In PWPonderings latest exclusive interview, Nessa Ferrari (@nessa_ferrarii) sits down with Scott Mitchell (@scott44mitchell) to discuss Beyond Wrestling, including competing at her first Americanrana on Friday, August 28th, working with the likes of Laynie Luck, Liviyah, Kylie Alexa, competing on WWR+, working with Fallyn Grey, her goals, and so much more. Watch the interview in its entirety down below.
Who is Nessa Ferrari, and what do you want fans to know about her?
“Nessa Ferrari is a newcomer. I am a rookie trying to make a name for myself and trying to get to the places that, you know, have the most eyes on it, so people can find who I am. I’m working with great talent and improving myself as time goes on, really. I’m always very- I can be quiet at first, then I’m really jolly and stuff. Then, in such a short time since I debuted- I debuted back in February- and already being on Beyond is like, is already a dream-come-true kind of thing. I’m just beyond grateful. Everything I can do in my whole, just me, Nessa Ferrari, being grateful for all of that and the opportunities I’ve had so far in such a short time.”
Let’s jump right into it. On Friday night, Beyond Wrestling will hold one of its biggest shows of the year, Americanrana. What is your mindset heading into your first Americanrana?
“I am beyond grateful to be on Americanrana. I was not expecting to be on Americanrana. To basically get an idea of who I will be facing at Americanrana is already- I’m just so grateful. I’m nervous. I’m so excited. I cannot wait. I just know that Friday is going to be insane. The people on the card- so many big names on there. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I think it’s going to be a really great night.”
What match/matches are you most excited for on Americanrana this Friday?
“So, there are so many matches. I do want to see the other female match. I love watching female wrestling. I get inspired by the girls. So, I know it’s Sloane Jacobs versus Steph De Lander. Yeah, I’m excited to see that match. They have very different wrestling styles, so I’m excited to see that one. Also, Marcus Mathers versus Dustin ‘Flash’ Waller is going to be really good. I know Timothy Thatcher is going to be there. I believe, I don’t know who he’s wrestling, but I’m excited to see that because he’s a really good wrestler to watch.”
While your match is not announced yet, what can fans expect from seeing you compete on Friday night, and what is your mindset heading into your match?
“My match is not announced yet. But it’s going to be a party. It’s going to be a party. There’s going to be a return happening with somebody. There is a new face, I believe, as well that will be in my match; I’m pretty sure she appears on TNA Wrestling. That is something to look forward to, as well. As well as a champion. A women’s champion will be in this match. I think that this match is going to be really exciting once it’s out. Nobody is going to guess who it is, because none of us align with each other. But it’s definitely going to be very cool.”
You will also be taking on Laynie Luck at Wrestling Open this Thursday night. What is your mindset heading into that one?
“I am; it reminds me of when I debuted at WWR for the first time. I will be wrestling a WWE ID prospect, and to me that means a lot. Those are girls that I inspire to be. I want to be in their position one day. Being able to work with them and their knowledge and stuff like that is a huge opportunity for me. So yeah, this Thursday I’m super excited to work with Laynie Luck, and I think we’re going to have a pretty good match. I’m excited.”
Does Laynie Luck being a WWE ID prospect and WWE ID Women’s Champion add anything extra to you entering this match?
“Well, I will say that now that I am, I guess I will say I’m a familiar face at Wrestling Open, and the fans know who I am and they’re able to cheer me. When I had that match with Kylie Alexa for the Wrestling Open Women’s Championship, I was not expecting people to be on my side. I was not expecting the fans to be on my side because everyone loves Kylie; she’s great. She’s the women’s champion. It was very back-and-forth, and people were cheering for me and cheering for her; it meant a lot. Because people are starting to know me and starting to love me, the fans, and obviously they love her, and who doesn’t want to see the WWE ID Women’s Championship match, so yeah, I’m pretty ecstatic for Thursday.”
You have become a bit of a mainstay now with Beyond Wrestling/Wrestling Open. What does that promotion mean to you?
“I feel that a lot of my success at other promotions, and just me as a wrestler, has improved because of Wrestling Open and Beyond. Wrestling Open and Beyond books pretty good talent, which helps me succeed and helps me improve and get better and get the experience I need. It also, on the bigger side, gets me the exposure. Some people may not know this; I’m sure everyone knows this, but a lot of people watch it. NXT watches Wrestling Open. I know AEW, TNA, all that stuff; they all watch it. This is a time where if I’m able to show my face, people are going to be like, ‘Oh, who’s this rookie? She doesn’t wrestle like a rookie.’ And just showing my face. I’m just beyond grateful that I am able to work for Wrestling Open and Beyond. I love it there, and I don’t think I can ever not love it there.”
You and Liviyah had quite the fun little rivalry on Open. What was it like to work with her and see all that she’s accomplished?
“So, my Wrestling Open debut was against Liviyah. I felt the match went pretty well. That was my, I believe that was my fourth match ever. For me, at that time, I was very happy with how I did, and from there I kind of used what I needed to improve to excel and stuff like that. Also, it was my first time being a heel. So, fun fact: that was my first time ever being a heel. That was just another whole thing of learning and preparing myself as I go. Then, the next time Liviyah and I had a match was in Rhode Island. I really liked that match. I think we wrestled three times; I believe three times or four. I don’t know anymore. I think we wrestled three or four times. The other times were at Rhode Island, so maybe three times. But yeah, working with Liviyah was a great opportunity. She got signed to NWA; I don’t know if it was right after or if she was already signed when I debuted there, so I’m not too sure. She’s someone; she’s very easy to work with and learn from as well, and the crowd loves her. She’s a big babyface there, so.”
At one of Beyond Wrestling’s biggest shows of the year, Break The Walls Down, you got the opportunity to work with Kylie Alexa. What did this mean to you?
“That was my, that was a really exciting match. It was just an exciting day to be on Beyond and share a locker room with all the girls, and even the name Megan Bayne was there. Really connecting with those in the locker room was a great experience, as well as wrestling Kylie. You know, I was definitely very nervous because at this rate I don’t think I was even at 15 matches yet. I still get really nervous don’t think I don’t. I very much get nervous. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, because nobody knew who I was yet. In my mind, it might have been my third or fourth appearance in front of those fans. I definitely didn’t get the pop that I wanted for myself, and because they love Kylie, obviously they want to see her win. Which is totally fine. She’s a great wrestler, and she’s great to work with. I thought it was a great match; I had a lot of fun. Looking back from then till now, and how much I gained in fans and how people are starting to know who I am, it’s definitely a growth from where I was then to now in such a short time. So, yeah. It was a really great experience. There was a lot of talent and matches I was able to watch as well.”
At the last WWR+ show, Food Fight, you got to face off with Fallyn Grey. What was this match like for you?
“That was my fifth match. So, already being asked to perform, I knew I was going to be there, but I didn’t know who I was going to be wrestling until the day of. I wasn’t really sure if I even had a match yet. Then, I found out it was Fallyn Grey, and I was like, ‘Is this a mistake? Why are they going to have a rookie with a WWE ID prospect? Like, why?’ I was just, I had to put that aside and just embrace it and be grateful. She was so fun to work with. She helped me a lot. I’m very new, and because I only had like four matches before that, I needed a lot more improvement, improving to do. I’m not mad at the match. I am happy about it. I know my flaws in the match, but, again, that was like four matches again. I’m being very grateful for having the kind of match I did have and trying not to be so hard on myself all the time. But she was great to work with. She was; she’s such a nice person. We still connect here and there through social media and stuff. She’s definitely someone who has given me the welcoming of being there, because I didn’t know anybody. Being in a locker room full of women, nobody knows who I am, so I feel kind of left out. She definitely didn’t make me feel that way. She’s someone who, if I needed help or some kind of advice in the wrestling world, I trust her and would go to her with that kind of thing as a woman in the industry. But I was very excited and happy for that match.”
What did it mean to you to work for a promotion like WWR+?
“It was definitely a great experience to work with, and be in the facility of an all-women’s show. I thought that was really, I don’t know, an all-women’s show with people there to watch it; it is definitely really nice to see because women’s wrestling has evolved in a great way. It’s come a long way. Men’s wrestling is still popular, but women’s wrestling is definitely starting to take over, and people are starting to appreciate women’s wrestling more. It’s definitely nice to have a promotion that really focuses on women’s wrestling. It’s nice to have women show their talent and show we can have great and fun matches, as well.”
Looking ahead, what are your future goals?
“My future goals are to keep getting my name out there and show my talent and my improvement, and obviously it’s probably everyone’s goal, but hopefully one day, somebody will sign the contract. That would be the end goal. But I’m going to be wrestling and prove that I can make it there until I do, and just work my butt off, do what I have to do, and have fun on the independents and keep training. I still train. I go to training every week, three times a week still. And try to be the better me, the better wrestler. Right now, it’s just getting my repetition in, and getting the matches, performing at shows, and getting my face out there is my ongoing goal.”
Any future opponents you’d like to face or any dream matches?
“Any women’s independent wrestler out there, I would say, if there is anyone in particular – actually no. Do you know who I’d like to wrestle? I’d like to wrestle Shotzi. I’d like to wrestle her. I’d also really like to wrestle Mercedes Mone. That would be so awesome. But yeah, those are big stretches, but anything is possible. I’m grateful for any women I wrestle and will wrestle in the future.”