Lana Says She’s Still As Ravishing As Ever, She Just Does Her Own Crushing Now

Ahead of her Women's Title Match against Naomi at tomorrow's WWE Money In The Bank PPV event, Lana spoke with USA Today about her journey from Rusev's evil valet to title contender. She also says she's the same Lana, except now she's the one who will be doing the crushing.

"I'm really excited about showing my in-ring journey because I have been training a lot over the last year," said Lana, who has been honing her technique at NXT Live Events on the Florida house show circuit for the past several monts. "It wasn't always a skip in the park, but I was just so hungry to learn. My past is very, very different than (the other performers). But I am a strong believer to follow your own path, no matter what people think."

Some people have seen her promo vignettes where she appears to be performing some sort of burlesque dance (which you can see at the bottom the page) and they've assumed that she's got a whole new gimmick now. Nyet, says the still-very-Ravishing-Russian.

"I'm the same 'Ravishing Russian' that you've always known. It's funny to me when I hear people say that it's a new character. I embody 'Ravishing.' I come out in the most ravishing dress. I have a ravishing entrance. I'm ravishing people's hearts. I was managing Rusev and wearing a suit because if you're managing someone or an agent in real life, you are going to wear a suit to work. Right now, I'm the focal point, I'm the one competing. If people know anything about Russians, we do things really over the top. We wear high heels everywhere. We show up in the most extravagant outfits. I am just embodying how I was raised and what I grew up in. Some people might think we're extra, I just think we're ravishing. I'm the same woman, I'm just going to be crushing people myself."

Money In The Bank is tomorrow night. Fightful will have full coverage, including at Live Results Blog with viewing party and a post-show podcast.