As a product of NXT reality show "Tough Enough" and a WWE main roster performer since 2017, Sonya Deville is hip to the pro-wrestling business. The former mixed martial artist knows that the bigger she and real-life best friend Mandy Rose get as tag team Fire & Desire, the closer they creep to (storyline) breaking up and feuding with one another.
Deville, whose real name is Daria Berenato, just doesn't want that to happen "anytime soon," she told TheWrap on Tuesday.
"In terms of breaking up right now, I don't see it happening anytime soon -- and I don't want it to happen anytime soon, because it's not time for that," Berenato said. "I think we're just getting some real momentum as a tag team and we still compete as singles competitors."
"We have a really cool chemistry going on right now," she continued. "We're just starting to get in our groove, so I would hate to see it ending prematurely. I see us -- at least in my opinion -- staying together for a while."
Then again, the two never foresaw themselves being a tag team in the first place. Before their WWE call-up as part of wrestler-turned-manager Paige's short-lived faction Absolution, Deville and Rose would fantasize about wrestling each other as singles competitors, Berenato said.
After all, at the time, WWE did not even have Women's Tag Team Championship belts. It does now, and Fire & Desire should be in line soon for a title shot.
For now, the silver lining to not having the gold around their waists lies in what Berenato calls the "realness" of the friendship she shares with Rose, whom she met on "Tough Enough" and subsequently lived with.
"We are truly like sisters," Berenato said. "Mandy and I stand alone as that one true bond and friendship in the WWE that hasn't been ruined yet from the business. You see Sasha (Banks) and Bayley, they had a great run, but something always gets in the way. I feel like that's not the case with Mandy and I because there's a lot of realness behind our relationship and that's why the fans buy into it."
But don't take our word for it -- or hers. Tune in to "SmackDown Live" tonight starting at 8/7c on USA Network, where you'll see the "Desire" of "Fire & Desire," Rose, in Deville's corner for "Fire's" one-on-one match against Ember Moon.
Every WWE Champion Ever, Ranked by Number of Reigns (Photos)
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz (and after one violent Hurt Lock in the main event of March 1, 2021's "Monday Night Raw" episode).
The Miz (yes, Mike from "The Real World") only had the belt for eight days. Really though, Lashley's violent "Elimination Chamber" attack on then-champ Drew McIntyre is what set Miz up for his second WWE Championship. In other words, the belt found the correct waist in the end.
This is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it's spanned several pay-per-views. Up next is Sunday's "Hell in a Cell," which fans can watch on Peacock.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Jinder Mahal # of Reigns: 1
Shortly before this publishing, the "Modern-Day Maharaja" dropped the title to A.J. Styles, ending a somewhat confusing run right before the WWE went to India.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: John "Bradshaw" Layfield # of Reigns: 1
JBL has taken his heel persona from the ring to the announce table. Never without a cowboy hat, Layfield thankfully leaves his lariat clothesline at home.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: The Ultimate Warrior # of Reigns: 1
The muscle-bound maniac who handed Hulk Hogan his first-ever "WrestleMania" loss died after suffering a heart attack three days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Pedro Morales # of Reigns: 1
History lesson: Back in the WWWF days, Morales became the first guy in wrestling history to win all three of the major men's titles -- the WWF Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship -- in the company.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Bobby Lashley # of Reigns: 1
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: The Miz # of Reigns: 2
The kid from "The Real World" made good on his over-the-top MTV promos. One of the best on the mic, Miz has been holding down the Intercontinental Championship more than any other Superstar of the past few years.
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: Bob Backlund # of Reigns: 2
Backlund couldn't "Make Darren Young Great Again" -- or even keep the guy employed -- but the master of the cross-face chicken wing had a pretty incredible career of his own.
From Buddy Rogers to Bobby Lashley, here are all the guys from the old WWWF and WWF days -- and beyond
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz (and after one violent Hurt Lock in the main event of March 1, 2021's "Monday Night Raw" episode).
The Miz (yes, Mike from "The Real World") only had the belt for eight days. Really though, Lashley's violent "Elimination Chamber" attack on then-champ Drew McIntyre is what set Miz up for his second WWE Championship. In other words, the belt found the correct waist in the end.
This is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it's spanned several pay-per-views. Up next is Sunday's "Hell in a Cell," which fans can watch on Peacock.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
