After an awesome one hour interview with SHIMMER co-founder Allison Danger prior to SHIMMER weekend, last Sunday I got to catch up with Danger to film an on-screen followup.
Interviews
SHIMMER Exclusive: Interview with LuFisto
Last weekend at SHIMMER, one of the stars I caught up with was the Super Hardcore Anime herself — LuFisto! LuFisto is not only one of the stars of SHIMMER but the co-founder of Canada’s NCW Femme Fatales, plus she’s a Diva Dirt fan which is of course an added bonus! Unfortunately no Pegaboo, but … Read more
SHIMMER Exclusive: Interview with ‘The Rate Tank’ Kellie Skater
‘The Rate Tank’ Kellie Skater was one of the talks of SHIMMER weekend as Mercedes Martinez left her mark on Skater’s chest on Saturday night. Kellie joined me for a quick chat on Sunday evening at the SHIMMER afterparty. Watch below: Check back for more SHIMMER exclusives throughout the week.
Exclusive: Maria Kanellis on Her New Album, Apprentice, Divas Division Frustrations & Much More
With her debut EP, ‘Sevin Sins’ now available on iTunes, we caught up with former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis to discuss her foray into music and a host of other topics. Despite being released in February, it’s been all systems go for Kanellis with her album, ‘Apprentice’ and a new career in MMA as a … Read more
SHIMMER Exclusive: First Interview with New SHIMMER Champion, Madison Eagles
This past Sunday, Australian Madison Eagles shocked the women’s wrestling world by ending MsChif’s two-year reign as SHIMMER Champion. Just hours after her momentous victory, I caught up with Madison in her first interview as champion.
Exclusive: Former WWE Developmental Diva Jenny Cash Speaks on Her Release & ACL Injury
Speaking for the first time since her release from WWE in February, former developmental Diva Jenny Quinn was known in FCW as Jenny Cash and Penny Cash, sets the record straight about her release and an unfortunate injury that put her on the shelf for nine long months. Last March, Jenny tore her ACL (the … Read more
Exclusive: SHIMMER Co-Founder Allison Danger Previews This Weekend’s Tapings
SHIMMER Women Athletes returns to Berwyn, Illinois this weekend to tape volumes 29 through 32. But before that, joining us to preview this weekend’s festivities is SHIMMER co-founder, Allison Danger. We find out what fans can expect this weekend in Berwyn, who Allison is looking forward to seeing and competing against. Plus, Allison gives us … Read more
Exclusive: Lilian Garcia on Retiring from WWE, Her New Album & a Decade of Memories
We had the honor and privilege of chatting with the Decade Diva, Lilian Garcia this week and no, we can’t quite believe it either! For 10 years, Lilian was the voice of Monday Night Raw and several pay per views including the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania. She has announced some of the biggest … Read more
Got a Question for Lilian Garcia?
We are extremely excited to announce that the Decade Diva herself, Lilian Garcia will be joining us for an exclusive interview this week. Known as the voice of Raw for 10 years, we said a teary-eyed goodbye to Lilian last September. Since then she’s gotten married and is currently working on a second album. So, … Read more
Exclusive: Alissa Flash on TNA Departure, Zipper Gimmick, SHIMMER Title & More
As professional wrestling’s Future Legend, Melissa Anderson has wowed crowds in ChickFight, SHIMMER, NCW Femme Fatales and in other promotions worldwide. In TNA, we came to know and love her as the mysterious Raisha Saeed before catching another side of her as Alissa Flash. As Saeed, Melissa managed Awesome Kong to two Knockouts Title reigns … Read more
Exclusive: Lizzy Valentine (Wrestlicious’ Kandi Kisses) on TakeDown Premiere, Origins of Kandi Kisses, Working for TNA, Wrestlicious Negativity and More
She made her debut as the lip-synching popstar, Kandi Kisses on the first ever episode of Wrestlicious TakeDown this past week and she’s here to tell us all about it, we catch up with the gorgeous Lizzy Valentine. We get Lizzy’s reaction to the first episode, find out about her character and get her thoughts on some of the negative reaction the show has gotten. We also learn discuss Lizzy’s time in TNA in 2003 as well as her one-night only return last December, plus what was it like working with WWE’s Evan Bourne in Wrestling Society X? Read on for the full interview.
You were on the premiere of Wrestlicious TakeDown this past Monday, how was it like doing that performance scene?
“I was so happy that I was on the first episode. Actually, like a few years ago, I was also on the first episode of Wrestling Society X so I was like, ‘Oh look at that, I’m on the first episode again’. I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from my friends about the show, they all thought it was funny and they liked my segment. I had a lot of fun doing that part, playing the role of Kandi Kisses. I’ve known Johnny C [Wrestlicious producer] for a long time. Like, about six years ago we shot a pilot for CRUSH, it never got picked up but I’ve known him for all this time and he’s always known that I was a big fan of Britney Spears so he kind of developed the character for me which was kind of cool.”
We talked a little bit about your friends’ reaction to your character, how did your fans react?
“For the most part, I’ve gotten pretty good feedback from people. I mean, people of course are gonna be negative about it and say, ‘Oh it’s not real wrestling, it’s making a joke out of women’s wrestling’ but Wrestlicious is not trying to be WWE, it’s not trying to be TNA, it’s its own show and its own product so it is what it is.”
There’s been some negativity towards the show. Have you run into any of this in particular?
“Well, my regular friends outside of the wrestling business, just like my friends from like the gym or just my normal friends that I hang out with and family members, they all see it as just a TV show. So they look at it and they think it’s funny and they like it for what it is. On the other hand, like my friends that are in the wrestling industry, they don’t like it. I think they’re being a little close-minded, they’re not thinking about it like the way it’s supposed to be. It’s supposed to be a funny show, it’s supposed to be an action-comedy. It’s not supposed to be a serious wrestling show like TNA or WWE, so people in the industry are kind of like, ‘Oh, it’s making fun of women’s wrestling blah blah…’ but I don’t think it’s really making fun of women’s wrestling. A lot of the characters, their stories are goofy but you know what, they’re characters and we all liked playing our characters. The girls on the show, for the most part, were really, really good wrestlers and you’ll get to see that if you keep on watching it.”
Definitely, a lot of the girls work for SHIMMER and we talk a lot on the site about how great the wrestling is there so I’m sure the wrestling will be on-point as the season goes on…
“Yeah definitely! All of us girls were impressed with each other. We were all watching each other’s matches and we were like ‘wow’. Even the girls who weren’t wrestlers on the indies or anything like that, some of the newer girls that may have been just trained for the show, even they did a really good job too. They worked hard and they did the best they could and everything ended up being okay. For the most part, the matches were really, really good so you’ll definitely be seeing some awesome matches.”
How did you feel just before the show went on the air. Were you nervous? Excited?
“I was really excited because I’d been wanting to see it for a long time and I’d been reading stuff about it on the Internet and everything. But I was a little bit nervous too because my character’s a little bit silly and I didn’t actually wrestle on the show, I was just doing a performance and lip-synching so I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I hope I don’t look too silly’. But I was really excited for it. Everyone has fun at Wrestlicious and I just really, really wanted to see it.”
Wrestlicious Exclusive: Josie (Former TNA Knockout Sojo Bolt) on Joining Wrestlicious, Her TNA Run, Working with Current Divas, Return to OVW & More
Last week, we announced that former TNA Knockout Sojo Bolt aka Josie had signed with Wrestlicious and now today, as we gear towards the premiere of Wrestlicious TakeDown tonight, Josie tells us all about her decision to join the new all female promotion. Josie talks to us about how she joined the company and the … Read more
Wrestlicious Exclusive: Tyler Texas (aka Lorelei Lee) on Wrestlicious & TNA’s ‘Knockout Eve’
Just 24 hours away from the premiere of Wrestlicious TakeDown, the exclusives continue! This time, our guest is an independent wrestler who plays country cowgirl Tyler Texas in the series — it’s Lorelei Lee. If that name sounds familiar, it’s perhaps because she was part of TNA’s New Year’s Knockout Eve last year when she … Read more
Wrestlicious Exclusive: Interview with White Magic (aka The Lovely Lacey)
We’re back with another Wrestlicious exclusive ahead of the series premiere of Wrestlicious TakeDown on Monday night. Our guest this time is a former ROH and SHIMMER star who was coaxed out of retirement to play the voodoo queen White Magic in Wrestlicious. You know her as The Lovely Lacey — not to be confused … Read more
Wrestlicious Exclusive: Interview with Felony (aka Rain/Payton Banks)
We’re just three days away from the series premiere of new Wrestlicious series, ‘TakeDown’ which premieres on Monday night at 11pm on Mav TV in America and Bite TV in Canada. Diva Dirt has been given exclusive access to the stars of the show and earlier this week, we caught up with Wrestlicious’ resident jail bird, Felony. You may know her better as Rain in SHIMMER or Ms. Payton Banks in TNA.
Wrestlicious TakeDown premieres Monday. You have to be excited about that, right?
“Yeah, definitely. I mean, I won’t be able to see it because I’ll probably be on the road somewhere but I’m definitely excited to be on it.”
How did you get approached about the project and what made you want to participate?
“I’ve known Johnny Cafarella [producer, Johnny C] since 2002, and we did Crush back in 2003, and we did Wrestlicious, I think it was like a year and a half ago? So that’s why I was on board, he had me help him. I was actually in the office as well helping with booking the talents, doing the flights and much more. I’ve been kind of a workhorse for Wrestlicious!”
A lot of the girls on the show are playing different characters than we’re used to. Was that weird for you or did you embrace it?
“Not at all! That’s any character that anyone wants me to play. I’m just Felony and I’m being a bad guy and I have no problem being a bad guy. I’m always the bad guy, I love being the bad guy and I just took it upon myself to act the way I wanted to act when I was being Felony, so it’s kind of still me but just with a different outfit basically.”
Tell us about your character, Felony.
“Well, I [as Felony] have a criminal background but I’m not gonna share it with you guys. It’s none of your business! I have my own security guard with me because I’ve basically broken out of jail so many times that I need my own cop with me at all times. And if you’ve seen, he actually tries to get me in the ring as much as he possibly can and when I’m not in the ring, he has me caged up. Basically, he has me hand cuffed 24/7, so I can’t really do too much. I don’t really have the coolest life. You know what, you make mistakes and you pay for it but I just keep breaking the rules and that’s my problem!”
How many episodes are you featured on?
“I think there wass like three episodes that I’ve been on. I think there was three shows taped and I’m on three different episodes. I did all three tapings; I had a tag team match, I had another tag match and I also had a singles match.”
Wrestlicious Exclusive: Owner JV Rich Talks About ‘TakeDown’ Premiere
Wrestlicious premieres it’s new flagship show, TakeDown next Monday night across North America after nearly two years of planning and preparation. As Monday night draws nearer, Diva Dirt has been given exclusive access to the stars of Wrestlicious including founder and owner JV Rich.
Winning millions in the Powerball at just 19 years old, JV coupled his passion for wrestling and love of hot women into Wrestlicious. So, with his very own wrestling show about to premiere, we got all the scoop from JV:
Just days away from the series premiere of Wrestlicious TakeDown, are you feeling nervous at all?
Much more excited than nervous. I am confident we have a great show.
As has been mentioned in the media, you are of course a Powerball winner and invested some of your millions into this project. Would you say it’s been money well spent?
I think it has. Time will tell of course. It certainly has been an awesome learning experience. Best case, we have a huge hit. Worst case, I have a tax write off. By the way, if I could, I would like to clear up the misconception that I put millions of dollars into this project. For the record, I put considerably less than 10% of my after-tax lottery winnings into Wrestlicious. And our team brought it in on budget.
It’s been nearly a year since Wrestlicious was announced, what has the process been like in the last year getting from that original promo clip to the television series?
To be honest, easier than I thought. We did have a small delay that moved us from late-Fall 2009 to Winter 2010, but besides that everything pretty much moved along according to our plan. I can’t say it enough, everyone has worked extremely hard to make TakeDown happen.
What can we expect from the first show when we tune in on Monday night?
A fun sexy show, that everybody but the most serious, die-hard wrestling fans will enjoy. You’re going to be introduced to some great, entertaining characters including Cousin Cassie, Felony, Toni The Top, Tyler Texas, Autumn Frost, Kandi Kisses and Bandita in that first episode. And the wrestling will be stronger than most people think it will. It will be very, very character driven. In fact two thirds of the show will be sketches and other character development stuff, with about one third being in-ring wrestling. Even the commentary will be as much about describing the characters as describing the action. Remember, TakeDown is an action-comedy show, The Man Show meets Hee Haw meets female wrestling. This is the premise it was sold as, an action-comedy with wrestling as the vehicle. And that’s how we’re delivering it
As an on air personality on the show, what can we expect from JV Rich?
A guy fresh off acting lessons, so be gentle! On camera, I’m just trying to live my new life and am thrown into the Wrestlicious chaos. There is also an issue that I want to clear up here. I never demanded or even suggested that I appear in the show. Our team thought it would be a good idea to have a on-air personality that reflected our target demo. They actually had to talk me into it. And they brought it up after the show was financed. [Laughs]
Women of Wrestling Episode 4: Kelly Kelly
Stew and Lee: So where in the world has the Women of Wrestling Podcast been for these last couple of months? Good question, dear listener… but while we ponder that one, why not sit back and enjoy a stopgap chat with WWE’s very own Kelly Kelly. Yes, you read that correctly. An abbreviated interview, but … Read more
Exclusive: Traci Brooks on Playboy Photoshoot, Why She’s Not on Magazine Cover, Knockouts Division, WWE Divas & Much More
She’s the first Knockout to represent TNA in Playboy, as the iconic men’s magazine gets in the ring with TNA Wrestling. Speaking to Diva Dirt‘s Tiffany, Traci Brooks dishes all on her Playboy photoshoot; how it came about, how her fellow Knockouts reacted and clarifies why she was bumped from the print edition. The original … Read more
Exclusive Shelly Martinez Tell-All (Part 2): Batista Blowout, TNA Career & More
She is one of the most unique personalities in women’s wrestling. As a former WWE Diva, she was the vampiric Ariel and as a former TNA Knockout, she got in touch with her Latin roots as Salinas. But having left wrestling behind and looking forward to more acting projects, she is now simply Shelly Martinez … Read more
Exclusive Shelly Martinez Tell-All (Part 1): Marijuana, WWE Career, Batista
She is one of the most unique personalities in women’s wrestling. As a former WWE Diva, she was the vampiric Ariel and as a former TNA Knockout, she got in touch with her Latin roots as Salinas. But having left wrestling behind and looking forward to more acting projects, she is now simply Shelly Martinez … Read more
MsChif Interview Follow-Up
As you know, Diva Dirt got to speak to SHIMMER champion MsChif in an exclusive interview. When asked about her interest in WWE/TNA and her possibly going to either promotion, her answer raised a few eyebrows among the readers. MsChif read some of your comments and in an attempt to clarify her answers, issued a … Read more
Questions for Shelly Martinez
Diva Dirt has confirmed an all new, exclusive interview with former WWE Diva and TNA Knockout, and Queen of our Hearts, Shelly Martinez. Have a question for Shelly? Aimes-vous the “Koffin Kitten?” Have your say in the comments!
Exclusive: SHIMMER Champion MsChif Speaks to Diva Dirt
Diva Dirt‘s Steven had a chance to speak with SHIMMER Champion, MsChif in an exclusive interview. MsChif discusses her thoughts on WWE/TNA, her gimmick and who she’d want to lose her title to.
First off, thank you MsChif for taking the time out to do this interview with us. Let’s get right into things: What inspired you to get into wrestling?
MsChif: I wanted to do something challenging, athletic and fun.
Who are some of your idols in the ring, past or present?
MsChif: Bruiser Brody, Undertaker, and Legion of Doom.
Anyone who has seen your matches in SHIMMER has probably said: “Why hasn’t WWE or TNA signed her yet?” Have either promotion ever contacted you?
MsChif: I have heard from TNA, wanting me to come down there before but I’m not interested in either.
Speaking of WWE/TNA, do you keep up with their products? Is there anyone on those rosters you’re interested in facing?
MsChif: No, I don’t. I’ve already faced many of the ladies in TNA.
With the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling these days, do you find it difficult to gain respect in the wrestling world?
MsChif: Is it still portrayed badly? Wow, I was hoping things were getting better. Especially with TNA hiring a bunch of talented women’s wrestlers. Hard work gains respect, I really haven’t seen much disrespect my way.
Exclusive: Kristal Marshall on TNA Rumours, Racism in WWE, Fitness & More
Since leaving WWE, former Diva Kristal Marshall has found new callings — mother and rising fitness model. Since giving birth to her and Bobby Lashley’s son, Myles last year, Kristal got herself into amazing shape and has taken the bikini modelling world by storm! Just this past summer, Kristal earned her pro card by winning … Read more
Questions for Kristal Marshall
Diva Dirt will be talking to former WWE Diva, Kristal Marshall in an exclusive interview! Do you have a question to put to Bobby Lashley’s beautiful baby mama? Let us know in the comments!
Exclusive: Lacey Von Erich on Wrestlicious, WWE, TNA, Playboy & More
Continuing the legacy of the Hall of Fame-inducted Von Erich family, Lacey Von Erich is due to take center stage late this fall as one of the characters in Wrestlicious. In an exclusive interview with Diva Dirt, the third generation starlet dished the dirt on Wrestlicious including how she got involved in it, what we … Read more