WWE's Nikki ASH Plans To Channel Marvel's Black Widow For Her SummerSlam Match

It's almost time for the biggest party of the summer. WWE SummerSlam airs live on Peacock on Saturday, August 21. While the event is stacked with matches, including Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg and Roman Reigns vs. John Cena, there's another match that has a huge chance of stealing the show. WWE Raw Women's Champion Nikki ASH will be defending her title against former champions Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair.

Appearing on GameSpot's professional wrestling podcast Wrestle Buddies, the current champ didn't shy away from admitting how big of a hurdle this match will be. "They're both formidable, they're both powerful," she said. "I'm going into this match as the Raw Women's Champion and I'm also going in as the underdog because I'm the smaller competitor."

This isn't the Nikki Cross of old, though. Earlier this year, she embraced a new character that she dubbed Nikki ASH (almost superhero). She began wearing a cape and a mask, embracing the inner superhero she thinks is inside all of us. Don't expect her to start exhibiting superpowers like WWE's original superhero, The Hurricane, though.

"What really separates a supervillain from a superhero is that moral compass," she explained. "So for me, I've got all the drive and the hope and the persistence and the love of a superhero like Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel, but I'm not going to have any super serum or magical superpowers." That's why she's deemed herself almost a superhero. She's got the mindset and the drive, just none of the magic powers that are involved.

Still, she will be taking some superhero inspiration when it comes to toppling her opponents at SummerSlam. "Even though I'm strong and always in my gym doing superhero training, they are both powerful, formidable women," she said. "So I need to rely more on speed and agility and pinning combinations like Black Widows busting out or Rogue from X-Men. This is the biggest challenge I'm going to face in my career. This is the biggest challenge so far having been the Raw Women's Champion."

Still, even with the tall challenge ahead of her, Nikki reassures fans, "I have every intention of walking out of SummerSlam as the Raw Women's Champion. I'm really proud to defend my championship at such a big stage--it's the biggest party of the summer."

SummerSlam broadcasts Saturday, August 21. Make sure to check out the full card for the show and don't forget to listen to Nikki ASH's full appearance on Wrestle Buddies above--complete with GameSpot's predictions for the show.