Straight Edge
03-30-2006, 11:12 PM
In conjunction with the Wrestling Radio Network, RingDivas.com debuted their new, online talk show this past week, Ring Diva's LIVE! Chris Cash and Nick Paglino of the Voice of Wrestling host the show every Thursday evening from 7-8 EST. The first edition saw the absence of Nick and Chris going solo with special guest, Jazz, formerly of the WWE. During the interview, Jazz discussed her school she shares with husband Rodney Mack, what's it like being a black woman in professional wrestling, going to TNA, Tammy Sytch, and much more. This interview can be heard in its entirety at the following link and then be sure to tune in live tonight as Chris and Nick interview Daffney from 7-8 EST on the all-new Ring Diva's LIVE!
To Listen to the Interview: CLICK HERE (http://www.ringdivashop.com/catalog/osource/radio/)
Chris opens the interview with Jazz by asking for early plugs and what she's doing now. Currently, Jazz (along with husband, Rodney Mack) opened a gym in Louisiana for wrestling and boxing. In the last three months, they've been running wrestling shows for their new promotion, Down South Championship Wrestling, in which they plan to put out in DVD format soon. Check out the website at www.nwadcw.com. She's, of course, still wrestling quite a bit as well on the independents.
Although Jazz has answered this question in a number of past interviews, Chris asked her to describe briefly once again what she thought about being let go from the WWE. Jazz claimed she was extremely shocked and didn't expect it because she did consider herself to be one of the best female wrestlers that the WWE had ever signed. She sees it as going back around to that "TnA" stage again (not Total Nonstop Action, by the way, for those wondering). Jazz is actually glad that she's not over there right now because there's no way she could work with the girls they have over there right now, "whatsoever".
Chris asked Jazz which she thought drew more than the other: the TNA aspect or the wrestling aspect of women's wrestling. Due to the WWE advertising "wrestling", Jazz believes "that" is what they should be selling. She understands that men want to see "tits" and "ass" (unless you're not into that, of course!), but after a couple weeks, Jazz feels that men want to know if you can "get down and dirty". From what she's heard by different fans, she feels like people are getting sick of women just rolling around in the ring (literally) and want to see some "ass kicking" now.
Packaging both, the TNA and the wrestling aspect, into one female is definitely best to have, according to Jazz. She doesn't claim to be the best-looking girl in wrestling, but feels she had everything needed for the character she portrayed. In actuality, although the WWE wanted Jazz as a heel, she says she's a better babyface (like she was in ECW) and if you've seen some of the Diva magazines that were put out, you can see that Jazz as a "softer side". Still with all that, Jazz says she is still the "bad bitch in the ring".
Jazz does NOT want to be compared to Joanie Laurer, by the way. Despite Joanie having good looks, Jazz doesn't think she was a good worker. As a matter of fact, Jazz always wanted to have the opportunity to work with Joanie because for many years, people thought she was the hottest thing in female wrestling, but as a worker, Jazz doesn't think she was "all that". When Joanie worked with Eddie as a babyface, Jazz said she was really over because she changed her whole look.
Regarding Playboy, WWE never asked her and it's a good thing, says Jazz. She never felt like she needed to and they knew not to approach her about it. The extra payday wouldn't be enough for Jazz as she's a married woman and has too much pride in herself to do that. However, she doesn't look down on the others who have participated in Playboy, but simply says it's something that she would never do.
Regarding TNA, Jazz says she hasn't really been officially "approached" about coming in or anything, but there has been some talk between the two. Jazz understands they don't have a lot of time to deal with the women they already have, but if they wanted her, she would definitely go work with them. She's friends with Gail and Jackie so she would enjoy working with them again. This prompted Chris to ask Jazz her personal opinion on Jackie as an in-ring performer. Jazz hesitates with a "wow" for a second, but gives Jackie her credit saying that everyone has some things they need to work on, but that Jackie is good and she thinks they could have a good match together. Jazz considers herself as one that can bring out the best in people she works with and says she felt she did exactly that with Trish Stratus.
Chris then asks Jazz to sum up what it's like being not only a woman in professional wrestling, but a black woman, and she feels like it's a great question because she does feel there's a big difference. Jazz says there's not many black women in the business and that can be both, an advantage and a disadvantage. That being said, Jazz never really looked at race or gender because she knew she was going to have to work hard either way. The fact that wrestling is a "man's sport", Jazz knew she'd have to bust her butt to get any respect in the business and she feels like she's done that in her 10 or 11 year career.
Jazz continues by saying she never had to sleep her way to the top or show any piece of her body to get to where she got. Chris then asked if women are "expected" to do those things when they come in to the business, which she replies "kind of, sort of", but that some women put themselves out there to be that way. Jazz agrees that there are two ways women can get to the top of the business - sleeping their way or working their way to the top. Jazz feels that her career actually skyrocketed pretty fact, yet she didn't ever compromise her beliefs to get there.
Chris began asking why Jazz, or any woman, would want to get into wrestling when there's so little to gain as far as money and exposure (compared to men), but she doesn't feel like it was as bad as it is now while she was there. When she was top of the women's division in the WWE, Jazz thinks it was a much more credible division and meant more. After rephrasing the question a little, Chris then asks why Jazz thinks a woman would want to get into the business as it stands right now. Jazz says she couldn't even answer that although she would never discourage anyone from getting into the business if they have their mind set, but she also says you're going to get out of it what you put into it.
The interview with Jazz continued for another 10 minutes or so as Chris took questions from the chat room and added a few of his own. Topics including Tammy Sytch, her weight gain, and what Jazz feels about her still getting as much work as she does, plus Jazz ranks herself on the scale of all-time women in professional wrestling. A very interesting interview with Jazz and you can listen to all of it in the archives at RingDivas.com. Plus, don't forget that Ring Divas LIVE airs tonight from 7-8 EST with special guest, Daffney!
1Wrestling.com
To Listen to the Interview: CLICK HERE (http://www.ringdivashop.com/catalog/osource/radio/)
Chris opens the interview with Jazz by asking for early plugs and what she's doing now. Currently, Jazz (along with husband, Rodney Mack) opened a gym in Louisiana for wrestling and boxing. In the last three months, they've been running wrestling shows for their new promotion, Down South Championship Wrestling, in which they plan to put out in DVD format soon. Check out the website at www.nwadcw.com. She's, of course, still wrestling quite a bit as well on the independents.
Although Jazz has answered this question in a number of past interviews, Chris asked her to describe briefly once again what she thought about being let go from the WWE. Jazz claimed she was extremely shocked and didn't expect it because she did consider herself to be one of the best female wrestlers that the WWE had ever signed. She sees it as going back around to that "TnA" stage again (not Total Nonstop Action, by the way, for those wondering). Jazz is actually glad that she's not over there right now because there's no way she could work with the girls they have over there right now, "whatsoever".
Chris asked Jazz which she thought drew more than the other: the TNA aspect or the wrestling aspect of women's wrestling. Due to the WWE advertising "wrestling", Jazz believes "that" is what they should be selling. She understands that men want to see "tits" and "ass" (unless you're not into that, of course!), but after a couple weeks, Jazz feels that men want to know if you can "get down and dirty". From what she's heard by different fans, she feels like people are getting sick of women just rolling around in the ring (literally) and want to see some "ass kicking" now.
Packaging both, the TNA and the wrestling aspect, into one female is definitely best to have, according to Jazz. She doesn't claim to be the best-looking girl in wrestling, but feels she had everything needed for the character she portrayed. In actuality, although the WWE wanted Jazz as a heel, she says she's a better babyface (like she was in ECW) and if you've seen some of the Diva magazines that were put out, you can see that Jazz as a "softer side". Still with all that, Jazz says she is still the "bad bitch in the ring".
Jazz does NOT want to be compared to Joanie Laurer, by the way. Despite Joanie having good looks, Jazz doesn't think she was a good worker. As a matter of fact, Jazz always wanted to have the opportunity to work with Joanie because for many years, people thought she was the hottest thing in female wrestling, but as a worker, Jazz doesn't think she was "all that". When Joanie worked with Eddie as a babyface, Jazz said she was really over because she changed her whole look.
Regarding Playboy, WWE never asked her and it's a good thing, says Jazz. She never felt like she needed to and they knew not to approach her about it. The extra payday wouldn't be enough for Jazz as she's a married woman and has too much pride in herself to do that. However, she doesn't look down on the others who have participated in Playboy, but simply says it's something that she would never do.
Regarding TNA, Jazz says she hasn't really been officially "approached" about coming in or anything, but there has been some talk between the two. Jazz understands they don't have a lot of time to deal with the women they already have, but if they wanted her, she would definitely go work with them. She's friends with Gail and Jackie so she would enjoy working with them again. This prompted Chris to ask Jazz her personal opinion on Jackie as an in-ring performer. Jazz hesitates with a "wow" for a second, but gives Jackie her credit saying that everyone has some things they need to work on, but that Jackie is good and she thinks they could have a good match together. Jazz considers herself as one that can bring out the best in people she works with and says she felt she did exactly that with Trish Stratus.
Chris then asks Jazz to sum up what it's like being not only a woman in professional wrestling, but a black woman, and she feels like it's a great question because she does feel there's a big difference. Jazz says there's not many black women in the business and that can be both, an advantage and a disadvantage. That being said, Jazz never really looked at race or gender because she knew she was going to have to work hard either way. The fact that wrestling is a "man's sport", Jazz knew she'd have to bust her butt to get any respect in the business and she feels like she's done that in her 10 or 11 year career.
Jazz continues by saying she never had to sleep her way to the top or show any piece of her body to get to where she got. Chris then asked if women are "expected" to do those things when they come in to the business, which she replies "kind of, sort of", but that some women put themselves out there to be that way. Jazz agrees that there are two ways women can get to the top of the business - sleeping their way or working their way to the top. Jazz feels that her career actually skyrocketed pretty fact, yet she didn't ever compromise her beliefs to get there.
Chris began asking why Jazz, or any woman, would want to get into wrestling when there's so little to gain as far as money and exposure (compared to men), but she doesn't feel like it was as bad as it is now while she was there. When she was top of the women's division in the WWE, Jazz thinks it was a much more credible division and meant more. After rephrasing the question a little, Chris then asks why Jazz thinks a woman would want to get into the business as it stands right now. Jazz says she couldn't even answer that although she would never discourage anyone from getting into the business if they have their mind set, but she also says you're going to get out of it what you put into it.
The interview with Jazz continued for another 10 minutes or so as Chris took questions from the chat room and added a few of his own. Topics including Tammy Sytch, her weight gain, and what Jazz feels about her still getting as much work as she does, plus Jazz ranks herself on the scale of all-time women in professional wrestling. A very interesting interview with Jazz and you can listen to all of it in the archives at RingDivas.com. Plus, don't forget that Ring Divas LIVE airs tonight from 7-8 EST with special guest, Daffney!
1Wrestling.com