Gremlina (from GLOW) Interview

With a self-created character based on the creatures from the 1980's, "Gremlins" film, Gremlina made her GLOW debut in season 3. In this interview, Gremlina discusses GLOW, the pro-wrestling industry, and her current involvement in it.

Q: Why did you enter the pro-wrestling industry?

A: Because I love the sport and have been a fan since I was six.

Q: What was the best part about working for GLOW?

A: The friendships with all the ladies working with all these amazing strong intelligent empowered women.

Q: Which do you feel was your best match in GLOW?

A: My last match Daisy vs Zelda.

Q: Which was your favorite match in GLOW?

A: I loved all of them it is a great feeling entertaining the fans and doing something I love is a bonus.

Q: Since your time with GLOW, you have been involved in the independent scene. Did you gain the most valuable experience while you were in GLOW, or have you learned the most during the post-GLOW period of your career?

A: A bit of both.... I learned first by being a fan and yes I analyzed the matches, promos, and of my favorite wrestlers, I learned more from working with the ladies in GLOW and I learn every card I do in VCW from all the great talent they have heart talent and ability and are a valuable source of information.

Q: What is your opinion of the current state of the independent wrestling scene in general?

A: I think there are a lot of great independents and there is a lot of heart passion and talent in the independents that I find lacking in some of the larger promotions today.

Q: Throughout the years, many female wrestling promotions have come and gone, but none of them made an impact like GLOW did. To this day, GLOW remains the all-time favorite of many women's wrestling fans. In your opinion, what was it about GLOW that has made it stand out from other female wrestling promotions?

A: It was something that had never been done before, it was innovative fresh bold edgy and had the pulse of what was going on in the 80's at the time the characters were diverse and over the top it was campy and fun and the women had real talent and some were amazing athletes, it wasn't the same old same old and the women were from all different walks of life and all shapes colors ethnicity and sizes no cookie cutter barbie model types.

Q: Were you a wrestling fan before you were involved with GLOW?

A: Yes I was I was an avid fan of NWA Mid-Atlantic, Georgia, Florida, Texas, wrestling whatever I could watch here in VA then when I moved to NYC the WWF during the best days the 80's.

Q: Comparing the view of female wrestling during the existence of GLOW to the view of female wrestling in the year 2013, do you feel that female wrestling is more respected? Also, do you feel that the quality of female wrestling has improved?

A: I think it has gotten a bit more respect than it had back in the day, women are just as capable and talented and if properly trained can wrestle and do as well as the men, as far as the quality..... I am old school so I don't care for all the posing and cookie cutter model types, I think diversity in characters is best.

Q: Currently, former GLOW director Matt Cimber is working on a new female wrestling promotion named Femme d’Action. Do you see it having a bright future?

A: Yes the new Femmes are amazing and I am proud to be a part of it and see only great things for it when it takes off, what GLOW did for women's wrestling Femme is going to rock the new generations and embody Female strength wisdom and persevering over any adversity, it is a show for today.

Q: Who is your favorite wrestler?

A: Roddy Piper.

Q: What did you like the most about being a pro-wrestler?

A: The camaraderie the brotherhood and sisterhood and of course the fans without them I wouldn't be where I am today.

Q: Who would you have liked to wrestle, that you did not?

A: I would have loved to wrestle Zelda we were a good match in size and ability and I loved working with her.

Q: Along with your current involvement in the pro-wrestling industry, you also work for the State of Virginia. Do you have any interest in working in the pro-wrestling industry full-time, or are you satisfied with your current extent of involvement?

A: Well of course I would love to be able to do what I love full-time but I am realistic and the best advice I can give is have a fall-back career, it don't last forever injuries happen fan bases change be prepared have a backup. I am enjoying what I do and due to some physical limitations I am content not being in the ring the physical toll on the body can be brutal, and LOL I am not 20 something any more.

Q: What is your long-term goal?

A: Hopefully to continue with VCW and if Femm D Action takes off to continue being a part of it and to keep close to my GLOW and wrestling family and maybe a guest spot on one or all of my fave TV shows like, "Supernatural", "Grimm", "Once Upon a Time", or "True Blood".

Top 8 Ways to Get Fired in Pro-Wrestling

When a pro-wrestler makes it to WWE or TNA, they usually intend to remain there for the rest of their career. To maintain their spot on the roster, they put on their best performance every night, hoping to draw the loudest cheers and sell the most merchandise. Many times however, things do not go as planned, and the talent is eventually removed from the company. There are a number of ways that a talent can get fired, even though the reasons are not obvious until after they are no longer with the promotion. Just as with any other industry, having a job in pro-wrestling is a privilege- if a promotion feels that they are not benefiting from having a talent under their employ, they will find a way to part ways with that talent. To avoid getting fired, do the things listed below.

1. Push Yourself

Sometimes when a talent is released from WWE or TNA, their complaint is, "They didn't push me". In many cases, their statement is true. However, in life in general, if you don't push yourself, no one else will. Being in a major pro-wrestling company does not mean that it's time to stop marketing yourself. In fact, it becomes more important to do so. On the independent scene, it can be very easy to become a big fish in a little pond. Yet in companies like WWE and TNA where the "pool" is much bigger, a talent can quickly become forgotten.

In today's world where almost everyone from 12 to 112 has some type of interest in social media, no wrestler has an excuse for not marketing themselves. Even wrestling icons like Hulk Hogan, main eventers like John Cena and Jeff Hardy, and executives like Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, Dixie Carter, and Eric Bischoff use social media on a regular basis, staying in the forefront of the minds of fans.

2. Be a Team Player

It would be a fair statement to say that basically all wrestlers want to main event every show that they are on, become World Heavyweight Champion, and be the face of the company. But a wrestler's job is to do what's best for the company, which is not always what the wrestler may feel is best for themselves. That means that they may have to job in more matches than some other wrestlers, put over wrestlers who they personally feel don't "deserve" to be put over, and work the midcard as opposed to the main event.

While some wrestlers who are unhappy with this situation may keep it to themselves, others are vocal and refuse to do what the company has ordered. This interferes with company plans and creates a problem for everyone who works there, because an efficient and successful company benefits everyone, main eventers and midcarders alike.

3. Be Grateful for What You Have

When a talent is employed by WWE or TNA, they are in a position where wrestlers all over the world would give anything to be. Yet over the years there have been cases of WWE/TNA talents complaining that they were not making the amount of money that they felt they should have been. It still continues today. When it's time for cutbacks, their name could be one of the first names to come up. In the end, they will wind up on the independent circuit, while a more eager and equally talented wrestler will happily replace them on the roster for less money.

4. Avoid Having an Attitude Problem

Many wrestlers have been fired due to being problematic backstage, having conflicts with other wrestlers, both physical and non-physical. A disruptive talent can have a negative affect on locker room morale. Some wrestlers have even carried their attitude problem into the ring, being uncooperative with the wrestler they are working with, which negatively affects the quality of a match. An employee with an attitude problem can potentially wear our their welcome very quickly.

5. Avoid Drugs

Just like any other company, a pro-wrestling company is held responsible in the eyes of others for their employee's actions. A wrestler with impaired judgement is a liability to themselves, whomever they work with in the ring, and the company that they work for.

6. Avoid Sleeping on the Job

Yes, there are people in the pro-wrestling business who sleep on the job. And just like anyplace else, they may be fired. In Eric Bischoff's book "Controversy Creates Cash", Bischoff goes into detail about how he had to fire a WCW announcer due his being found sleeping on the job.

7. Show Up on Time

A wrestler showing up late to an event is just as bad as an office worker showing up late to the office. Last minute booking changes can occur at any moment, and if a talent is not dependable enough to be available to work with any needed changes that night, they can become more more of a hindrance to the company than a benefit.

8. Avoid Getting Arrested

No wrestling company wants the negative press that comes with one of their employees getting arrested for a a DUI or worse. If a wrestler brings a promotion that type of publicity their way, it's very likely that their days are numbered.