Tiffany Stratton has already admitted she’d love to be a heel again one day. Now she’s revealing why that next run won’t look anything like the last one.
Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, Stratton explained that she’s changed the way she looks at character work since joining WWE. Early on, she felt like she had to play someone completely different from who she really is. These days, she thinks fans connect more with wrestlers who let a little of their real personality come through.
“I think finding a way to kind of just blend who you are in real life and the character you play. I felt like I always wanted to play a character and not be who I am in real life. But slowly and surely, I realized, ‘Oh, people can connect more to something that’s more real.'”
She believes that’s where wrestling has been heading over the last few years anyway, with fewer performers playing over-the-top characters and more leaning into amplified versions of themselves.
“I feel wrestling has slowly become that in the past couple of years, where people aren’t really playing characters anymore. It’s just an extended version of themselves on steroids.”
For Stratton, that meant figuring out how to mix the real Jessica with the on-screen Tiffany Stratton. She says she’s gotten much more comfortable doing that, which is why she’s already excited about eventually going back to the dark side.
“I wouldn’t say it was a hard pill for me to swallow. I’ve gotten better at blending the two—the Jessica and the Tiffany. I feel like once I turn heel, it’s gonna be me on steroids, and it’s gonna be different, and I’m excited.”
Those comments build on what Stratton said back in July when she admitted that, while she’s enjoying being a fan favorite, she still thinks being a heel comes more naturally. She explained that she actually learned wrestling as a heel, calling it her roots. She also admitted she finds being the bad guy more fun and said there’s a lot less pressure than trying to be the hero.
Stratton isn’t teasing a heel turn for next week or even next month. What she is teasing is a completely different version of Tiffany Stratton whenever that day comes—one that’s a lot less character and a lot more her, just turned all the way up.
Do you want to see Tiffany Stratton turn heel again, or should WWE keep her as one of SmackDown’s top babyfaces? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
