LadySports ::: MEET LUCY CLAYDEN

MEET LUCY CLAYDEN

"I Am Always True to Myself"

Interview by Darryl G

Over the last few years, the PGWA has cultivated a special friendship with the lovely ladies of wrestling in the United Kingdom, from veterans like former PGWA Champion Pippa L'Vinn and Shelby Beach to young up-and-comers like Roxi. And then there's a woman who's a bit of both: a relative newcomer to the professional ring, but already an accomplished fighter in her own right. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Lucy Clayden.

Fact Sheet:

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 168 lbs
Hair: Brown and blond ("All natural! Ha ha")
Eyes: Green

LadySports: When did you first get into wrestling?
Lucy: Well, I started freestyle wrestling five years ago when I was 16, and have been doing it ever since. About two years ago, I went to Dropkixx with my brother to give a freestyle lesson. And then I watched a show a few days later and enjoyed it so much, I decided to become a professional wrestler

LS: Who have you been trained by?
Lucy: I have been trained by many coaches over the years, as well as being helped along the way by close friends. It just so happens my first freestyle coach was British Pro Wrestling's John Hall, who happens to be the father of my current professional coach, John Richie. Other coaches who deserve a mention, as they were a huge part of my freestyle sucsess, are John Owens, Kuma Singh and many others, as well as my brother, Buster Clayden

LS: What was your biggest influence to become a wrestler?
Lucy: I have always been involved in contact sports and always did whatever sport my younger brother Buster did. We both played rugby, and when he started freestyle wrestling, it wasn't too long untill I started. So, even though it was freestyle wrestling, I guess it was Buster who influenced me to become a wrestler.

LS: What other sports do you have an interest in?
Lucy: I used to play rugby and achieved quite a high status in my day. I am a true believer in talking the talk and walking the walk, so as well as professional and freestyle wrestling, I train in submission wrestling and MMA, as I feel that's the only way you can experience being a true fighter. But my first love will always be freestlye wrestling, as it gave me the head start I needed into professional wrestling. LS: How would you describe yourself in terms of attitude, personality, likes, dislikes, and strengths?
Lucy: I feel the best way to describe me is as a person that can do anything she wants. I can put my mind to anything and achieve a high standard because I work hard at it. I try to keep a level head at all times, and if I ever start losing a bit of control I have a great relationship with my dad and he will bring me back.

LS: What is your most marked characteristic?
Lucy: I guess in my physical appearance that would be two things: my hair, as it's quite long and fair, and my smile, as I am so often told. *laughs* In the ring, I guess it's my no-nonsense attitude. I'm there to do one thing and one thing only...and that's wrestle!

LS: What are you favorite foods, music, clothes, cars?
Lucy: Although I love most food, and I could quite easily class 'Eating' as a hobby... *laughs again* My favourite food is shellfish; most kinds, but I am also partial to a huge blue steak. My favourite music is classic rock. My favourite band is Guns 'n' Roses, but I am also a huge blues and country fan.

LS: Describe a typical day of training for you. What is most important in your workout?
Lucy: I get up at 06:30, head down the gym and do about an hour of weight training and 30 minutes of fitness. I do this every day. I come home and do my work and go training most evenings. A typical weeks goes...

Monday...............MMA
Tuesday...............off
Wednesday ........freestyle
Thursday .............MMA
Friday .................Free style
Saturday..............pro wrestling
Sunday ...............pro wrestling

LS: How would you best describe your ring style?
Lucy: I like to think it's a technical style with a no-nonsense concept, but you can still see that I'm having a good time and that I love doing what I do.

LS: What are your best holds, pins, moves? What moves are you best known for?
Lucy: I guess my best moves are variations of a freestyle Fireman's Carry. I'll use it as a throw, an escape, and more time than not I will give it some height and use it as a finisher. One of my favourite moves is also a Spinebuster taught to me by a good friend. But my best submssions have to be an Armbar and a Crossface.

LS: Have you ever been injured in the ring?
Lucy: Not as yet. Touch wood!

LS: Who have been your toughest opponents?
Lucy: I would say the Baroness Simone. In the UK, I can quite easily say I'm one of the bigger and stronger females, so it was quite shocking to have an opponent bigger and stronger than me! Although, not too far behind her is the devious Pippa L'Vinn and the rather pleasent Shelby Beach. I feel all of us are quite evenly matched. LS: Who are your allies?
Lucy: Shelby Beach is the only one so far, but I will stand up for anyone who fights the fair fight.

LS: What has been your most memorable win?
Lucy: There are really too many to say. But to be honest it never really matters to me if I win or lose, so long as I had a great match I am happy.

LS: What was your worst loss?
Lucy: Any where I have been cheated. Again, being one of the bigger girls in British wrestling I often get hit or knocked down by my opponent's boyfriends or male valets for them to gain a victory over me!

LS: Who is the one wrestler you would most like to face in the ring, but haven't yet?
Lucy: There are so many I couldn't start to say. But I love to wrestle anyone and everyone. It's the best way to learn. I would, however, especailly like to wrestle some American and Japanese ladies, as I haven't done as yet. I feel I could learn a lot from this

LS: What type of match do you enjoy the most?
Lucy: Singles matches with an equally strong partner, so you can have a great match. Although she is very tough, I love wrestling the Baroness.

LS: What sort of reactions do you get from people when they learn you are a wrestler?
Lucy: It's always one of shock followed by, "I won't get on the wrong side of you then." Which makes me giggle, because anyone who then gets to know me knows I am one of the world's least confrontational people. I'm trained in several arts, but I know the cleverest thing to do in a bad situation is...walk away.

LS: What is so special about this sport to you?
Lucy: It's so special that I devote my life to becoming better at it. I eat a certain way to aid it, I train hard so I can be the best I can be and I sacrifice most everyday activities because they simply aren't as important to me as wrestling.

LS: What are your fans like?
Lucy: Fantastic. I love my fans and I have a lot of time for them, as they are very loyal to me. I like to go and talk to them and love it when they contact me. I will always reply to any letters or e-mails as they are your support backbone, as it were.

LS: What is the one thing you would most like to change about the sport?
Lucy: People's egos. I don't understand, when we all love the same sport, why we wouldn't all want to help each other to build it up and make it great. Whereas it's sad to say I have come across too many people who are only out to make themselves look good, and don't care what they have to do to put others down as they think it will make them look better.

LS: If you had the power, what one thing would you do to improve the sport?
Lucy: I would like to have the money to put into it, and find the people who have the heart to work hard at it, so it can be the best it can be.

LS: Where have you wrestled, and what titles have you held?
Lucy: I am from Kent and I have wrestled all over the South, the Midlands and the North. Ah, and Wales. My freestyle career has taken me to Belgum and Holland. And I currently hold the Catch Wrestling Council Ladies Championship

LS: What are your thoughts on women participating in the sport?
Lucy: Well, obviously I am all for it, as I am a female participating in this sport. So long as you train hard and work hard, wrestling is for everybody

LS: What was your most unforgettable moment in the sport?
Lucy: It's most recently, when my match was the main event at a Dropkixx show (my home club). It was a honor to be given that position, as it was recognition that my hard work had finally paid off and I was worthy of a main event.

LS: What are your goals for your future in wrestling?
Lucy: I would like to get out of Britain and wrestle all over the world. Especially in the United States and Japan. I want to continue to improve on my phsyical appearence and training so I can be one of the absoloute greats of womens wrestling one day.

LS: Any regrets?
Lucy: No. I am always true to myself. Any decision I have ever made in wrestling was right for me at the time and I wouldn't compromise my happiness to do something I wasn't comfortable with to get ahead slightly.

LS: What would you do if you couldn't be in wrestling?
Lucy: I would always do some sort of combat sport or exercise, but if I wasn't involved in wrestling, my only other dream is to become a wife and mother and take care of my family. I would have both if I could, but they are both demanding roles so when I'm done being a wrestler, that's what I will do.

LS: What is your personal motto?
Lucy: I guess it would be something along the lines of "I can do anything I want so long as I work hard at it," and I truly believe that. Sure, from time to time I fall down. Don't we all? But there is nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it

LS: What would make you most happy in life?
Lucy: To achieve all my goals in wrestling and make a career out of it. Then, when that's all said and done, get married have a family and take care of them. Make sure they're happy and be the best wife and mother a man could ever ask for.

LS: Anything else you'd like to add?
Lucy: Thank you for listening to me babble. I hope this gives you all a good understanding of me and the way I wrestle. Its been a pleasure.

LS: Lucy Clayden, the pleasure has been ours.


Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Lucy Clayden

Members can see a video interview with Lucy by clicking HERE and entering your username/password