Archive Interview: Valerie E. Wyndham (SoCal Val)

(originally published 11/2/04)

A Florida-based manager who has worked for many indy promotions in the Sunshine State, Valerie E. Wyndham has also worked for TNA, took part in Randy "Macho Man" Savage's wrestling promotion featured on the Internet at MachoMan.com, and works for Women's Extreme Wrestling.

Q: How long have you been involved in the business?

A: 3 fabulous years.

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

A: I was positively addicted to watching it and after going to a few live shows I realized I loved being around it. There is never a dull moment!

Q: Where did you receive your training to become a ringside manager?

A: When people ask who trained me to become a manager my response is that I learned from the best in the business. The way I learned is mainly by studying tapes. Be it Sherri Martel or Stephanie McMahon, it's crucial to study those who have come before you. As far as professional training goes, I don't think there is a real way to train a manager. Perhaps you could go through the motions, but the most important thing beside the strong desire to learn and perfect your craft, is having that 'it' factor. It cannot be taught. You either have it or you don't.

Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?

A: I love everything about it. There is a lot of drama to go through, especially dealing with the labels that are placed on females, but the feeling of knowing you did a good job and contributed to a show in a positive way makes everything worth it. Sometimes all it takes to motivate you is knowing you made one fan's night.

Q: One of the promotions that you work for is Women's Extreme Wrestling, which presents itself as an alternative form of pro-wrestling, and has a target audience of 21 and older. Do you prefer working for this style of promotion, or do you prefer working for family-oriented promotions?

A: In my case it really doesn't matter much, as I have limits about what I will and will not do. My character is never too risque, so I'm able to work for whomever, wherever with the same approach to entertaining.

Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?

A: Heel. Wrestling fans are made up mostly of young men, so as a female it's definitely more of a challenge to get the crowd to hate you.

Q: What is your gimmick?

A: It is based primarily on Missy Hyatt's old-school, prissy, "rich bitch" persona.

Q: Whom has been your favorite talent to work with as a manager so far?

A: I have a few favorites such as Scoot Andrews, Steve Corino and Frankie Kazarian. What makes someone a good client is when they genuinely appreciate you and view you as an important part of the match. They use you properly and take the time to present you as something more than just arm candy. The aforementioned gentlemen are a manager's dream to work with.

Q: Whom would you like to ringside manage, that you have not yet done so for?

A: I could give you a mile-long list of who I'd like to manage, but I will narrow it down to Shawn Michaels and/or Triple H. They are my favorites.

Q: You have worked for TNA in the past. Are you interested in returning to TNA, or perhaps working for WWE?

A: I would love to work for either. Both if possible! I had a very positive experience working with TNA. I can definitely see myself having fun there and learning a lot. The same goes for WWE.

Q: What has your involvement been with Randy Savage's website, MachoMan.com?

A: At one time, MachoMan.com featured full wrestling matches you could view online on Randy Savage's website. The tapings were filmed in Tampa, Florida with an awesome looking set and had a great group of people behind it. I managed a tag team from South Florida called "The Vandalz" consisting of Tommy and Ricky Vandal. My experience working so closely with Randy Savage is something I will always remember.

Q: Have you are ever wrestled, or considered doing so?

A: I have had some basic wrestling training and do wrestle occasionally. I enjoy wrestling when I am given the chance but prefer a good catfight or a themed match (Lingerie, Evening Gown, etc.) as opposed to anything too technical.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: Surprisingly enough, I love to shop. I take fashion very seriously and am still modeling professionally.

Q: What is your long-term goal in the business?

A: I'd simply like to be performing to the best of my abilities. Wherever that may be.

Archive Interview: Annie Social

(originally published 10/26/05)

Currently working for Women's Extreme Wrestling, JAPW, and many other promotions, Annie Social speaks her mind and does what she wants. Don't like it? Annie Social couldn't care less!

Q: How long have you been involved in the business?

A: I've been involved for about three years.

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

A: It looked like fun. I've always been a fan of violent sports.

Q: Where did you receive your training to become a pro-wrestler?

A: I am currently training with Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere at the PWU Animal House in Philly.

Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?

A: It's an outlet for me, like extreme anger management.

Q: One of the promotions that you currently work for is Women's Extreme Wrestling, which presents itself as an alternative form of pro-wrestling, and has a target audience of 21 and older. Do you prefer working for this style of promotion, or do you prefer working for family-oriented promotions?

A: I'll work wherever the industry will have me. I love being in the ring, especially on the mic.

Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?

A: I like working as a heel. It's a lot more true to life for me. I'm a pretty mean girl when you piss me off.

Q: What is your gimmick?

A: I'm Annie Social. I'm an outcast. I have no friends because I don't want any. I only fight for one side and that's my side. I believe society as a whole are a bunch of assholes and I don't care to have any part in it.

Q: Which do you feel has been your best match so far?

A: Me vs. Mick Foley back in '97, awesome hell in a cell match.....nah just kiddin.....I had a great time working against the Sandman with the Backseat Boyz.....that wasn't exactly my match but it was still awesome. Honestly, I think the best is yet to come.

Q: Whom would you like to wrestle, that you have not yet done so?

A: I'd like to work with Mercedes Martinez or Sumie Sakai. They're both great wrestlers so it would be an honor to work with either of them.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: I don't really have any spare time. I'm usually be either at work or at the gym. But if I had spare time I'd probably acquire some kind of odd skill like professional lumberjacking and axe throwing.

Q: What is your long-term goal in the business?

A: World Champion of everything bitch!!! Nah, I'll take this business as far as it will take me. I love it and I plan on being around for a long time.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Annie Social. In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews, including this one.

Archive Interview: Amy Lee

(originally published 11/06/05)

Ms. Amy Lee has almost 2 decades of experience in the industry, and is most recognized for her work in Women's Extreme Wrestling, where she is a former WEW Champion.

Q: How long have you been involved in the business?

A: May 1989. Broke in the business with Larry Sharpe and Dennis Coralluzzo

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

A: Love the charismatic atmosphere. It separates you from the "normal" side of society. It takes a very peculiar individual to tolerate the long hours of driving to shows, gathering of bookings and becoming an oddity for public display to all walks of life to watch.

Q: Where did you receive your training to become a pro-wrestler?

A: Dick Murdoch/Art Palmer. Dick Murdoch taught me the "selling" and psychology" of wrestling with a few painful lessons in wrestling. Art Palmer brought out my more aggressive personality and submission style of moves. The style I wrestle is "basic" yet very powerful and dominating.

Q: What influence does your martial arts experience have on your wrestling style?

A: Being able to handle myself with someone who wishes to take it further "shoot style" as well as create my matches in a "realistic" way. Almost like watching two people fighting for real inside a wrestling ring until one of us isn't standing.

Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?

A: Cutting promos and creating a persona like no other. Most women try to look either "lucha" or "foo foo" I, on the other hand, am the odd duck of the group. Not too many wrestlers create a persona that is way out there or odd! My personality is very aggressive almost non-tolerable of anyone or anything. I am very quick minded as well as quick tongue to speak or reply to anyone. I learn this aspect of the business from the "old timers".

Q: One of the promotions that you currently work for is Women's Extreme Wrestling, which presents itself as an alternative form of pro-wrestling, and has a target audience of 21 and older. Do you prefer working for this style of promotion, or do you prefer working for family-oriented promotions?

A: WEW has its benefits. It allows me to show off more of the "hardcore" or "brawling" style like those of the 60's. Not too many promoters want their female wrestlers kicking the hell out of everyone. They go for the more "high flying" or "foo foo" aspect. The WEWE PPV's have helped me expand to other areas of the country. People recognize my "hard ass" ways.

Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?

A: Heel. You get to do everything that you ARE NOT suppose to do in society. We have been raised that "ladies" do not swear, fight nor cuss out people in public anyways. I get a kick out of how people will scream nasty comments to me until I walk through the crowd, then they back off and shut their mouths. Priceless! The problem with today's wrestling is the lack of story telling or psychology of the match. You do not need to do 50 spots in a match. Less is more. Communicate with the crowd by using facial expressions and how you execute your moves. Body language is the biggest "lack off" in a lot of the independent matches. A lot of times it is hard to determine the "face" or "heel" because of the lack of body language. When I enter the ring area, people are already booing me before I do any type of move because it is the way I carry myself and use my facial expressions.

Q: What is your gimmick?

A: Biker Chic (genuine leather riding gear, etc.) a/k/a Big Bad Biker Mama or to better word a female Hells Angel!

Q: Which do you feel has been your best match so far?

A: I have had the privilege to work with some of the top independent women out there such as Riptide, Mercedes Martinez, Violet Flame and Ariel. You walk away learning something new each time. It's the old saying, "never too old to learn".

Q: Which has been your favorite match so far?

A: Mixture of submission/hardcore. It represents my "fighting" personality. Those type of matches are very aggressive and domineering to a certain degree. Sometimes you out smart yourself.

Q: Whom would you like to wrestle, that you have not yet done so?

A: Sumie Sakai. She is very energetic, aggressive and absolutely priceless! If not Sumie, then a hardcore style match in Japan with someone along the line of Bull Nakano.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: Ride my Harley (yes I do own one it's not just a gimmick), raise ferrets and teaching self-defense at my dojo.

Q: What has been your proudest achievement in the business?

A: Being recognized as a "no ego" wrestler who is willing to do what it takes to make the match a success.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Amy Lee. In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews, including this one.

Archive Interview: Angel Orsini

(originally published 12/22/05)

Angel Orsini has worked for ECW (as Prodigette) and Women's Extreme Wrestling, and currently works for many indy promotions in the United States (as Riptide). She has also worked out at OVW.

Q: How long have you been involved in the business?

A: Since March 1996 when I went to Japan to compete in a Valetudo fight.

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

A: While in Japan, I met Reggie Bennett who convinced me to watch some pro matches. I was amazed at the athleticism of the Japanese women and I promised her I would try it.

Q: Where did you receive your training to become a pro-wrestler?

A: I was trained in Royal Palm Beach, Florida by Liz Chase who was an original Moolah Girl with Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, and Princess Victoria. She had an extensive career in Japan and in the US, wrestled Wendy Richter regularly.

Joannie Lee Lauer helped finish my last 6 weeks of training. Luna Vachon broke me in my first 2 years. In my travels I have trained with Demon Hellstorm, The Warlord, Jason Knight, and Dusty Rhodes.

Q: You have experience in various fighting styles: boxing, no-holds-barred, MMA Fighting, Muay Thai kickboxing, TaeKwonDo (blackbelt), competitive submission, and semi-competitive wrestling. What influence, if any, does this have on your pro-wrestling style?

A: Most people would classify my style as strong-style. I wrestle that way because of my background.

Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?

A: I love travelling and experiencing life in different countries, being exposed to different cultures and people.

Q: One of the promotions that you have worked for is Women's Extreme Wrestling, which presents itself as an alternative form of pro-wrestling, and has a target audience of 21 and older. Do you prefer working for this style of promotion, or do you prefer working for family-oriented promotions?

A: WEW has always been good to me and the fans seem to like it. There doesn't seem to be too much Success for the feds that promote the family stuff. I'm a firm believer in giving the people what they want to see, and apparently that's what the people want.

Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?

A: That part doesn't matter to me and I like doing different characters, it makes it more challenging for me. Therefore I don't get bored doing the same thing all the time.

Q: What is your gimmick?

A: Right now I am "Wrestling Enforcement Officer" Riptide or Prodigette, that depends on the promoters, what they prefer. I wear a police-type uniform and take on the persona of a female Bossman (well I try to) LOL :-) The fans really like it and I'm having fun with it.

As far as WEW goes, I was The FBI Angel Orsini, but I don't do that character anywhere else.

Q: Which do you feel has been your best match so far?

A: I just had a great match vs. The Supermodel Amy Love, it was action packed! It was for NWA-Spinebuster in McLenny, Florida.

Q: Which has been your favorite match so far?

A: I know I've wrestled so many excellent girls, and I love working with them but for my own personal performance I think this last one in Florida. Because I Feel like with every match you get better therefore I feel my most recent one was the best one.

Q: Whom would you like to wrestle, that you have not yet done so?

A: WWE's Victoria, I've heard so many great things about her.

Q: If ECW had given you creative control, what would you have done differently? Do you think that they would still be here today if you had been at the helm?

A: There's no way I could have done a better job than Paul and Dreamer, They're the best in the business! I wouldn't have done anything different.

Q: With your previous experience in WEW and ECW, and the working out that you have been doing at OVW, a WWE developmental contract may be in your near future. How do you think that you would be best utilized if WWE added you to their roster?

A: I guess if they cared, they could let me try to get over.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: I spend my time in the gym training myself and others, and the rest of my time with my family and friends. If I'm not wrestling.

Q: What is your long-term goal in the business?

A: I would like to be on TV again where I can develop a character, manage/valet people, and wrestle. I want 5 more years at least in the business before I retire or restrict myself to just training others.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Angel Orsini. In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews, including this one.