Imagine stepping into the WWE ring for the first time, only to be introduced as part of a tag team called the Brooklyn Pizza Connection—with the ring names Saucy and Cheesy. Sounds like a slice of wrestling history, right? Well, that was almost the reality for Kris Statlander, the former AEW Women's Champion, who recently spilled the beans on her original WWE debut plans during an interview with Chris Van Vliet. But here’s where it gets controversial: would such a quirky, food-themed gimmick have been a hit or a miss in the wrestling world? Let’s dive in.
Statlander, known for her out-of-this-world persona as The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien, discussed her journey, from defeating Jade Cargill for the TBS title to her extreme match with Willow Nightingale at All Out. But it was her revelation about her 2019 SmackDown appearance that stole the spotlight. Originally, she and her tag team partner were slated to be the Brooklyn Pizza Connection, with the names Saucy and Cheesy. And this is the part most people miss: the team was later rebranded as the Brooklyn Belles, and their debut match saw them challenging The IIconics for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles on April 9, 2019. Though they didn’t win, Statlander, billed as Kristen for the match, joked that debuting as Saucy or Cheesy would’ve been iconic.
In the interview, Statlander admitted, ‘I don’t know, we never got that far, but those were the options.’ She even humorously suggested that if she ever goes for tag titles in AEW, she might embrace names like Garlic or Oregano. Fast forward to November 2019, and Statlander made her AEW debut alongside Big Swole, eventually signing a contract and becoming a staple of the promotion.
Here’s the bold question: Would the Brooklyn Pizza Connection have been a cheesy gimmick too far, or a deliciously memorable twist in wrestling history? Let’s spark some debate—would you have loved or loathed seeing Saucy and Cheesy in the ring? Share your thoughts below!
