When WWE announced WWE ID, its Independent Development program, I was not shocked to see Zayda Steel as the first wrestler ID’d. Anyone who watches Steel’s matches or promos can see how WWE’s inspiration has helped her stand out on the indies.
Wearing her Boss-time sunglasses to project confidence and assurance beyond her years channels Sasha Banks.
Her character’s sense of entitlement and superiority blends Charlotte Flair with the delusional dismissiveness of Chelsea Green. And in-ring Steel can perform moves like a girl raised on AJ Lee, her favourite wrestler.
With only just over two years of experience, this growing indy standout feels like she was made in the WWE mould. Her nickname of “The Real Deal” is apt.
A wrestler, whether male or female, with such little experience who can wholeheartedly embody their gimmick on screen and in interviews, has a bright future.
Living the character, her acting, mannerisms, and self-belief are things other people with three times Steel’s experience are still gaining confidence in. Steel might be faking it, but you would not know.
Steel has her character down to a T. Even if, at present, the gimmick feels like a perfected stock character. A mixture of throwback and tribute to some of WWE’s most memorable and best heel women’s wrestlers of the past.
Yet the fact is, Steel has plenty of time and now an opportunity to develop with the support of WWE.
#WWEID welcomes @ZaydaSteel
Scouted From: Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW)
Hometown: Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/GaEIuMy8nJ
— WWE ID (@WWEID) November 7, 2024
Child of the Revolution
Steel watched wrestling with her older brother. Wrestling was his passion, but over time, Steel’s love for the sport grew and persisted.
As a kid, she would unapologetically prefer to watch a segment or match with Alicia Fox and Melina than an Undertaker/Shawn Michael’s clinic. Calm down, gatekeepers! Sasha Banks vs Bayley was the match that made her want to be a wrestler.
Moments and characters over matches are what stand out first in the memories of WWE and many fans. Steel grew up during the “Divas Revolution” and missed the misogyny of the Ruthless Aggression Era.
For a self-professed tomboy from an Arabic background, it’s ironic how Steel, as a character and wrestler, would fit perfectly in that era of WWE history.
At age 12, she told her mum she wanted to be a wrestler. Before she was 18, Steel was ready to begin training but expected resistance. She was prepared to be kicked out of her home if that’s what it took to pursue wrestling. Instead, her mother supported her.
She even changed her work patterns to drive Steel to training, which she carried out at two different schools. She wanted it quick!
Going against her Arabic routes, she dropped out of high school a few months early to focus on her career. Her mother, ever supportive, made her promise that she better become a star. A year later, with less than ten matches under her belt, Steel had her first WWE tryout.
WTF: The Fedette
My first exposure to Zayda Steel was watching MLW last year. At the time, MLW Fusion, specials and PPVs were usually dominated by monsters of the month stepping up to face the then MLW World Champion, Alex Kane. Kane, as the babyface champion, ran the gauntlet against The WTF (The World Titan Federation).
The group was a parody of the early 90s WWF’s sports entertainment, featuring big, muscular wrestlers who threatened to take over the company.
The rotating cast included an array of ex-WWE wrestlers like Matt Cardona and established MLW veterans who would not look out of place in WWE, such as Alex Hammerstone and Richard Holliday.
Steel, the least experienced member of the group and their only woman, felt in the right place. Shades on, and Rizz turned up; Steel moved in sync and added a new dimension to the group. To MLW’s credit, Court Bauer knows how to maximize stables.
Nicknamed “The Fedette,” Steel maximized her minutes, convincingly expressing the absurdity of being AOL’s most downloaded celebrity of 2023. Finding chemistry with the Ken doll inspired Brett Ryan Gosling in fun backstage skits.
Being a valet at ringside for her WTF teammates and not being afraid to sell to get babyfaces over showed her range.
She would not have felt out of place on NXT or in the role of Sunny in the 1990s WWF. Her characterisation and work are timelessly timeless.
More Than a Diva
Some might need clarification because her WWE ID graphic stated that Steel was scouted at CZW. Well, Steel’s second training school was the CZW Dojo. Steel also made her in-ring debut in a CZW ring against Trish Adora.
Besides the WWE Divas, Steel grew up in the era when clips of the “Zandig Era” were cult-follower viewing on YouTube.
While not a deathmatch diva, Steel is not afraid to step outside the perimeters usually found in WWE. Steel’s an avid intergender wrestling star across various promotions, having taken on all calibres of male opponents.
From Tournament of Death winner and deathmatch legend Matt Tremont to the comic stylings of Love, Doug. The latter tried to give The Real Deal her flowers.
Proudly taking up the mantle left by Candice LeRae, Steel has shown further range and a willingness to go beyond the conventional.
Taking part in the inaugural tour of Rossy Ogawa’s Dream Star Fighting Marigold undoubtedly helped put Steel on many fans’ radars. With her young age and being at a stage where many wrestlers would be described as “green”, Steel in ring and as a character did not look out of place against experienced joshi opponents.
Considering this was her first time in Japan, her adaption to the Joshi style felt natural.
That level of adaptability between wrestling styles and opponents shows that this indy developmental talent could be more than a diva.
The Real Deal to Represent
Representation in wrestling matters, not just from a cynical business and marketing standpoint but also in terms of inspiring the next generation.
Plenty of male fans scoffed and still looked down on Total Divas or Total Bellas, overlooking how such shows inspired and brought more women into the wrestling fandom.
Steel was inspired by the Divas Revolution and AJ Lee, particularly. Lee was different in a locker room full of ex-models.
Wrestling always needs something different, and while Zayda Steel could easily fit into the WWE mould at present, she’s got time on her hands to evolve and become something new if she chooses.
In interviews and on social media, Zayda Steel has become more vocal and spotlighting her Arabic heritage to positive responses.
There is still a lack of representation of Arabic/Middle Eastern wrestlers in mainstream wrestling that goes beyond just the stereotype of being the gimmick/character. There are exceptions, such as Sami Zayn in WWE and Mansoor in ROH/AEW.
Nhooph Al-Areebi, performing as Aliyah, was the first Arab woman in WWE and is now Zayda Steel’s dream opponent. However, Aliyah’s career, beyond the quickest win in WWE history, was not a highlight reel. There is that expression that someone must learn to walk for others to run.
Steel does not play into the stereotype of being an Arabic/Moroccan character but has stated in interviews she would like to embrace and bring more of that side of herself. Bring her heritage to her character and the ring.
Given her age, determination, and focus on growth, The Real Deal is far from the modern-day wrestling peak. She has time.
Steel is going to keep faking and progressing until she makes it.
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