Shelly Martinez says she didn’t realize how sexual her character, Ariel, was in WWE until recently.
Former WWE Superstar Shelly Martinez, who’s known for her stint in ECW between 2006 and 2007, was a guest on The Velvet Ropes podcast. She recounted her early days in ECW and said she didn’t realize how sexual her character Ariel was. She also revealed where she drew the inspiration for the gimmick.
“I didn’t realize how important getting ready was to really setting that mood to be Ariel,” Shelly Martinez began. “Because something that’s a newer discovery for me. I’m talking about only in the last few years, I didn’t realize how sexual Ariel was. I had no idea, I was just doing my role. I pulled from Drusilla from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly from House of 1000 Corpses, Lily Munster, of course, and then my own flair.
“So, I knew the assignment and knew it well, and I was doing it. So, it’s crazy that when I look back, I’m like, ‘No wonder why my family wasn’t cool with my WWE character because it was so sexual.’ I had no idea, no idea. I think a lot of the seeds getting planted were putting that makeup on, doing that hair, and I almost wonder if it would’ve been different if I would’ve been sitting in that makeup chair, getting my hair and makeup done, would I have still said.. I probably would have the same essence, but the energy going into it was a whole process,” Shelly Martinez said.
Shelly Martinez Revealed Why She Chose The Name Ariel
Speaking further, Shelly Martinez revealed why she chose the name Ariel. She noted that WWE didn’t like the ones she pitched. This included Star (female vampire in The Lost Boys) and Shelly Webster (of The Crow). WWE gave her a list of names to choose from, and it included Ariel, which she had a personal connection to.
“I used to go to Disneyland for years before I got signed. And I’d go to the Snow White wishing well. I would wish, ‘I just want to be in the WWF,’ every single time, because I’ve always had a pass, again growing up here in SoCal.
“So, me and my friends, or just me by myself, always going to Disneyland, many times during the month. Every single time, I would go to that damn wishing well and say, ‘I just want to be in the WWF.’ So the Disney connection for me was just like, ‘Hello, Ariel, I have to be Ariel,’ and that’s why I just circled the name, no other names, and then they let me have it. So that’s how Ariel became Ariel.”
Read More: Alexa Bliss Reacts To Comments About Her Recent Appearance
If you use the quotes from this article, please credit The Velvet Ropes podcast and give an H/T to WrestleZone for the transcription.
