It's our birthday.
>> It's our birthday.
[CROSSTALK] >> Happy birthday.
>> We are old.
>> We are old now, 15.
>> 15 years old.
>> Am 15.
>> She is 15.
>> I like to kick and stretch, am 15
[MUSIC] >> [LAUGH] She's 15.
What's NeXT is 15?
I'm not 15.
>> You are too. [SOUND]
[MUSIC]
>> Happy birthday What's NeXT.
Welcome everyone, happy Thursday.
I'm Mckenzie Mitchell, this is Alicia Taylor.
>> Hi. >> And wow, I can't believe,
today is a big day.
>> It's a huge day. >> In What's NeXT's history.
>> I forgot, I totally forgot it's our birthday, we don't have any cake.
>> How did you forget?
>> Cupcakes.
>> It's Holly's fault, he forgot the cake again.
>> Go for Hartley, go [INAUDIBLE] fault.
>> [NOISE].
>> Okay, maybe next week.
Maybe we can get some cupcakes >> Hartley next week there
better be streamers, party supplies.
>> I've been asking for floating shelves for weeks.
>> I mean- >> And floating shelves still
haven't popped up.
So I mean honestly [LAUGH],
I don't know what we have to do at this boy [CROSSTALK].
>> All honesty with the size of the guest we have today,
it should have been decorated today.
>> Well Alicia, she kinda ruined our set in the first place.
So that's why we're here.
That's why we're where we're at right now, remember?
[SOUND] >> Mckenzie?
[SOUND] >> You're right, you're right.
>> But maybe she can help give some love.
>> I'm kind of scared because I don't even know which side of her we're gonna
get today.
>> Okay, well I mean, I guess without further ado,
we should figure it out, right?
Bring her on.
>> You should let everyone know who is finally on What's NeXT.
>> Coming on What's NeXT, ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the NXT Women's Champion, Raquel Gonzalez.
>> Raquel Gonzalez.
[APPLAUSE] >> Welcome to the show Raquel.
>> Thank you, i9t's about fucking time.
>> I agree, I agree.
>> Raquel first of all, thank you so much for coming-
>> You're welcome.
>> Gracing us with your presence here today, an NXT champion we appreciate you.
It's time to bury the hatchet.
>> I agree.
>> I mean- >> Put the past behind us.
We've had a lot of issues- >> You're right.
>> With you and we certainly don't want any issues with you.
>> No.
>> Yes well, ladies I've come to the same conclusion as well.
And I wanted to come on here today to really say Happy 50th birthday.
>> Yes, thank you.
[APPLAUSE] >> You guys are great for 50, what is it?
The Botox, is it?
>> I mean the filler.
>> The filler.
>> All of the things.
>> What's even more is I'm gonna talk to someone about decorations for
your birthday.
I think it's very [CROSSTALK]- >> Wow.
>> To do that.
You need at least a pinata in here, [CROSSTALK]
>> I said it for weeks.
>> We need at least a pinata. >> Can we get one that looks
like Mandy Rose and then we can all take some anger out together.
>> [SOUND] wow, what a [CROSSTALK] idea.
>> Wow, that's a great idea, we're gonna get that, we're gonna get that in place.
>> And then yeah [CROSSTALK] >> Well Alicia just to bury the hatchet I
was actually admiring your boots.
>> Thank you.
>> I love the [CROSSTALK].
Yeah and I wanted to bring you a surprise and I saw that you love animals.
>> No, no, no wait, wait, no, no.
>> Many pets as a Texas girl, I love animals.
>> Wait a second.
>> Let me go get her.
>> No, no, no.
>> Yeah, just give me a second.
>> With the Instagram posts that she sent me the other day.
>> [SOUND] >> Look, puppy.
What were you thinking?
>> She sent me a horrible Instagram message of a snake.
>> Horrible?
What's wrong with that?
>> She knows how I feel about snakes.
>> Look at him.
>> Well this is gorgeous.
>> I mean Pepe you are cooler than we are.
>> The Mister Pepesito, everyone.
[APPLAUSE] >> Pepechulo.
>> He's a lover not a fighter.
>> Thank God.
>> He really brings out the softer side of me.
So you should really be thanking Pepe for today.
>> Good.
>> Look, he's just making himself right at home.
>> You guys match, your watch and the bow tie.
>> Yeah. >> This is so cute.
>> He's an out of the box kind of guy.
>> I totally welcome Pepesito.
I thought it was your snake.
What's your snake's name.
>> McGeeney.
>> So maybe next time.
>> Kind of wanted to ask, where are you guys rooting for
Halloween havoc with me and Mandy?
>> [CROSSTALK] Definitely you, definitely you.
>> Okay great, yeah.
>> Raquel Gonzalez retaining the NXT Women's Championship.
>> And Pepe [CROSSTALK] >> And I'm glad you said that.
Was the other way then I don't know what's gonna happen next week.
I don't know who's gonna pop up.
I don't know what friends I'm gonna bring.
I don't know. >> I'm at ringside if you need anything.
>> I know exactly where you are.
[MUSIC]
>> That sounded more threatening.
I was just offering health really.
>> Is Peppy a Texan?
>> No he was born Floridian but it's okay.
We're gonna get his dual citizenship.
>> Okay.
>> Just by nature, he will be a Texican as well.
>> He's bilingual?
>> Really? >> He speaks English and Spanish.
>> [FOREIGN] >> Well, only to me maybe.
>> [LAUGH] >> Maybe you just didn't say it right.
I think that's what it was.
>> [FOREIGN] Pepesito.
>> Obviously you and Pepe are on social media, but
we also see you always at the gym.
Is there a day that you wake up and
you're just like I really don't wanna go to the gym?
>> No because it's become a mindset,
a habit where if I don't go then I get mad at myself for not going.
>> Wow, I wish I could relate >> I need to be there.
I feel like I missed something if I don't go.
>> Now you mentioned, I love tacos, I could eat like 50 tacos, but
then it's a struggle between the gym and the tacos.
How do you deal with that?
>> I try not to eat or make healthy tacos.
You can make healthy tacos.
>> [LAUGH] Healthy tacos?
>> Yeah, you can get wheat tortillas, or you can get jicama, you know jicama?
>> Yes >> I don't, maybe am not as [CROSSTALK]
>> It's like a starchy kind of fruit, but
it's like a potato.
So you gotta peel it but you can slice them up and
it can be like a crunchy little tortilla and it's very low carbs, very good.
>> That's a good tip.
>> On a more serious note, you mentioned Mandy Rose.
>> Yeah. >> Okay, Tuesday October 26th Halloween
havoc, you defending the NXT women's title against Mandy Rose.
In a Spin the Wheel make deal and super match, what are you hoping to spin?
What kind of match do you want?
>> I really hope that we get a bull rope match.
>> Bull rope match.
>> Texas Bull ropes, okay.
>> Maybe even a dog color match, anything I can really drag her by.
You know what I mean?
She's just so little I feel like I could just flip her around and
toss her away from NXT.
>> Raquel who or what was your inspiration to get into sports entertainment?
>> That was my father, my dad.
My dad was a wrestler.
So I've actually just been doing a lot of talks about him since it's the end.
We're coming to the end of Hispanic Heritage Month.
>> Yes. >> And they've been asking me
a lot about where he worked.
And so he worked in South Texas, Louisiana and
a little bit in Mexico every now and then.
So I got to travel with him and go watch him wrestle and I just wanted to do it.
I just want to be a part of it.
>> When you're in the ring or even in your gear,
do you have little touches of him that go along with your matches?
>> Yeah, definitely the the black low there was something that he did because he
went by Rick Desperado.
So he did a lot of the black leather and just the plain black boots.
Which is why I really wanted to kind of keep like Ching going on and
stuff like that just to keep that still connected.
>> Sure >> Where it came from.
>> How do you feel about the new era of NXT?
What does the new era mean for Raquel Gonzalez?
>> It's exciting, and it's even more exciting for
me that I get to be the Women's Champion and bring NXT into the new era.
I get to be the example that all of these new faces try and live up to,
you know what I mean?
So it's fun to watch.
>> Obviously holding the NXT Women's Championship is a huge accomplishment.
Would you say that your biggest accomplishment yet in WWE?
>> Yes 100%, it's definitely is.
I've had some of the most amazing matches here in NXT,
just pushed my career over over the edge of what I ever thought it would be and
even holding the title myself just is amazing.
It's amazing.
Still blows my mind.
>> Well this has been an absolute pleasure to have you guys here this morning on
What's NeXT, I mean Raquel, Pepe.
>> But I'm so glad we got to do this.
I don't know what was wrong before,
I don't know how could we got on the wrong foot.
You guys just kind of say some stuff sometimes maybe I misinterpreted it.
I don't know but I'm really happy we got to do this.
>> Me too.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Yeah, thank you so much and you guys are welcome back anytime.
Maybe next time just get like professional die for his hair.
>> Excuse me.
>> I was just meaning like- >> So
you're saying Pep is not good enough for you today?
>> No absolutely not.
>> Pepe is so cute, I was just saying you need a color to match, a different color.
>> [CROSSTALK] >> And here I thought you two changed.
>> No, Mckenzie?
>> We're back.
>> [SOUND] Why would you do that?
>> I just didn't mean all that.
>> [CROSSTALK] to go down again >> I think she took it the wrong way I
wasn't meaning it like that Alicia.
>> You completely insulted Pepe.
>> She's gonna bring the snake I'm sure next week.
Speaking of, we're moving forward next week,
Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker versus GYV.
>> And if we make it to next week, Odyssey Jones and
your favorite newcomer, Andre Chase.
>> That's right.
>> In action.
>> And Alicia,
do you think we'll hear from the brand new NXT North American champion Carmelo Hayes?
>> If you don't insult him, yes.
Guys, do not miss NXT action every Tuesday, live on the USA Network and
sponge or Thursday's night right here with me and-
>> That's right.
>> Mckenzie Mitchell on WWE [INAUDIBLE]