Ms. Amy Lee has almost 2 decades of experience in the industry, and is most recognized for her work in Women's Extreme Wrestling, where she is a former WEW Champion.
Q: How long have you been involved in the business?
A: May 1989. Broke in the business with Larry Sharpe and Dennis Coralluzzo
Q: Why did you enter the pro-wrestling industry?
A: Love the charismatic atmosphere. It separates you from the "normal" side of society. It takes a very peculiar individual to tolerate the long hours of driving to shows, gathering of bookings and becoming an oddity for public display to all walks of life to watch.
Q: Where did you receive your training to become a pro-wrestler?
A: Dick Murdoch/Art Palmer. Dick Murdoch taught me the "selling" and psychology" of wrestling with a few painful lessons in wrestling. Art Palmer brought out my more aggressive personality and submission style of moves. The style I wrestle is "basic" yet very powerful and dominating.
Q: What influence does your martial arts experience have on your wrestling style?
A: Being able to handle myself with someone who wishes to take it further "shoot style" as well as create my matches in a "realistic" way. Almost like watching two people fighting for real inside a wrestling ring until one of us isn't standing.
Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?
A: Cutting promos and creating a persona like no other. Most women try to look either "lucha" or "foo foo" I, on the other hand, am the odd duck of the group. Not too many wrestlers create a persona that is way out there or odd! My personality is very aggressive almost non-tolerable of anyone or anything. I am very quick minded as well as quick tongue to speak or reply to anyone. I learn this aspect of the business from the "old timers".
Q: One of the promotions that you currently work for is Women's Extreme Wrestling, which presents itself as an alternative form of pro-wrestling, and has a target audience of 21 and older. Do you prefer working for this style of promotion, or do you prefer working for family-oriented promotions?
A: WEW has its benefits. It allows me to show off more of the "hardcore" or "brawling" style like those of the 60's. Not too many promoters want their female wrestlers kicking the hell out of everyone. They go for the more "high flying" or "foo foo" aspect. The WEWE PPV's have helped me expand to other areas of the country. People recognize my "hard ass" ways.
Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?
A: Heel. You get to do everything that you ARE NOT suppose to do in society. We have been raised that "ladies" do not swear, fight nor cuss out people in public anyways. I get a kick out of how people will scream nasty comments to me until I walk through the crowd, then they back off and shut their mouths. Priceless! The problem with today's wrestling is the lack of story telling or psychology of the match. You do not need to do 50 spots in a match. Less is more. Communicate with the crowd by using facial expressions and how you execute your moves. Body language is the biggest "lack off" in a lot of the independent matches. A lot of times it is hard to determine the "face" or "heel" because of the lack of body language. When I enter the ring area, people are already booing me before I do any type of move because it is the way I carry myself and use my facial expressions.
Q: What is your gimmick?
A: Biker Chic (genuine leather riding gear, etc.) a/k/a Big Bad Biker Mama or to better word a female Hells Angel!
Q: Which do you feel has been your best match so far?
A: I have had the privilege to work with some of the top independent women out there such as Riptide, Mercedes Martinez, Violet Flame and Ariel. You walk away learning something new each time. It's the old saying, "never too old to learn".
Q: Which has been your favorite match so far?
A: Mixture of submission/hardcore. It represents my "fighting" personality. Those type of matches are very aggressive and domineering to a certain degree. Sometimes you out smart yourself.
Q: Whom would you like to wrestle, that you have not yet done so?
A: Sumie Sakai. She is very energetic, aggressive and absolutely priceless! If not Sumie, then a hardcore style match in Japan with someone along the line of Bull Nakano.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: Ride my Harley (yes I do own one it's not just a gimmick), raise ferrets and teaching self-defense at my dojo.
Q: What has been your proudest achievement in the business?
A: Being recognized as a "no ego" wrestler who is willing to do what it takes to make the match a success.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Amy Lee. In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews, including this one.
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