Pod Meets WrestleMania: AJ Lee
Digest
This podcast features wrestler AJ Lee discussing her return to wrestling after a decade, her fitness journey, and the evolution of women's wrestling. She also shares insights into her mental health advocacy, screenwriting endeavors, comic book work, and passion for Dungeons & Dragons. Will Ferrell offers his father's advice on pursuing a career, emphasizing balance and enjoyment. The episode also includes promotions for various iHeart podcasts, including "The Girlfriends," "Mostly Human" with Sam Altman, and Nora Jones' "Playing Along." AJ Lee reflects on her wrestling career, including challenging independent circuit experiences, memorable promos, injuries, and her advocacy for fair pay and supportive locker rooms. The conversation touches on superhero preferences, indie comics, and the logistics of tabletop role-playing games, concluding with plans for future gaming sessions.
Outlines
Podcast Introductions and Career Advice
This segment introduces the podcast and promotes other iHeart podcasts like "The Girlfriends" and "Mostly Human," featuring interviews with Sam Altman. Will Ferrell shares his father's advice on pursuing passions, emphasizing the importance of trying but also knowing when to quit if it's no longer enjoyable, and reiterates this advice later in the episode.
AJ Lee's Wrestling Comeback and Evolution
AJ Lee discusses her return to wrestling after a 10-year hiatus, her fitness transformation, and the challenges of adjusting to longer matches. She talks about her excitement to reunite with wrestlers and her admiration for the new generation of female wrestlers she inspired. AJ Lee reflects on the significant positive shift in audience reception towards women's wrestling and explains the origin of her signature "skipping" entrance. She also fondly recalls teaming with Big E and discusses the challenging, often underpaid, and less accommodating independent wrestling circuit for women, sharing anecdotes about its harsh realities.
AJ Lee on Mental Health and Advocacy
AJ Lee emphasizes prioritizing mental health upon her return to WWE, discussing her journey of self-care and the supportive environment she found. She shares her experience with bipolar disorder, her advocacy for mental health, and coping mechanisms like naming her struggles and establishing routines.
AJ Lee's Creative Pursuits: Screenwriting, Comics, and D&D
AJ Lee discusses her comic book writing, including "Day of the Dead Girl," and her newfound passion for Dungeons & Dragons, inspired by her research. She shares her experience playing D&D with Matt Mercer and her involvement in the "Critical Role" animated series. AJ Lee expresses her desire to write a superhero movie, particularly for Squirrel Girl, and discusses her love for animation and characters. She details her comic book work, including "Day of the Dead Girl" and an upcoming project, influenced by shows like "The X-Files."
Wrestling Reflections and Future Plans
AJ Lee shares her excitement for upcoming WrestleMania matches and reaffirms her commitment to wrestling, emphasizing the importance of fair pay, equal screen time, and the supportive sisterhood within the WWE women's locker room. She discusses the unique experience of being a married wrestling couple on the road and reflects on her memoir, expressing her intention to write a follow-up book, a horror movie, and adapt her book for a feature film.
Rapid Fire, Superheroes, and Tabletop Gaming
AJ Lee answers rapid-fire questions about her preferences. The conversation touches on superhero preferences, with a leaning towards Squirrel Girl. It shifts to indie comics, specifically mentioning "Radiant Black." The speakers discuss WWE-themed dice games and the challenges of organizing and playing long tabletop role-playing game sessions, including start times, the impact of alcohol, and the duration of sessions. Plans are made to organize a one-shot D&D game, and past game experiences are recalled. The benefits of shorter game sessions are discussed, and the intimidation factor of TTRPG rules is addressed, emphasizing the role of a good GM.
Farewell and Future Gaming Commitments
The guest, AJ, is thanked for their appearance. Future plans for a game session are confirmed, with a commitment to making it happen. The conversation concludes with expressions of enjoyment and anticipation.
Keywords
AI Responsibility
The ethical obligation of creators and companies developing Artificial Intelligence products to ensure their safe and beneficial deployment in society, considering potential impacts on individuals and the world.
Mental Health Advocacy
The promotion of mental well-being and destigmatization of mental health issues. This includes sharing personal experiences, educating others, and advocating for better mental healthcare access and support systems.
Women's Wrestling Evolution
The historical progression and transformation of women's participation and representation in professional wrestling, from early exploitative formats to current athletic and respected performances.
Independent Wrestling Circuit
The landscape of professional wrestling outside of major organizations like WWE. It often involves lower pay, less glamorous venues, and fewer resources, serving as a developmental ground for talent.
Comic Book Writing
The process of creating written content for comic books, including plot development, character arcs, dialogue, and panel descriptions. This can be for established franchises or original intellectual property.
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)
A fantasy tabletop role-playing game where players create characters and embark on imaginary adventures. It involves storytelling, strategic thinking, and collaborative world-building guided by a Dungeon Master.
Anime Appreciation
A deep interest and enjoyment of Japanese animation. This includes an appreciation for diverse genres, storytelling styles, artistic techniques, and cultural nuances present in anime.
Wrestling Injuries
Physical harm sustained during professional wrestling performances. This can range from minor sprains to severe fractures and career-ending conditions, often requiring extensive recovery and rehabilitation.
Screenwriting Career
The profession of writing scripts for film, television, or other visual media. It involves crafting narratives, developing characters, and formatting dialogue and action for production.
Mental Health Coping Mechanisms
Strategies and techniques individuals use to manage and improve their mental well-being. Examples include therapy, medication, mindfulness, journaling, and establishing healthy routines.
Q&A
What advice did Will Ferrell's father give him about pursuing a career?
Will Ferrell's father advised him to "give it a shot" but also to recognize the role of luck and to know when to quit if the pursuit stops being fun, emphasizing that not all inspirational quotes are practical.
How did AJ Lee approach her return to wrestling after a 10-year break, particularly concerning her mental health?
AJ Lee made mental health her top priority, ensuring she was in a good place before returning. WWE was supportive, creating a safe environment and maintaining open communication about her well-being.
What were some of the challenges AJ Lee faced in the independent wrestling circuit?
AJ Lee described the independent circuit as not being built for women, with poor pay (e.g., $20 for four matches), inadequate locker rooms, and a lack of female opponents, requiring her to travel to different states for more equitable opportunities.
How has the audience's perception of women's wrestling changed, according to AJ Lee?
AJ Lee noted a significant positive shift from "bra and panties" matches and dance contests to a genuine appreciation for women's athletic abilities and in-ring performances, with fans now actively supporting and valuing female wrestlers.
What is AJ Lee's approach to managing her bipolar disorder?
AJ Lee advocates for embracing mental health challenges, naming her depressive episodes (e.g., "Jean") to separate them from her identity, and establishing consistent routines, including diet, exercise, and limiting sugar, as crucial coping mechanisms.
What inspired AJ Lee's comic book series "Day of the Dead Girl"?
"Day of the Dead Girl" is an original comic book series inspired by "The X-Files," reimagined with a Mexican-Puerto Rican setting and featuring a mother-daughter duo, serving as an homage to the original show.
What are AJ Lee's future plans regarding her writing career?
AJ Lee plans to write a follow-up to her memoir, a horror movie, and adapt her book into a feature film, indicating a continued focus on storytelling across different mediums.
What was AJ Lee's experience like being a married couple on the road in WWE?
AJ Lee described it as a bizarre but positive experience, bringing a sense of home and support to the road. Her husband's presence provides comfort and makes her feel cherished, enhancing her overall well-being.
What is AJ Lee's perspective on the current state of women's wrestling and the locker room environment?
AJ Lee feels the WWE women's locker room is now a supportive sisterhood, fostering collaboration rather than competition. She emphasizes the importance of fair pay and screen time, noting the positive shift away from a "one-spot" mentality.
What was the origin of AJ Lee's signature "skipping" entrance in WWE?
The skipping entrance originated from a creepy segment where AJ Lee stalked Kane. The audience reaction was so positive that WWE incorporated it into her character, evolving it into her signature entrance.
What superhero is preferred in the discussion, and why?
Squirrel Girl is preferred over Wonder Woman. While acknowledging Wonder Woman's strength, the speaker finds Squirrel Girl's unique abilities and potential for interesting storylines more appealing.
What indie comic is recommended, and who is its creator?
"Radiant Black" is recommended. It's an independent comic series created by Kyle Higgins, known for its compelling narrative and engaging characters.
What are the challenges of playing tabletop role-playing games?
Challenges include the significant time commitment required for sessions, the difficulty in coordinating schedules for multiple players, and the potential for games to run long, especially with social elements involved.
How can new players overcome the intimidation of TTRPG rules?
A skilled Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM) can significantly ease the learning curve. They guide players, interpret rules, and ensure the focus remains on storytelling and fun, rather than strict adherence to every rule.
Show Notes
Danielle and Will are still in Vegas for WrestleMania 42 and now they’ve come face to face with a championship belt! Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and the Topanga of the WWE, AJ Lee is here!
AJ shares stories from her time in the indies and her humble beginnings as a 13-year-old with nothing but a knife and a dream.
Will meets his nerd match when AJ talks comics, anime and D & D, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll be the final push to get Danielle to throw some dice.
It’s time to break the rules and be a fighter - with AJ Lee on Pod Meets World!
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