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A 5-year-old donated a Baby Yoda doll to firefighters battling multiple wildfires in the Pacific Northwest to thank them for keeping everyone safe.

USA TODAY

Pro wrestler Mercedes Varnado blasted from the WWE universe to the “Star Wars” galaxy thanks to talent, hard work and chicken wings.

But let’s put some respect on that finger food. “Eating spicy chicken wings,” says Varnado, whose personality impressed the makers of the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” when she appeared two years ago on the popular YouTube show “Hot Ones.” “Your true self comes out when you are eating spicy food, I’ll tell you that.”

Better known to WWE faithful as Smackdown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, Varnado made her debut in the newest episode of “The Mandalorian” (streaming Fridays) as Koska Reeves.

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Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado, left) and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) blast some Stormtroopers in “The Mandalorian.” (Photo: FRANCOIS DUHAMEL/LUCASFILM)

In the third chapter of Season 2 chapter, directed by actress/filmmaker Bryce Dallas Howard, the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) traveled to the estuary moon of Trask with The Child (aka Baby Yoda); ran into three fellow helmeted warriors, including Koska and Bo-Katan Kryze (played by Katee Sackhoff, who voiced the character on the animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars); and got into a ruckus when stealing an Imperial ship loaded with weapons. 

Her “Mandalorian” appearance introduced Varnado, 28, to millions of non-wrestling fans, and unlike former WWE star Dwayne Johnson, who went by his wrestling name “The Rock” in his early movie roles, Varnado is billed by  her her birth name. “I’m so thankful for the role of playing Sasha Banks for so long, but it took Mercedes Varnado to put in that work, and it took Mercedes to get through those doors of the WWE and to be able to do ‘Star Wars,’ ” she says. “I’m just so excited to show the world exactly who I am.”

USA TODAY talked with Varnado (whose first cousin is rapper Snoop Dogg) Friday about her new “Star Wars” role and what’s next for the in-ring star.

Question: I got a kick out of your social media selfie with the “Mandalorian” credits. Did you stay up late to watch your episode, or was it an early morning treat?

Mercedes Varnado: It was an early morning treat. I woke up with a huge anxiety attack. I was just like, “Oh my God, today is the day!’ I had to do my meditation and I took a walk and I just kind of broke down. I just can’t believe that the universe blessed me with this  being the day that my episode would air. On Nov. 13 15 years ago, my hero Eddie Guerrero passed away. So I’ve always thought about the date as something that was really terrible in my life, but I used it to fuel my passion and to really just create a legacy for myself. It’s so crazy how the universe is working kind of full circle for me right now.

Q: You get to save Baby Yoda from a dangerous sea monster. Is The Child cuter in real life than onscreen?

Varnado: So adorable. Oh my goodness, it is so beyond words. You get to watch it on Disney+, but to see it in person, it’s like, ‘What?!’ I need one in my life. Everybody needs a Baby Yoda in their life.

Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado) lurks in the shadows in the Disney+ “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian.” (Photo: DISNEY+)

Q: There’s another scene that’s very old-school “Star Wars,” with the heroes shooting blasters at Stormtroopers in a spaceship corridor. What’s that moment like, wearing Mandalorian armor and a jetpack?

Varnado: I watched it, but still have not really gotten to take in the whole episode because I was screaming and crying the whole time. It was just absolutely incredible. I mean, to kill a Stormtrooper? Hello? Wow, wow, wow.

Q: Which is cooler and which is easier to see out of: Koska’s helmet or Sasha’s “Legit Boss” sunglasses?

Varnado: Definitely my Legit Boss sunglasses. But both of them have their limitations. I mean, with my sunglasses I can barely see, that’s why I take them off so fast.

Q: So Giancarlo Esposito’s villainous Moff Gideon has the Darksaber that Bo-Katan wants back. Does that “Mandalorian” subplot mean you’ll back sooner than later?

Varnado: The beautiful thing with Disney is they love to have their magic. So you have to keep on watching and see what magic we’re going to create.

Q: Do you now have the itch to do more film and TV acting?

Varnado: Absolutely. I have so many goals and so many things that I would love to do in Hollywood, and so many things that I would love to do outside of WWE that I’m making possible. So keep on watching in 2021. I’m going to keep on killing it and crush all my dreams.

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