WWE has made use in some occasions of questionable resources, or directly of bad taste, to build certain angles
Last year, shortly before the TLC PPV, the company received harsh criticism for a promo by Jinder Mahal against Shinsuke Nakamura, which was seen as racist. Or going further back, the mention of Paige to Reid Flair during a confrontation with Charlotte, causing "The Nature Boy" to express his displeasure at not having been informed beforehand.
Now, just over a week away from WrestleMania 34, a rivalry brings us back to this dynamic: the one between Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax, which was triggered by some offensive comments by the champion about the physical appearance of the Samoan. However, Nia Jax offered a different point of view on this issue during a recent interview with Mirror.
"I think it's amazing. I think it's something people know but don't want to talk about, they always want to keep it hidden. We're diving headfirst into the topic, and that's how it should be. Boys and girls should hear this and see the conflict we go through and be able to see someone defending themselves and not letting someone abuse them for how they look or their skin color. Everyone should be able to defend themselves. So, I think it's incredible. I'm proud to be a part of this."
And has Jax ever had to endure derogatory comments and treatment about her physique?
"Oh, yes. You know, when I was growing up... it's amazing how much this story resembles my real life. And especially with Alexa being such a close friend for so long, she has witnessed it. Her character has hurt mine, because she has told many of those stories that have happened to me. I'm surprised that it has become such an important story in WWE, because it has a lot to do with me.
"As I was growing up, people made fun of me for being bigger than normal. I especially remember one time during a basketball game, an adult guy laughed at me and my size. He didn't realize that my Samoan father was in the audience. And he... gave him a beating, but that's another story. Yes, I've dealt with people making fun of me my whole life. For everything, from having a broad forehead to the size of my feet, which doesn't allow me to have the same shoe size as my friends."
The full interview by Mirror with Nia Jax can be read here.