good Moroccan Oil and having good oil everytime you blow dry your hair - it's very important.

AM: We know from your IG that you're constantly on the go, what are 3 beauty products that keep you looking fresh and dewy and are a must in your routine?

DM: I am always on the go so beauty products that I love - I always have a spray tan, I do not go in the sun a lot so I always try to protect my skin as far as sun exposure goes, so it's all about wearing SPF. I do not go into the tanning bed so I can keep a wrinkle free life. I love love love and swear by Skin Medica - they're TMS Serum is something that I really do love. I completely see a difference in my skin when I use that. Their eye cream - amazing - it's expensive and I have tried alternate routes and dfferent things and I just see such a difference with them and that's something that's just great. Another thing I love - my lips don't get too chapped too much because I'm always on the go in airplanes - I love the Lip Slip by Sara Happ. It's a lip balm and it's so thick and potent and it lasts you forever - I got it from Nordstrom and I love it. My lips never crack, never peel and I love it.

AM: What's your personal style - what do you work out in, what do you go out in for a night out and what is your beach style?

DM: My personal style is super super different - I look very girly, but I am actually super tomboy! I love my Jordans, I love my Jays, I've become a big sneaker person since living in LA so really ideally, if I could live my life I'd do it in workout clothes and athleisure vibe and tennis shoes. That's how you could catch me everyday wearing. If you catch me in jeans or everyday pants it's because I have to because I am going somewhere. What I actually work out in is - I'm very cute on Instagram with matching outfits, but that is not how I am. In real life, I'm not like that I don't think. I get a lot of workout clothes sent to me from different brands and people that I work with so I can never find anything that matches when it is time to work out. I am not that girl who matches in the gym - I'm getting in there with a hat the majorty of the time with no makeup. I hate wearing makeup - I love getting glammed up, but I don't like makeup. I am usually in a hat, with it pulled down super low and getting my workout done because I don't want anyone talking to me and workout time is not playtime for me.

For going out, now that I live in LA, I have a very different west coast vibe. I love everything that is oversized and I love a great Tor Merch long sleeve shirt 2 sizes 2 big with baggy pants and a cute heel. If I'm going out, you can catch me in jeans, boots, a body suit or tank top. That's my vibe and I rarely wear a dress - again unless I have to or if I'm in Vegas or a place that's dressy. LA is just not that dressy and NY isn't really either. I have very different vibes - sometimes it's Bohemian or Urban - I like to change up my style.

Style and music are very all over the place for me as there are tons of genres of music I like and tons of styles that I like to dress in.

Beach style is bikini, flip flops and a cover up. Nothing special - no makeup maybe a little chapstick - that's all - very low maintenance.

AM: What are 3 of your favorite foods that are your go to for energy to assist in working out and do you have splurge foods that you enjoy as a treat every now and then?

DM: I'm a big fan of black coffee before working out. I try to stay lately from pre-workouts that have artificial sugars in them and I am trying to go back to that coffee route or just getting enough sleep as that is very good. Protein is a must for my diets and if I don't have a protein shake, I see a huge difference in my legs and body as far as my abs and cellulite go. I can see a negative difference without them and I need my protein high up. I also need some nuts before the gym - healthy fats are good. I don't like to be super full when I go to the gym because when I am full, I want to take a nap. Cheat foods that I love, pizza! I am obsessed with pizza, Mexican food, I love Queso and chips. My friends make fun of me because I eat a whole tub of queso - it's just really ridiculous as I need to be nowhere near that and then cookie dough. Cookie dough is my downfall! I went through a phase where I was obsessed with cookie dough for like 4 months and my friends and I joke that that’s where my butt came from the four months that I ate it. So we call it my cookie dough butt! I still have it but now I am just training it in the gym!

AM: We saw that you did something pretty amazing with the Chicago Bears last fall, can you share with our readers?

DM: Chicago Bears – so in the fall, ran the Bears out of the tunnel and was the first women to ever run them out of the tunnel! They said it had something to do with the fact that the flag is really heavy and then at Soldier Field, the lake wind effect off of the lake is so strong that it just moves the pole around and it’s crazy heavy! They usually don’t have guests running people out of the tunnel BUT I knew someone that knew someone and they reached out to me and asked if I wanted to do it. I was kind of unsure if I could and then they said that a woman had never done it before and that’s when I said, “well of course then – I have to be the first at everything that I do”. Don’t put me up to a challenge and I will never say no, especially if it is the first woman. It was amazing and fun. The players were super confused as to why I was down there haha! I’m a huge Bears fan so I loved it!

AM: What travel plans are you looking forward to this summer?

DM: This summer I am very fortunate that I am traveling all over. I have so many bookings for appearances to see so many of my wrestling fans. I’m a little west coast, a little east coast. I may have a few things that are Canada and then I am really really really excited about something that we haven’t announced yet which we can’t announce yet but it’s overseas and it is taking me to one of my places on my bucketlist – so I’m very excited about that!
As far as trips go, I look forward to taking my girls trip which we are going to Mykonos, Greece and I have never been there. We are just going to have a great time and I am looking forward to that because I have a great group of girlfriends.

AM: In LA what is your favorite place to shop, a workout studio that you attend as well as where you love to grab cocktails and a meal?

DM: Living in LA, obviously we have great killer stores. All the stores on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Grove the Mall – that’s really good and we have large stores with all the name brands. Some of the places that I really love to shop and that are fun that I tell my friends to go to when they’re in town – hidden gems on Melrose that are kind of really trendy and inexpensive and I love them – one is called Eden Sky and the other one is Style Delivered and I get really cute fun sunglasses, earrings and bandanas. I got my stuff from Coachella there and it’s good finds that are inexpensive so when you pair them with other really good pieces, that’s great. And of course, we have things like Revolve out here and Pretty Little Things and House of CB, Mistress Rocks – LA’s great we have some really good shopping. As far as food goes, I love Urth Café, it’s one of my favorites. I’m pretty sure that I brought my mom and dad there, friends from back home in North Carolina. You just sit outside and have bubble tea – which is amazing and all different kinds of food which is really good. We actually just got a Joe & the Juice which they have in NY and I’m obsessed with so I am really happy about that being there. I love all the healthy food options we have out here the salad places and everything like that which is really good. And then we have great trendy workouts. I love SoulCycle – I swear by SoulCycle as it’s fun and it makes me feel amazing to just get out there and sweat – so I really love that. Unfortunately, I have been dealing with an ankle injury for the past 3 months so I have kind of been having to deal with that and it’s driving me nuts. But I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things soon.

AM: Are there any projects that you're working on that you want to let our readers know about?

DM: I’m just really excited to be working with so many brands right now! I have two clothing companies that I am working with and I will be able to get my own line out and then I have one kind of beauty thing I am working on. I’m taking meetings with other people as far as my appearances go and doing things overseas so it’s all in the beginning baby stages. I have only just started to be able to do this stuff as I wasn’t able to do this with WWE and am looking forward to spreading my wings. My sister’s charity is back home in North Carolina – The Dean Thomas Moinet Foundation - love working with them when I go back home and am looking forward to doing a special project with them when I am back home to raise money in the Raleigh/Durham, NC area for the charity!

We shot Danielle Moinet in Manhattan's Lower East Side at Hotel Indigo LES which is filled with a number of great hitoric sites. Christopher White, the properties' Director of Sales and Marketing talked with us about the hotel and how it connects with the community.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Are there different personalities that Hotel Indigo represents on the city/community?

CHRISTOPHER WHITE: Hotel Indigo’s ethos is design, art, music and embracing the neighborhood that we are in - so every hotel will represent those qualities in different way depending on the location.

AM: Specifically, tell us about Hotel Indigo LES - when did it open, what is the atmosphere and the amenities that are offered for guests.

CW: Hotel Indigo LES opened in the heart of the Lower East Side in November 2015. Reflecting the community, the hotel is an urban oasis that features spacious accommodations and breathtaking views of the Manhattan Skyline. Hotel Indigo LES is equipped with everything needed for the modern traveler - think a rooftop bar and pool, a gym, package handling, parking and we even provide amenities for your furry friends because we know kittens and pups are important too.

AM: Tell us about the lounges and pool.

CW: Hotel Indigo LES is the perfect spot to visit day or night - with stunning views of Manhattan from every place you look, the view is unbeatable - especially now that Summer is right around the corner! The 14th-floor lobby is decked out with floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around almost the entire room, spacious L-shaped couches, coffee tables and a cafe. Not to mention the ceiling is covered in a mural by the famous Lower East Side graffiti artist, Lee Quiñones.

Beyond the lobby, guests are invited to checkout the heated plunge pool and bar, Mr. Purple, both located on the 15th floor rooftop. The space offers summer drink menus for guests to enjoy, while taking in amazing views of Lower Manhattan.

AM: Is the pool for guests only?

CW: We prefer to keep the pool exclusive to hotel guests – if locals are looking for a pool break we recommend booking a staycation at the hotel.

AM: What do locals have the ability to enjoy whether they are staying as guests or just wish to stop by?
 

CW:The lobby, cafe, and of course Mr. Purple - come relax, get some work done, or have a drink - locals and guests can do it all at Hotel Indigo LES!

AM: What Spring/Summer packages do you guys have coming up?

CW: Yes! Our Mother’s Day and Royal Wedding packages are can’t miss. Check them out and more on the Hotel Indigo LES website.

AM: Tell us about the neighborhood that surrounds Hotel Indigo LES.

CW: Located right in the heart of the Lower East Side, there is nothing you can’t find around Hotel Indigo LES! Tons of art galleries of all different styles, music halls, bars and restaurants all surround the hotel. Think hotspots like the famous Beauty & Essex and Katz Delicatessen, Rockwood Music Hall and more.

AM: Tell us about Mr Purple!

CW: Located on the 15th floor of Hotel Indigo Lower East Side, the space completely captures the vibrant and artistic spirit of the LES. Boasting a 360 degree view of downtown Manhattan from the two outdoor terraces and a beautiful interior, the venue recreates a hip, artist-loft ambiance. The larger terrace includes its own swimming pool (enough said) and outdoor bar, a perfect setting for yummy bites and signature sips against the backdrop of NYC.

AM: Does the Hotel Indigo LES have activities that they participate within that are local to the community?

CW: We sure do! Our goal is to hire all of our line staff from the community which is part of our ethos and culture. We participate in LESSEN which is part of the Henry Street Settlement in the Lower East Side and 30% of our line staff from pre-opening was hired from there. We also volunteer quarterly for Manny Cantor Center, Bowery Mission and am always working to always give back to the community that we are in.

AM: Please feel free to share anything that we may not have asked you but that you would like to share?

CW: Hotel Indigo LES is all about the art. From the moment you walk, to the sleeping rooms and lobby area, the spaces all reflect the art that can be seen all over the LES. With artwork featured from the likes of Mr. Brainwash and Lee Quiñones, guests can see the spirit of the LES at every turn.

Read more from Athleisure Mag and see Beyond the Ropes with Danielle Moinet in mag.

IN THE RING, LOVE NATTIE

Over the past few decades, we have been a big fan of the WWE - you get it all! There's the athleticism of the sport, the dynamic personalities, the drama of the storylines, the costumes and all of the backstories. Throughout the year, the members of the WWE travel to a number of cities domestically and internationally to perform, while also doing a number of acts of philanthropy to make the world a better place and spending time with their community to engage with fans!

This electrifying experience is fostered by the brands' athletes who put their own fingerprint on what it means to be a part of the WWE Universe! Last summer we worked out with some of the ladies of WWE Divas at TapOut Fitness on the UES to go through workouts that these women do. Included in this group was Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox, Lana, Maria Menounos, Naomi, Renee Young, Summer Rae (our Feb covergirl) and this month's cover girl - Natalya - also known as Nattie! A few weeks ago, right before her match at MSG, our team shot a gorgeous fashion editorial of this 3rd generation wrestler at Monarch's rooftop and then chatted with her about wrestling, being a member of wrestling's legacy family and her role on E! Total Divas which is back from their midseason break on April 5th and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: You come from an iconic wrestling family - tell us about them and the impact that they made on the sport.

NATALYA NEIDHART: My family has been the biggest influence on me. Starting with my grandpa, Stu Hart, who built an empire by the name of Stampede Wrestling in the 1950's. I'm a third generation superstar and I come from Wrestling royalty. My grandfather is WWE Hall Of Famer, Stu Hart and my uncles Bret and Owen Hart and the British Bulldog have paved the way for me. My father is a two time WWE Tag Team Champion himself and formed half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time. My family's contributions to WWE have been huge and I'm deeply proud of them. 

AM: When did you know that you wanted to continue the legacy by being a wrestler?

NN: When I was 18 years old, I first started training in the dungeon… And from that moment on, I remember it crystal clear… I was hooked on wrestling. I knew it was what I wanted to do as my career. Wrestling is part of my heart... it's part of who I am... what makes me tick. I'm fortunate beyond words that I was able to discover my passion and touch my dreams.

AM: What was your journey to get to the WWE?

NN: I trained in one of the most notoriously hard wrestling schools in the world: the Dungeon, where only men trained. I was one of the only girls to ever train there under my family. I also had a world class Japanese coach by the name of Tokyo Joe, who helped train me for my first tour of Japan where I wrestled some of the very best Japanese female wrestlers in the world. I lived over in Japan for a while honing my craft and trying to be the absolute best I could be. I spent nearly 5 years sending in tapes and resumes and letters and pictures to WWE… Trying to get them to see that I was special. I went to Japan and England and all over the US to try to gain enough experience to get my big break. I was rejected for five years! It was so hard to get hired, but so worth it when I finally got my dream job in the WWE. Finally.... in 2007, I got the call and then the really hard work began!!!
 
AM: Your job allows you to do a lot from participating in the sport, philanthropy and even filming for E! Total Divas - what's that like?

NN: I am so lucky that I get to do so many different things! Giving back to the community is one of the most rewarding parts about my job… I never take that for granted. It just makes me feel good giving back! I love filming Total Divas, it's a great way for us to show that we're human… And it's OK to fall down, get back up. Working in the WWE allows you to wear many hats and be very diverse in so many ways other than wrestling. My job in the WWE has prepared me for anything in life it seems!

AM: What's a typical day like from working out/training, filming for Total Divas, taking time with TJ (Tyson Kidd)  etc?

NN: I am usually very busy. When I'm working on the road, doing live events and Smackdown Live, it's a grind of working out and eating healthy and driving and flying hundreds if not thousands of miles to make it to our shows. It's a whirlwind, but so fun. When I'm home, I run errands, relax with my husband TJ and decompress and enjoy my family. I also work on my weekly columns for the Calgary Sun and OK Magazine.com. I love to write.

AM: You spend a lot of time traveling, how do you bring a piece of home with you? 

NN: When I go away from home, which is a lot. I bring little love letters my husband has written to me. I keep them in the bag where I put all of my wrestling gear. I read them when I get lonely and it truly lifts me up! 
 
AM: Tell us about 2Paws as we're obsessed!

NN: 2Pawz is rich. He's famous. He's a rap guru. Named after the illustrious Tupac Shakur.... he's all about working to OWN... not to rent, lease or refinance! Lol. He's a Lilac Persian and basically the most intense, but sweetest cat I've ever had. I love him more than words can say. 

AM: We loved hanging out with you  during the photoshoot and saw that you're a serious multi-tasker as you had a match right after - how do you keep so many things going at one time?

NN: I just take everything one moment at a time and try to be efficient. In WWE, we are always busy.... we only have time for "one take," so we make everything the best we can possibly make it the first time! It's a lot of hustling at times, though!!!! Sometimes I go "hey... i need to use the washroom!!!! Everything else can wait!" LOL
 
AM: What's a day off look like for you?

NN: A perfect day off is relaxing at my home with my husband and having NO game plan at all!
 
AM: What's on your playlist right now as we know you're a fan of Lana Del Rey. 

NN: I love Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Kings of Leon, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and anything Lana Del Rey! Love her!!!!!! 
 
AM: What is your personal style when you're outside of the ring if you're running errands versus a night out. 

NN: I love being comfortable. When I'm running errands or working out, I like a pair of great leggings, a cozy hoodie and tank top I can rock if I need to grab a quick workout. Lately I'm obsessed with Adidas, Goldsheep and Lululemon! So comfy and cool! I also love Roots of Fight! They make my favorite Tess with vintage boxers and athletes like Mike Tyson and The Gracie's. Soon they're making shirts with Andre the Giant! Eeeek!
 
AM: You're always busy - what are your go to's meals or snacks for energy and what do you splurge on?

NN: I always carry snacks with me. Protein powder is a go to -- ESP for hotel life! First thing I have when I wake up! And I am obsessed with Lenny and Larry's cookies the Snickerdoodle flavor. I also love to splurge on sushi. Like the fattening stuff with tempura and mayonnaise and avocado in it! I love sushi!!!!! 

AM: Summer is around the corner, what are some moves that you suggest for toned abs, arms, legs, and butt?

NN: Lunges, squats, deadlifts, and clean and jerks. I love Olympic lifting so much because it always gives me a total body workout! And it makes me feel strong and powerful. Keeps my body toned everywhere. I also love running. With the right running partner I can run for hours!

AM: As you're always busy, will you be adding anything new to what you already do in terms of business ventures, charity etc?

NN: I have been writing a fun column as I mentioned before for the Calgary Sun, I am also working on an advice column for OK Magazine.com. My husband and I have dreams to one day open up our own wrestling school since we both share a passion for wrestling .... but it would also be cool to continue to film reality TV too. I've loved the whole process of being on a reality show - SO fun!
 
AM: What's it like to be on the road with the WWE and who are your faves to hang out with?

NN: It's fun being on the road, but it's also a lot of time away from home. So you have to make friends because strangers become family! And sometimes family become strangers. I love Renee Young. I can turn to Dolph Ziggler about anything. I adore our girls in the Smackdown Locker room. I share a strong bond with the Bella twins because we started in the WWE together and have been through so much. Naomi is my girl.... and one of my husband's favorite in the ring. I always get jealous when he says "she's the best!" LOL!!!!! 

AM: Do you mentor other wrestlers in the WWE?

NN: I try to be there for all the girls. I love being able to pass on the knowledge I've acquired over the last 15 years to them. I definitely try to help the girls in any way that I can!!!! It's the best when our work comes together and ALL of us shine! 
 
AM: Tell us about Summer Slam and what we need to know! 

NN: SummerSlam is the biggest event of the summer. It's taking place in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center and you know that the females in WWE will be front and center ... stealing the show! 
 
AM: Why do you enjoy being in the WWE so much?

NN: Because I get to live my dreams! I get to travel the world and I get to impact people's lives in such a positive way through the global platform we have in WWE. And I get to bodyslam my arch enemies and not get in trouble! LOL!
 

Read more from the April Issue here and to see WWE Divas/E! Total Divas Natalya, our April celebrity cover girl in mag!

ATHLEISURE MAG | APR ISSUE

We've been very excited for the April issue as we begin transitioning from the Spring to the Summer (although we're still a few weeks away. This month's covergirl is WWE Divas/E! Total Divas Natalya! In addition to our photoshoot with her, she shares what it's like to be one of the leading ladies of this league, how she multi-tasks and more. In addition, we chat with Megan Fox who is the Global Brand Ambassador, designer and co-owner of Frederick's of Hollywood - we talk about her being a part of the line, the importance of lingerie/women's empowerment and how she prepared for the campaign photoshoot a mere months after giving birth to her third child. As always we have great features, roundups, interviews and more!

See more from the April Issue here!