ODB Interview: Returning To IMPACT, Knockouts Division, Food Truck, AEW, More

How is this ODB different from when you won your last Knockouts Championship in 2013?

I grew up a lot, actually. Back then, I was so hungry and I was so proud to be a part of the first-ever Knockouts division. I was so driven and obviously, I'm driven more in a different way this time, but it means even more to me right now being one of the OGs. Now I have to go after the Knocked-Up title to represent the original OGs.

You've mentioned before that you want to help inspire and motivate people in 2021. How much of ODB is who you actually are in reality? Have you seen the two overlap at any point?

Obviously, I built my brand with my lifestyle, but with ODB, obviously I'm not that obnoxious in real life. I'm very mellow. When people meet me they're like, "You're basically like your character, just toned down a little bit." Honestly, with pro wrestling, being ODB, pro wrestling has helped me get out of my shell. I grew up more as a little shy girl if you can believe that, so it really helped get me out of my shell.

You've also mentioned that your food truck burning down in 2019 was the best thing that could have happened to you. With an experience like that, what advice can you give to people who have dealt with equally tough times, especially when it's difficult to look at the bright side?

The main thing is to stop feeling sorry for yourself. I know it's hard. We all go through difficult times whether it be money, relationships, losing your job or your home. You just have to make the most of it. I swear, probably a lot of people in my situation would've screwed getting the food truck and would've taken the money and done something else. But having that food truck, obviously when I saw it, I was like, "What the hell. There goes everything." Yeah, you have a little breakdown, but I snapped out of it. Literally, I was like, "Done." It took half a day and I said, "I'm done with this. It's time to move on."

DDP reached out within 24 hours of my food truck burning down and he's like, "Hey, ODB, this is DDP." I was like, "Damn. What's up, man?" He said, "We've all been there. The wrestling world loves you." You don't realize how much you're loved when something bad happens, but it's all about getting through something. Life is not easy with anything. The harder you work, the more stuff that's going to get at you. It's amazing what I did in 2020, and in 2021, I'm just going to keep on trucking with this food truck and keep wrestling for as long as I can.