When Zelina Vega won the inaugural Queen of the Ring tournament in WWE, it wasn’t just a career milestone—it was the beginning of a new persona, complete with a delightfully exaggerated accent and a royal flair inspired by one of her biggest influences.
In a recent interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Vega opened up about the creative spark behind her Queen character and how it all started with a simple question from Vince McMahon.
“That’s where the weird Australian, British kind of accent started,” Vega shared. “So yeah, because Vince asked me, ‘Can you do an accent?’ I was like, ‘I could do a really bad one.’ And he’s like, ‘That’s even better. Do that!’ I’m like, All right, cool. So yeah, that’s how it started.”
What began as a tongue-in-cheek suggestion from Vince turned into a fully realized character, and Vega made sure to get the blessing of one of the most iconic royalty-themed Superstars in WWE history: King Booker himself.
“I did talk to Booker T right before I won it and I was like, ‘Hey, are you cool with me doing an accent if I end up doing this?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, for sure.’ I was talking to him and Sharmell, he’s like, ‘Make sure you make it yours. But whatever feels natural to you, just amplify that.’”
Booker’s advice struck a chord with Vega, who grew up idolizing his over-the-top King Booker character. For her, getting that seal of approval before the coronation only made the moment more meaningful.
“So it was cool to get to talk to them right before it happened, because for me, he’s my favorite. King Booker was my favorite.”
From the moment she donned the crown, Zelina Vega leaned all the way in, embracing her Queen of the Ring role with full theatrical commitment. And whether it was the voice, the attitude, or the walk down the ramp, she made it her own.
Royalty in WWE is earned, not given—and Zelina Vega proved she’s more than worthy of the throne.
You can check out the entire interview with Zelina Vega on Insight with Chris Van Vliet below.
(h/t Alex Hunt and Chris Van Vliet for the transcriptions/quotes.)
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