On this week’s episode of “The Swerve”, Vince Russo interviews a woman who was the blueprint for the modern wrestling diva. A total package of athletic skill with stunning, sexy cover girl looks, and also the first ever American female pro-wrestler to sign a full time contract in Japan. That’s right guys, it’s Madusa!
An international legend and veteran of AWA, NWA, WWF, WCW and Japan, Madusa was also one of the very first to fire off a shot in The Monday Night Wars, when she infamously tossed her WWF Women’s Championship into a trash can during a live broadcast of WCW Nitro.
Vince hasn’t seen his old friend in over fifteen years, and their conversation covers every major step of her career. Doing what Vince does best for his audience, Madusa reveals all the insider information and backstage insights on everything from her WWF run as Alundra Blayze to her final days in WCW and her transition into the world of Monster Trucks.
Origins of her name:
“I said, if I’m going to do this, I need to think of a name. I need to think of a name that’s powerful, and If I’m going to Japan, and I’m going to make that happen, then I need a name that they can chant. It needs to be three syllables, it needs to be American, it needs to be strong, and one word: Madusa. M-A-D-U-S-A – MADE IN THE USA, baby! BOOM!”
Breaking into the business under Ed Sharkey:
“For the first year, I worked in bars, and I did not get paid for one whole year. So I was using my savings to travel, to drive, to stay in hotels, to do whatever. And about the second or third year, I was still continuing to do this, and finally I got paid five dollars. Five dollars.”
Working with Sherri Martel:
“Sherri and I are having a match, and she looked at me and she said, “You just do what I say, Micelli.” And this is right before the match in the dressing room, and I’m looking at her thinking, “Is she for freaking real?” So, we’re out there, and she’s beating my ass…we were wrestling and she beat the hell AND the crap out of me. I mean, she was just beating me up. So, finally I got back to the room and it was an adjoining room with two doors. I knocked on the door, and it was like a freaking elephant came running at the door, and it was still closed! She threw herself at the door and was like “Just shut your G*****n mouth, shut up and if I wanna talk to you, I’ll talk to you. But I’m gonna beat the sh** out of you tonight, and I’m gonna beat the sh** out of you for every friggin’ weekend I have you.” And it was holy hell for a year of wrestling Sherri. But I had so much respect for her, I looked up to her, I kept my mouth shut and I took it.”
Working with Curt Hennig:
“I have learned that men in pro wrestling are very narcissistic. And even back then, in a good way, he was Mr Perfect. He really was. He was a joy to work with, and to watch that man and the mechanicals, and to watch his way of working, it was almost mysterious. He was amazing, and he was never short of cracking a joke. We got along very well, there wasn’t anything but brother and sisterhood when I worked with him.”
Madusa even takes Vince to task for some of his writing that she didn’t approve of! The audio interview can be found now at http://www.pyroandballyhoo.com. Plus, become a member of #TheBrand VIP section to check out Vince’s extended VIDEO SHOOT INTERVIEW with Madusa (nearly 90 minutes in length). If you sign up for the VIP section between now and Sunday at midnight, using the discount code ‘LASTCHANCE’, you can get it for $3.99 EVERY MONTH and never pay more than that. More information here: http://www.pyroandballyhoo.com/vip/
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
