LadySports ::: Laura Phoenix

Q & A: Laura Phoenix

Phoenix Rising

by S. Mata

   Call her Phoenix rising, if you will. It takes a certain amount of courage for any woman to undertake the risky, potentially dangerous career of professional wrestler. And it takes perhaps an ounce more of courage for a woman to do so after having already well-established herself in another realm of the sport.
   Laura Phoenix doesn't have to step between the ropes as a fighter... she is a highly successful manager of other wrestlers, and has been for several years. She was comfortable in that role, with no lack of opportunities... at least on the outside of the ring. But something deep inside of her has been nagging, and she is now responding to it by undertaking training to be a wrestler in her own right.
   Time will tell if this new twist in her career will take off or not. But based upon her already proven track record of success, we're betting it will. And we think you'll agree once you've read this exclusive new interview...

THE STATS:

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 159 lbs... working to get it down, though

Hair: Red at the moment... changes time to time

Hometown: Born and Raised in Williamsport, PA now hailing from Detroit, MI

LADYSPORTS: When did you first get into the sport?
LAURA PHOENIX: It will be 8 year officially this coming June. I moved to Michigan in 1999 from Pennsylvania. My first taste of the independents came when I was going to the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. During that time NWA-East was running, and I started taking a two hour ride in the Pitt Bus system just to get to the shows.
In 2000 I found shows here in Michigan and starting attending Great Lakes Wrestling, run by Mike Kelly, that ran in a suburb of Detroit called Westland. It took me 'til late April to get up the gall to ask how I could be a part of all the fun. That June was their 2-day show at the Livonia Spree city carnival. I started as a runner, backstage hand and a DJ. During all this I was also attending Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. I eventually talked Mike into letting me be a ring announcer. I did that for GLW and then for ThunderZone Wrestling, where I started my training under Truth Martini and Brian Shotwell. That lasted all of 6 months.
Next thing I knew I was pretty much thrown into the managing role with my husband, Steven Blade (at the time we were just friends). The rest is history

LS: After having enjoyed success as a manager, what prompted you to now decide to become a wrestler yourself?
LP: Started getting that itch, and truthfully I'm getting bored just standing at ringside occasionally doing things. I started getting more involved in the matches. This past August I took my first official move, a stunner... badly, mind you. When I got to the back, everyone was so worried about me. With a smile I looked up and said, "I wanna do that again". As it is I've been training on and off for the past four years. I figured either I do it now, or I'm never going to do it.

LS: As a ringside persona, had you ever found yourself fighting in the ring, even inadvertently?
LP: Actually, funny as this may sound, this past October I was involved in a battle royal where all the guys dressed up in Halloween outfits, and it was just for grins a giggles. I decided to stick my foot in... and actually won it! I was either only the first or second woman to do a battle royal in that promotion, and the first woman to win it. I have thrown a few forearms, dropped a couple of DDT's before, but nothing like that. It was fun and I can't wait to do something like that again.

LS: Who is training you?
LP: I will be attending the Pure Pro Wrestling School this coming March and will finish it this time. I was training with Andrew D'Arcy before, and Truth Martini and Brian Shotwell. Also, Levi Blue has been teaching me. I take the training and tips where I can get them.

LS: Who was your biggest influence to get into the sport?
LP: Shawn Michaels is my first biggest influence. Trish Straus and Lita are my female influences. as well and Sensational Sheri... may she rest in peace.

LS: What other sports do you have an interest in?
LP: I love all sports. I grew up in central Pennsylvania, so it was all football and baseball. For seventeen years I was a Penn State fan... I still am, actually. I'm also a Pitt fan and a Michigan fan. I really didn't watch hockey 'til I moved to Michigan, but hey, no one is perfect. I played Softball for five years, I bowl, and I was to almost every high school football game for my four years there. The only thing I can never get into is soccer. I catch it occasionally, but it doesn't stay on very long.

LS: How would you describe yourself in terms of attitude, personality, likes, dislikes, and strengths?
LP: Outside the ring, I'm one of the nicest people to come across. When it comes to show time, I'm all business. They don't call me a bitch for nothing! There are times during shows I'm wearing twenty different hats. There were two years there where I played the role of promoter on top of being the top heel manager. Not an easy role, let me tell you. Likes: People who treat you with respect no matter what you do or who you are. And chocolate, which is also my weakness! Dislikes are people that think they are better than those who have busted their asses and bled. And vegetables. My greatest strength, I think for me, is a good heart.

LS: What are you favorite foods, music, clothes, cars?
LP: I'm a sucker for a good New York style pizza with a load of extra cheese. I'm also a sugar freak. Musically, I love everything. I grew up in the 80's so I got to listen to the classics, and classical, pop, rock, country. I love musicals as well. At the moment I have about ten in my collection of DVDs and CDs. Clothes I have a hell of a time picking out. I'm mostly a jeans and t-shirt type of girl. When I'm not doing a show I'm extremely comfy. But I do have a few selections in my closet that I bust out for special occasions. Cars... I'm the eco-girl when it comes to cars, as long as it gets good gas mileage and runs, I'll drive it. I do love to look at the classics, though. I also have a fascination with motorcycles.

LS: Describe a typical day of training for you. What is most important in your workout?
LP: Right now it's me trimming up. When I'm doing my training I always start with cardio. Usually about thirty minutes on a bike or elliptical. I'm working on my upper body and my mid-section. My legs have always been strong. That came from three years of marching band. I use to be able to leg press over 250 at one point. I had knee surgery back in June of 1998, which set me back on the running aspect, though I'm able to do it here almost ten years later. I'm also big on yoga. I'm soon to start up kickboxing or Tae-Bo, which ever comes first.

LS: How would you best describe your ring style?
LP: I think I'm looking at a technical style similar to Chris Jericho and HBK, with a bit of brawling. I'm not a huge fan of the flipping around like a mad man, though it's fun to watch. I'm a klutz in real life, and asking someone like me to even do a cartwheel without wide open spaces is a joke. Most of the spaces that I've worked in have been low ceiling spots anyways. I'd rather not shorten my life like that.

LS: What moves are you best known for?
LP: My DDT. I've been told that when I do it, it looks like I've killed them. I'm also waiting for the right moment to unleash a move I like to call the "Whiplash"... no one has had the guts to take it from me yet.

LS: Have you ever been injured in the ring?
LP: During one of my training sessions, I tripped on the ring cover... like I said, I'm a klutz... and went right-side first into the second ring rope. I probably broke my rib, but I never went to get it checked. It knocked the air out of me and I had a bruise about the length of a pencil and the width of a half-dollar. Other than that, I took that stunner and had a neck injury for a while but nothing too incredible at the moment.

LS: Who are your ring allies?
LP: Steven Blade, obviously. It was Azreal, and I still think of him as a friend, but it's the biz. You're out to be the top star in whatever promotion you are in. If that means taking out your top friends, then it has to be that way. I'm not happy about it. Also Kurt Kaoss (hi BIG DADDY!!!).

LS: What has been your most memorable moment thus far?
LP: I think winning the Trick-or-Slam gimmick battle royal. That was huge for me. It doesn't matter how little I did, it was the fact that I was a part of it. Also for me it's meeting all the guys that I've watched on TV... Buff, Ian, Al Snow, Sabu, Nova, Rhyno. These guys have made such an impression on me in this business that I don't think I'll ever want to leave.

LS: Who is the one wrestler you would most like to face in the ring?
LP: I would love to face Trish, Lita and Mickie James. I don't see it happening in the future, but hey, weirder things have happened. The list though includes more than just those three; there is so much talent out there that I don't think I can even imagine what will happen when I'm officially ready for the ring.

LS: What style of match do you enjoy the most?
LP: I grew up watching the stuff in the 90s before all the gimmick matches. I love watching how the psychology breaks down to where the match makes sense. I just really started getting into the Old School tapes from back in the 70s and 80s. It blows my mind that today's "fan" would be bored.

LS: What sort of reactions do you get from people when they learn you are a wrestler?
LP: Shock, really. Cause if you ever meet me as an everyday person, I would be the last person you'd expect to even like wrestling, let alone step between the ropes. Sometimes I even get laughed at 'cause its so looked down upon in these days. I've got friends that are as big as me, guy friends that are getting accused of being on steroids just because they are wrestlers. I'll tell you, when I told my parents that I was training, I got the "That's cool" from my dad, and the lecture from my mom.

LS: What is so special about this sport to you?
LP: It's the fact it's entertainment. When I go to a show and I make a difference, that's special. And after it's all said and done and I get a “great job" from not only the promoter but the fans, then I've done my job. Since I was seven years old I knew I wanted to be in entertainment. Radio, TV... I didn't care. With wrestling it fits all into one. I may never get on the main product, that's fine by me, but if I can go out there and give those fans their money's worth, whether I'm face or heel, I'm happy and it keeps me coming back.

LS: What are your fans like?
LP: Once again it depends on where I'm at. In MWO I'm hated 'cause what I do, though for the women among the fans when I drop my DDT they pop for me! In XICW I'm their ring announcer and they love it when I snap smart ass comments back at the boss, who is just like Vince McMahon... the heel having to make everyone's life a living hell. When you're the only woman in a locker room, or the only woman that the fans see after a while, they don't care if you are face or heel, they're just happy to see you.

LS: If you had the power, what one thing would you do to improve the sport?
LP: I'd make everyone go through a class called Wrestling 101, which would be lessons in psychology, storyline writing, and locker room etiquette

LS: What are your thoughts on women participating in the sport?
LP: I think it's awesome. I know they say that wrestling is a man's sport or a man's business, but in today's day and age, there are women who are CEO's and running for president! It's about time that people like Mickie Knuckles show how tough women can truly be. The objectification of women in this biz has cooled down, but a bit of T and A sometimes is still needed.

LS: Any regrets?
LP: Only I didn't grow the guts to do this sooner. It had to take almost eight years for me to finally get my ass in gear to officially step through the ropes.

LS: What would you do if you couldn't be in wrestling?
LP: Probably go insane. Honestly, I don't know... I think I'd find some way to keep entertainment in my life, whether it'd be radio or TV. I'm still doing that even with wrestling in my life.

LS: What is your personal motto?
LP: I have two for my personal life... they are: "The only thing that stands between you and what you want from life is simply the will to pursue it and the faith to believe it is possible," author unknown, and "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me," which is by Ayn Rand. Character-wise it's "Life's a bitch and so am I!"

LS: What would make you most happy in life?
LP: Success in life. I have a family and friends. I just finally want success after such a battle to the top. I want to be able to go through life with a smile on my face every day knowing that what I'm doing is worth every second. It's just that simple

LS: Anything else you'd like to add?
LP: Just that I wish the best to everyone and anyone. Especially us ladies out there trying to make a difference in the world of wrestling. We are all paving the way for the future ladies... like my daughter, who is 4 and already showing signs of a prodigy! Thank you for letting me do this and getting the word out.

abovethemat.net/Laura_Phoenix

myspace.com/lauraphoenix

pics courtesy of Ms Phoenix


Laura Phoenix

Laura Phoenix

Laura Phoenix

Laura Phoenix

Laura Phoenix