The Ravishing Russian: 5 Facts you didn't know about WWE's Lana 

The Ravishing Russian has had quite a journey on WWE TV since she made her debut back in 2013. Lana was originally partnered with Rusev during their time in NXT and the couple seemingly hit it off while in developmental.

The couple has since married, appeared on Total Divas, and been divorced on WWE TV when Lana started a relationship with Bobby Lashley. Of course, this was part of a storyline and Rusev has since been released from WWE TV. In real life, Lana and Rusev are still married, but the duo is no longer part of the company together.

Since Rusev's departure, Lana has been used sparsely on Monday Night RAW but was able to cost Lashley his match at Backlash this past weekend before The Almighty decided that he wanted a divorce this week on RAW.

Lana has teased joining with Natalya since the former NXT star makes a fantastic manager but is yet to reveal her future plans. Ahead of what could be an exciting few months for Lana, here are some of the lesser-known facts about the star.

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#5. Lana has struggled with eating disorders

Lana may be seen as one of the most beautiful women on the company's payroll at present, but that doesn't mean that she hasn't had her struggles with body image over the years. Much like fellow WWE star Alexa Bliss, Lana has also struggled with eating disorders in the past.

The star told Lilian Garcia that she was obsessed with her weight and would limit herself to just 400 calories a day before she was hospitalized at the age of 17.

I was called fat. When I was 14, I was 90 pounds and like 5’4″. They said that my butt was way too big and they [ballet instructors] would give me exercises to try to get rid of my butt. I had really bad eating disorders. I was hospitalized when I was 17. I had really bad eating disorders. I was bulimic. I was anorexic. When I was 14, I counted my calories. I didn’t eat more than 400 calories a day. All I would eat or drink was Diet Coke, or coffee, and I’d have a little bit of chocolate. I was very very unhealthy and I hid it from my mom because my mom, if she knew, would have taken me out of that school. That was her biggest fear is that world would give me eating disorders. I had major major eating disorders.

Lana has since overcome the disorder but still struggles with body image and some of the feedback that she receives from the WWE Universe on social media.

#4. Lana was once signed to Ne-yo's record label

Lana has pushed to be used in the ring throughout her career, but the former NXT star has proved that she is more valuable to WWE on the mic. The confidence on the mic for the Ravishing Russian seemingly comes from the fact that she is also a trained singer and was once signed to Ne-yo's record label.

Interestingly, her singing ability isn't something that WWE has tapped into during her time on the company's main roster, but Lana has so much talent to give as a former dancer, actress, and singer who rose to fame during her time in college.

Lana along with her friends Shea, Tanu, and Kat made up the girl group No Means Yes and were signed by Ne-yo's record label. Like many struggling artists the group was only able to release one single called Would You Like That.

Perry was the lead singer in the group and can be heard in the video above. Hopefully, one day her singing talent will be used in WWE.

#3. Lana has three dogs, Pickles, Miles, and Joy

Lana and Rusev have been married since 2015 since both of their weddings were featured on Total Divas and the couple has since settled down and created a family with their three dogs.

The couple has three dogs, Pickles and Joy have been part of their family for a number of years, whilst Miles was the latest member to join them back in January 2019. The couple teased the arrival of Miles by making the WWE Universe believe that Lana was pregnant before they revealed that it was a new dog.

Today is a life changing day for @RusevBUL and I. We are welcoming a new family member into the Rusev Day & Lana Day family !

— CJ “Lana” Perry (@LanaWWE) January 9, 2019

Lana recently updated her Instagram where she shared the fact that her dogs had helped her throughout the lockdown and that Miles had been ill for a few days.

Rusev and Lana have even made an Instagram page for their dogs where they show the journeys that their dogs go on whilst they are on the road with WWE. Rusev has recently been spending a lot of time with his pets and was even teaching Pickles how to play football.

#2. Lana always felt like she didn't belong, until she met Rusev

Lana has struggled with her body image throughout her life and always found it hard to fit in. On an episode of Total Divas she opened up to Nikki Bella about how she was always different as a child because she never wanted to wear pink, she always wanted to wear blue.

Lana has gained a lot of negative attention from the WWE Universe throughout her time on the main roster, and that has only served to fuel her issues fitting in. Despite all of this feedback, Lana has pushed through and been able to make a name for herself in WWE. The former dancer took to Instagram a few years ago to reveal that she had never felt as though she fitted in until she met Rusev.

Lana also revealed that she found herself through meeting Rusev and that the former United States Champion has changed her life. The couple was able to share some interesting aspects of their life whilst appearing on Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia back in 2019.

#1. Reports suggest that WWE tried to split Rusev and Lana

Lana and Rusev have been a force together since their time in NXT, but this hasn't been without issues throughout their careers.

Back in 2015, the couple were part of a storyline where Lana was aligned with Dolph Ziggler and Rusev with Summer Rae. A curious report by The Wrestling Observer went on to claim that this came about because someone within WWE wanted the couple to split for real and putting Ziggler and Summer Rae in the way could allow that to happen.

"Vince McMahon is trying to break up Rusev and Lana in real life. Observer suggests that Vince forced an on-screen break up and new pairing in order to help facilitate a real-life breakup between the two. It is said that Vince feels that someone like Rusev shouldn’t get a girl like Lana."

The storyline with Ziggler and Rae didn't last long since the couple announced their engagement and ruined the storyline. Despite third party interference, Lana and Rusev were still going strong even though Rusev is now no longer part of the company.