LADYSPORTS: Welcome to LadySports, Venom! When did you first get into the sport?
VENOM: About four years ago, after participating in a small tournament.
LS: Who trained you?
V: I've picked up pro-style wrestling from wrestlers like Pippa L'Vinn, and also been
to a few classes in London. I have a background in jiu jitsu.
LS: What was your biggest influence to become a wrestler?
V: Wrestling gives you a chance to express yourself and your
personality a bit more than jiu jitsu, which is all quite serious! I can be
quite shy, so I thought why not give it a go.
LS: What other sports do you have an interest in?
V: Most of them! I like tennis, volleyball, netball, and winter
sports like skiing.
LS: How would you describe yourself in terms of attitude,
personality, likes, dislikes, and strengths?
V: I'm quite serious and focused, but wrestling has made me
relax a bit and let my hair down. I dislike cheaters and people that ask
to have an easy fight rather than just give it a go and see who wins.
I like fighting people who I respect, that push me to get better. Most
of the time you learn more in defeat than victory, but that said, I do
love to win!
LS: What is your most marked characteristic as a wrestler?
V: My focus. A lot of people say I have a snake-like quality.
LS: Describe a typical day of training for you. What is
most important in your workout?
V: I wake up about seven, eat breakfast and go to the gym.
After that I usually cycle to work and have martial arts training in the
evening. I focus most on developing power and movement patterns or sequences.
LS: How would you best describe your ring style?
V: Classic, sporty, competitive.
LS: What moves are you best known for?
V: Probably any kind of chokes with my legs, scissors or triangles.
LS: Have you ever been injured in the ring?
V: No, luckily for me I am quite good at keeping the fight controlled.
LS: Who have been your toughest opponents?
V: Probably a toss up between Pippa and Antscha, who I fought on
the same day on one of Pippa's shows. It was one of my first competitions and
I didn't know what to expect!
LS: Who are your allies?
V: I team up a lot with Athena and Minxy, but I teach a class
for a lot of the London wrestlers, so we all get on quite well.
LS: What has been your most memorable win?
V: Probably beating Antscha the second time we fought.
LS: What was your worst loss?
V: Like I said, I don't think any of my loses have been bad
for me, and no one has thrashed me yet!
LS: Who is the one wrestler you would most like to face in
the ring, but haven't yet?
A: Any of the well-known American girls. I always like UK versus USA match-offs
in any sport!
LS: What type of match do you enjoy the most?
V: Submission mat wrestling is probably where I'm most
comfortable, so I tend to enjoy that more.
LS: What sort of reactions do you get from people when
they learn you are a wrestler?
V: Usually awe or disbelief. Everyone tends to say, "but
you're so sweet!"
LS: What is so special about this sport to you?
V: Everything! I mean, it's different from team sports,
as you go in there alone. And it's more of a mental game... you have to
believe you can beat girls who train just as much and want to win just as
much as you do.
LS: What are your fans like?
V: Very nice! They always leave great reviews and suggest
new match-ups they would like to see.
LS: If you had the power, what one thing would you do to
improve the sport?
V: Equality is a big thing for me. I think women's matches
display just as much athleticism as males, so equal pay is a big thing for me.
LS: Where have you wrestled, and what titles have you held?
V: I've competed more in jiu jitsu, where I've competed in
Europe and the UAE. I have two belts in MMA.
LS: What are your thoughts on women participating in the sport?
V: I think once they get over the barrier of coming along a
nd getting involved, they are unstoppable. It's nice to see them achieve
things they never believed they could.
LS: What was your most unforgettable moment in the sport?
V: The whole journey has been amazing but fighting in New
York City, meeting Veve, and causing chaos over there with Minxy Li was
so much fun!
LS: Any regrets?
V: London has lots of different management companies, and
the first one I joined were a bit shady, but I learnt a lot as the years
have gone by. I manage myself now and do my own PR.
LS: What would you do if you couldn't be in wrestling?
V: I have a day job too, working for a charity. I like
helping people and teaching, so any way of doing that makes me happy.
LS: What is your personal motto?
A: If you want it, work for it!
LS: What would make you most happy in life?
V: Winning hard matches, and my rest days where I have an
hour-long bath, my husband makes dinner, and I curl up on the sofa with
my cat and read a good book.
LS: Anything else you'd like to add?
V: Thanks for the interview and the matches. Hopefully
it won't be too long till you see me on the mats again!
