By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Insight With Chris Van Vliet with guest Sonya Deville
Host: Chris Van Vliet
Podcast available via Podcasts.Apple.com
On the major injury suffered on Smackdown: “I had no idea. I must be so naive to this. I’ve been an athlete, I was like, I’m fine. I tagged out. Alright, I’m lying. I knew something was wrong. It felt a little weird. I kind of like my knee buckled and I was like, Oh, that was weird. But like, I’m fine. I have eight minutes left in this match. We’re about to go to a commercial break. I need to get it together. And so I tagged out to Chelsea and I got on the apron. Luckily, we were in a commercial break. So I was like alright, let me suss out the situation. So I’m hopping on the apron and anyone in the live audience was probably like, What the heck is she doing? But I’m hopping up in down on the apron trying to gauge if I can trust my knee. And sure enough, it was sketchy at best.
“I was like, Oh God, well, I’m in a match with Bianca, Charlotte, Chelsea, it’s a tag match, no less. I’m not about to change the entire match right now on live TV. So I was getting the comeback run on me and I had another eight minutes to wrestle. So I was like, we just got to do this. So Chelsea tagged me in for the hot tag. I had two comebacks ran on me. We did some falsies, I think a superplex. And the whole time I was like, Oh my God, I hope I don’t fall flat on my face. And sure enough, we made it to the end and I limped back, I got my rental car, went to my hotel, tried to pretend like it didn’t happen, because in this business, no one wants to be injured and out of play. Because I just won my first title. I was so sad, I was like, It’s fine. It’s just a sprain, I’ll wrap it. Long story short, I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and I fell face-first into the wall. And I was like, Oh, I think something’s wrong.”
On having to relinquish the championship: “I was so devastated. I mean, I’d been with the company for nine years. And of course, part of being in the WWE is to one day grab that brass ring and get gold around your waist and that’s what I had been striving for, of course. So I finally got my first championship and I was so happy. I was so elated. I was ready to make those titles mean more than ever before. And the injury came, which is probably why I ran back to my hotel and hid in my room and didn’t tell anyone I was injured.”
On the Otis and Mandy Rose storyline that culminated with no fans: “Bittersweet, but life works in such mysterious ways. I always say everything happens for a reason and I’m a firm believer in that. But it was one of those moments where I was like, wow, I think I just had the run of a lifetime. And it was in front of nobody, except the millions, of course watching at home. There was so much interaction and love on socials and online and everything. But being a performer, being in the WWE, my favorite part is walking out there and hearing you guys. I want to hear the audience whether you’re booing me out of the building, whether you’re cheering, whatever it is, I just want to hear and feel the passion from that. So walking into the empty arena, when we know we’re having iconic moments like the Mandy Otis kiss, the Sonya/Mandy turn, all these moments, I’m like, oh my god, the crowd reaction would be so good. And, you know, at one point, it was like 20 NXT talent in the audience. And they’re booing and I’m like, This is crazy. This would be so iconic in front of in front of a crowd. But it was iconic nonetheless, to be a part of a cool story like that.”
FAQs
After leaving WWE
She said Sonya is still her dearest companion. They don't see each other that much any longer. As indicated by the former NXT Women's Champion, Deville will continuously be her best friend.
Who was Sonya Deville's tag team partner? ›
Former WWE Superstar Mandy Rose, who is one of Deville's closest friends and spent years as her tag team partner in WWE, was among those in attendance. Other guests included current WWE stars Bayley, Bianca Belair, Montez Ford, Charlotte Flair, Andrade, Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green.
Who attended Sonya Deville's wedding? ›
Deville married her now-wife Toni Cassano earlier this year at The Legacy Castle in New Jersey. The happy couple was surrounded by friends, family, and WWE Superstars. Charlotte Flair, Andrade, Bayley, Montez Ford, Liv Morgan, Matt Cardona, Chelsea Green, Mandy Rose, Vic Joseph, and McKenzie Mitchell all attended.
Where did Sonya Deville get married? ›
Deville, real name Daria Berenato, and Cassano were married in front of friends and family at The Legacy Castle in Deville's home state of New Jersey.
Are Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville friends in real life? ›
On-screen, Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville have been seen feuding with each other all the time, but in real life, both of them are best friends and go on vacations together.
Did WWE let Mandy Rose go? ›
Former WWE Superstar and NXT Women's Champion, Mandy Rose, left WWE in December 2022 after the company released Mandy from her contract for shocking reasons. Mandy Rose was let go from WWE despite her popularity and rise to the top in what was seen as a career revival in NXT following a mediocre run on the main roster.
Has Sonya Deville ever won a match? ›
This alliance allowed Deville to earn her first gold in WWE, as they defeated Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to become the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. After almost a year away due to injury, Deville returned in mid-2024, aligning herself with Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
Who will replace Sonya Deville? ›
Chelsea Green has a plan for replacing Sonya Deville and renaming the WWE women's tag team belts - Cageside Seats.
Who are the WWE women's tag team champions now? ›
It is the only women's tag team championship in WWE, thus is defended across both main roster brand divisions, Raw and SmackDown, and the developmental brand, NXT. The current champions are The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) from Raw, who are in their first reign, both as a team and individually.
Who is the WWE Diva getting married? ›
The article highlighted the personal lives and partnerships of several WWE Divas. Alba Fyre married Stevie Boy in 2021, Rhea Ripley married AEW wrestler Buddy Matthews in 2024, and Charlotte Flair has been married to Andrade since 2019.
Shamong Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Are Toni and Sonya married? ›
Congratulations are in order for WWE Superstar Sonya Deville, who has married her partner Toni Cassano. Deville (real name Daria Berenato) tied the knot with Cassano in New Jersey on Saturday (February 10) in a ceremony officiated by TV host and WWE ambassador Maria Menounos.
How much is Sonya worth? ›
Sonya Curry's estimated net worth is 6 million dollars as of 2023. Sonya earns money from investments, product sponsorships, and appearances at basketball-related events.
Does Sonya Deville have tattoos? ›
The Fire & Desire member was happy to reveal two new tattoos that she had done recently. She was obviously very happy with the work that Richard Smith at Amulet Tattoos was able to do. Shoutout to the man Richard Smith Tattoo for my two new tats.
Is Mandy Rose in a relationship with Sonya? ›
We're best friends, we're like sisters, we love like sisters, we fight like sisters.
Why did Mandy Rose lose her title? ›
On the December 13 episode of NXT, Rose lost the NXT Women's Championship to Perez in a rematch, ending her reign at 413 days. The next day, Rose was released from her WWE contract due to her FanTime content. On January 10, 2023, she addressed her release in an episode of The Tamron Hall Show.
Are Mandy Rose and Otis still together? ›
At WrestleMania 36, the former NXT Women's Champion even helped the Alpha Academy member during his match and congratulated him with a kiss. Unfortunately, they split up during the 2020 brand draft. Although Otis and Mandy Rose may have looked genuine to some, they never dated each other in real life.
Does Toni Cassano have kids? ›
Working with children comes naturally for Cassano, who is also a mom of two. The fitness influencer has two daughters, Giovanna and Valentina, from a previous relationship.
