Toni Storm admits the first time she watched professional wrestling she thought it was a bit weird.
The New Zealand-born Australian is one of the newest editions to World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Smackdown brand, having made her debut last month.
But life could have turned out very different for the charismatic 25-year-old had she given up on sports entertainment after one try. It slowly grew on the-then Gold Coast local and she became hooked after watching a match between two of the biggest stars in WWE history.
By age 11, she knew she wanted to be a wrestler.
"Honestly, I thought it was a bit silly the first time I watched WWE," Storm tells Newshub.
"But the more I watched, the more I appreciated how multi-talented the guys and girls were - but I remember watching John Cena v Edge and it blew me away.
"I think that was like 2005 or 2006 and that entire feud was insane. What those two guys put their bodies through was crazy, but the intensity between them made it so believable. I knew then I wouldn't stop until I got to America and I made it into WWE."
Strom's journey to the epicentre of sports entertainment took her all over the world, from high school gymnasiums in New Zealand to 60,000 seat stadiums in Japan - but the goal always remained the same.
And in 2017, barely out of her teens, Storm was signed by WWE to participate in the first Mae Young Classic women's tournament, making it to the final.
She would return a year later, winning the converted title and earning herself a full-time WWE developmental contract.
The United Kingdom was next for Storm, where she reigned as women's champion of NXT UK for several months, before making the trip back to the United States to work alongside the likes of New Zealand's own Dakota Kai as part of the NXT US brand.
Less than a year later, Storm is a full-fledged member of WWE's flagship show, in a division that earlier this year produced one of the best main event matches in WrestleMania history when Bianca Belair won the Smackdown women's title from Sasha Banks.
A night later, Storm's longtime friend, Rhea Ripley won the Raw women's title, which for Storm, showed her the path to achieve her dreams.
"That was an amazing 24 hours. Watching what Bianca did with Sasha and how quickly Bianca went from rookie to the number-one girl in the business has been so motivating.
"Then for Rhea - a girl who I grew up in this business with, we have been all over the world together, to see her accomplish what she has - I know I can do it too, I just have to continue to work hard every day."
It won't be easy. WWE's women's division has never been more stacked with talent. From Charlotte Flair to Banks, Belair, and Ripley, as well as the rumoured return of the biggest female star in pro wrestling, Becky Lynch, competition for titles, television time and the spotlight is fierce.
That pressure drives Storm, who admits she has a long way to go, but with a locker room full of the best female wrestling talent in the world, she will only get better.
"I have never felt so much pressure in my life. The talent that we have is unrivaled - we have the best women in the world on this roster. So many amazing girls and that's just on the main roster.
"NXT has Io Shirai and Dakota [Kai], Raquel [Gonzalez] - it's crazy. And that's why the pressure is a good thing. We all feel it and we all want to be the best.
"I have to bring my A-game everytime to elevate me to that level - levels I have never been before."
Toni Storm appears on SmackDown each Saturday 12pm (NZ time) on Sky 5.
Storm will be keeping a very close eye on NXT's upcoming Takeover special on WWE Network, when Auckland-born Kai takes on Gonzalez for the NXT women's championship.
Victory for Kai would make her the first localised New Zealander to win a major WWE singles title and Storm is all-in on one of her best friends.
"I'm 100 percent backing Dakota. She deserves it and I'll be cheering her on as loud as I can."
And what about the All Black v Wallabies test match this weekend? Where do Storm's loyalties lie?
"Oh, that's easy. It will always be the All Blacks. If I started supporting Australia my mum would disown me."
WWE SummerSlam streams live on Sunday August 22 from 12pm (NZ time) on WWE Network and selected Event Cinemas
