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OVERVIEW
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WRESTLER
PROFILES
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When:October
2000 to March 2001
though
there have been constant rumours of its return.
Where:Originated
in United States
and
was a Network Syndicated tv show withone Pay per view entitled "WOW
Unleashed"
Promoter:David
McLane previously
of
the all female syndicated wrestling television program GLOW
Major
Players/Talent:
Danger (Elle Alexander ),Riot (April Littlejohn), Terri Gold (Heather
Millard),
Jungle Grrrl (Erica Porter), Lana Star (Lana Kinnear)
Trainers:
Selina
Majors (foremerly known as Bambi) and Thug (formerly Peggy Lee Leather)
Announcers:Lee
Marshall, Bobby Heenan, David McLane |
Photo: some of
the wrestlers from
WOW
known as Women
of wrestling from
2000 / 20001
|
WOW - WOMEN OF WRESTLING
| Before
the year 2000 David McLane, the president of WOW, was best remembered
in
the the world of female wrestling as the founder and creator of the
1980's
women's wrestling promotion "GLOW" (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.) In
the
year 2000 David McLane pumped up on the success of female action
genre hits "Tomb Raider", "Charlie's Angels" and "Xena", ventured forth
with another attemp to capture a share of the tv wrestling market with
"WOW". (Women of Wrestling) |
Photo:The
WOW lumberjacks
|
Photo:
"Summer"- Bobbi Billard |
In
an interview with AskMen.com Bobbi Billard who wrestled under the name
"Summer" of the Beach Patrol. (WOW's "Baywatch" inspired tag team)
described
the audition that she attended for WOW. "I went to the Great
Western
Forum with a what the heck attitude. I ended up making the final cuts
out
of almost a thousand hopeful participants. I later learned that I threw
the medicine ball the farthest out of all the girls that auditioned! I
guess I learned a thing or two when I was a varsity shot-putter in high
school."
There
was not a lot of time between the auditions and when the women were to
start performing in televised matches. Wrestling fans and wrestlers
alike
will be the first to tell you that it can take a number of years and a
huge amount of dedication for a wrestler to become a polished performer
and it helps if you have a knowledge and love for wrestling in the
first
place. Monty Ashley (montykins.com) in an article described WOW
as
"amateurish" and stated that "Even other wrestling fans look down on me
for watching it." |
Photo:
Disciplinarian in action
vs
Bronco Billie
|
Wow
took on only two established and experienced indy women wrestlers.
These
two women were also used as trainers for WOW. Bambi became the "Selena
Majors" character (pictured) Pegggy Lee Leather (who had worked both
matches
for the then WWF in America (now WWE) and for WWWA in Japan) was
renamed
"Thug". Both women had worked previously for McLane in his POWW
promotion
(Powerful Women of Wrestling).
Despite
the obstacles that faced WOW. There were a few women that were up to
the
giant task of getting up to speed real quickly for the cameras. Jungle
Grrl (Erica Porter) was a noticeably powerful athletic woman who
rapidly developed. She appeared to be more aggressive in the ring and
developed
good mic skills. Riot became a huge hit with the fans as her
character
didn't seem as unnatural or stereotyped as some of the other characters
and Danger had a great ring presence, and with working a basic
repertoire
of moves, remained to look strong despite her inexperience. |
A
number of the other women also showed promise for the small amount of
time
they had spent training whilst others looked clearly out of their
depth.
The women were not often given the credi for how they were developing
though.
Scott
Keith for example in "The SmarK Retro Repost - Women Of Wrestling " on
the 07.28.02 did a scathing report on the WOW "Unleashed" Payper view
and
wrote such comments as "Jane Blond v. Tanja (Warrior Woman). Jane would
be your James Bond clone(again, notice how Dean Malenko plays that sort
of character as a parody, while Jane is supposedly an actual secret
agent).
They manage to **** up LEAPFROG, and Jane goes to an armbar. Well, they
didn't repeat the spot, I’ll giv‘em that." Now Summer slam 89 has
a Jimmy the Fly Snuka v's Ted Dibiase match that has practically the
same
mistake and the two wrestlers involved in that match had years of
experience
over either of the two women involved in this matchup, and Summerslam
was
much more widely watched but for some reason it doesn't get the same
amount
of criticism. |
Photo:
Wrestler Ice Cold
|
Photo: Bronco
Billie vs Jungle
Grrrl |
American
all women promotions that have started have continuously tried to start
out big where the longest running women's promotions in Japan have
worked
on establishing themselves and building up a following through a number
of years with constant work, touring and training. Lana Star talked
about
training 4hours a day, 5 days a week in preparation of the WOW show,
but
compared to the Japanese women that train 6hrs a day on a more intense
program for up to a year to get a "pro debut" the differences become
obvious
and like it or not the wrestling fans will naturally compare.
Bobby
Heenan was used as a commentator at "WOW UNleashed". Interesting
in an interview with Bobby Heenan with wrestlingobserver.com Bobby
stated
that he felt that GLOW was the reason such a hard time getting over.
Whilst
Heenan was trying to defend WOW's position and an arguement
for why they should be given a chance to a large number of WOW's
critics
McLane had simply made another version of "GLOW", including
regurgitating
a few of the gimmic characters. |
| WOW's
first run syndicated program premiered the week of October 2, 2000 on
100
stations across America.WOW was a syndicated television show where the
company involved (in this case the sponsors of WOW) were paying for
their
tv spots. Whilst there were claims that there were wrestlers that
one could "relate to", the actual promotion presented its viewers with
jailbirds, dominatrix, movie star guises, tv character rip-offs and a
wild
assortment of eccentric stereotypes that one would find it hard to
relate
to. |
Photo: Terri
Gold with title |
On
a positive note to McLane he kept to a family brand of entertainment
that
did not take advantage of the women and place them in demeaning purely
t&a fights. McLane obviously tried to stick to a cheese ball style
of "girlpower" that one associates with Charlies Angels and other pop
culture
female heorines.
The
fault was probably in that there were too many obvious
copies
(eg.Warrior Woman/Xena) as opposed to new ideas for female action
stars to grab our imagination and why cheer on a copy when you can
watch
the real thing. |
Photo: Tanja
looking too Xena like |
Photo: Danger
and Riot, two of
WOW's
main stars |
On
February 4, 2001 WOW broadcast their PPV - WOW Unleashed. "It was make
it or break it time for WOW" for many. Although the payperview had a
great
live atmosphere and some very dedicated fans by this time it wasn't
enough
to help. By May 2001 the company had run out of money and didn't return
for another tv season.There was talk of a comeback with Gene Simmons of
the band KISS stating he was trying to put together some financial
backers
to revive the promotion.
More
recently Press releases suggest that McLane is still trying to revive
the
show. WOW Events LLC is now a StereoVision-McLane Enterprises Inc.,
joint
venture company. Press releases are discussing the possibility of
a Women Of Wrestling World Tour, WOW television series, and
WOW pay per view events.The talk of WOW's return has been ongoing since
its demise. Mclane has made no secret of his ambitions to get the
promotion
running again. The main problem wrestling fans had with WOW was that
the
women were picked through an audition process that seemed to not choose
any women with a wrestling background.Only a small number of the women
were wrestlers before the promotion began (namely the trainers Selina
and
Thug) |
Most
of the wrestlers from WOW quickly left the game in pursuit of
other
fame vehicles once the show was canceled and they realized they weren't
being offered contracts from theWWE. If WOW was to return most of the
women
have not worked on developing their wrestling skills in the past few
years.(The
notable exception would be Erica Porter as Jungle Grrl.)
This
forms one of the main questions about a WOW revival. Would they go for
the same formula and wrestlers that haven't developed a desire to excel
in wrestling? or what changes would they make to try to capture a share
of tv wrestling audience? |
Photo: Terri
Gold vs Jungle Grrrl |
THE
TOUGH GIRLS
RIOT
and DANGER, these girls didn't stay strictly in character but injected
some life of their own into them making them a bit more believable. The
two girls were also amongst WOW's better in ring wrestler's.
RIOT
Riot
was meant to be "The heavy metal chick". Brandishing a baseball bat to
wipe out her opponents Riot was slated as a heel but very quickly
developed
a strong fan favourite base. Riot stood out in WOW as a wrestler of
great
potential in the group and a crowd favorite. At "Unleashed" she
produced
one of the moves of the night when she did a corkscrew elbow off the
top
rope, remimnicent of a similar one by Debbie Malenko. Riot's elbow on
the
night was only perhaps rivelled by Jungle Grrrl's splash off the top of
a ladder onto Beckie the farmer's daughter. Riot was popular with
viewers and seemed more of a natural with what she was doing. At the
end
of the year Riot won the WOW award for the best wrestler.
April
Littlejohn the woman behind Riot made her metal gimmick more
personalized
as one would expect a veteran to do rather than the extreme gimmics are
lot of others uncortfortably played. Since WOW ended April Littlejohn
has
been doing theater, stunt and tv work. |
 |
DANGER
Danger
was a big, athletic wrestler and stuntwoman.
Her
finisher was the Rockbottom known as the "Danger Drop". Danger's
gimmick
was a weapons master but she never really pushed it. Her
character
like Riot's appeared to be more individualized and she became a more
generic
tough girl.
Danger
was heavily pushed due to her tremendous ring presence. Her moves were
basic but you noticed her the moment she came out. Her interviews were
good and by her third match with WOW she was going about challenging
for
the WOW title.
After
WOW Elle Alexander (Danger) has gone back to stunt work and was also in
the 2001 "100 Centre Street, Hostage" |
 |
TV AND POP CULTURE COPIES STRANGER THAN FICTION
The Bikie Chicks
HARLEY'S
ANGELS
The
tag team gang known as Harley's Angels consisted of E.Z. Rider and
Charlie
Davidson. The pair were helped out at ringside often by their leader
"Thug".
Harley's Angels were given a good deal of airtime and made a huge
impact
in WOW's first season. The team of E.Z. Rider and Charlie Davidson made
it to the finals of WOW's Tag Team tournament with a little help
from Thug. Thug herself on the other hand wrestled in"No
Disqualification,
hard-core, lumberjack and a steel cage match.
Main
foes for Thug were Selina and Terri Gold. Whilst EZ Rider and Charlie
Davidson
were at war against the prison pair of Caged Heat.
WWF
fans and indys fans will remember Thug as her more well known ring name
"Peggy Lee Leather." The veteran wrestler was also one of the company's
trainers and last word she was still training wrestlers. |
 |
COPS
AND ROBBERS
LAW
AND ORDER
(Nikki
Law & Kristy Order)
Little
was seen of Law and Order in WOW. The gimmick was basically that
of two policewomen that had gone bad.
Nikki
Law wrestled in a singles match on the WOW 'unleashed" payperview
against
Hammerin Heather Steel.
Nikki
came to the ring carrying a night stick that she used to attack her
opponent.
|
CAGED
HEAT
Caged
Heat were a tag team with a prison gimmic. First WOW Tag team
champions,
the team consisted of Loca & Delta Lotta Pain. The pair were
from the Nevada State Correctional Facility. At WOW "Unleashed" Pay per
view Caged Heat took on Harley's Angels for the World Tag Team
titles.
Delta
and Loca brought in new girl Vendetta to take care of Thug during
the bout.
 |
The
Asian Invasion (Jade
& Lotus)
The
Asian Invasion worked as jobbers that gained fan sympathy due to always
being the underdogs. Rather ironic considering that Japanese women
wrestlers
are considered the best in the world. A small asian beauty Jade was the
perpetual underdog who never managed to score the victory. In tag
matches Jade formed "The Asian Invasion" with Lotus. The pair were not
successful as a tag either in winning. At WOW "Unleashed" payper
view the audience was introduced to Jade's grandmother. The story was
that
Jade wanted to prove herself by winning for her grandmother. Jade
was still unable to win even with her grandmother their to cheer her on
and the "Asian Invasion" maintained there losing streak. Although given
a stereotyped gimmick neither wrestler possessed any martial arts
knowledge
and skill that may of made these characters work and become popular as
with the Japanese women wrestlers from such promotions as GAEA. |
FARAH
and PARADISE
Farah
the Persian Princess had only basic moves and was the tag team partner
of Paradise. Neither wrestler stood out in the wrestling department.
Paradise
was a "tropical" girl though no direct reference is given to where she
is from.
Boom
Boom the Volcano
and Caliente.
Boom
Boom turned into a decent wrestler during her time in WOW but
unfortunately
was given a bad name. She was larger than a lot of the other model type
figures they hired and looked solid in executing her moves. Although
decent
she was not in Reggie Bennet's class of wrestling of larger girls.
Caliente
was the Latin character of WOW and became very popular. Caliente came
out
in a latino style skirt and danced a "Mae West" hooche dance on her way
to the ring. Caliete's finisher was the Mexican Surfboard. |
The
Pamela Anderson
Mold.
BEACH
PATROL
A "Baywatch"
inspired tag team consisting of Summer and Sandy. The women were both
good
looking but always remained on the lower end of wrestling ability in
the
promotion. The women were used consistently as
mid card wrestlers. Both women moved on to look for other "fame"
opportunities
after the shows demise with Tamie Sheffield (Sandy) becoming a movie
actress
who stars in Intolerable Cruelty with George Clooney. Bobbi
Billard
(Summer) is a bikini model whose own website doesn't really match the
WOW
family image.
website
http://www.bobbibillard.com www.tamiesheffield.com |
 |
LANA
STAR
Lana
had a "Hollywood girl" gimmic, very Pamela Anderson style.In fact
Lana would be the publicity hungry version of the stars personal life
as
apposed to one of the tv role versions like Beach Patrol are. The
blonde
bombshell stopped matches to fix her hair and powder her nose. Lana was
the "over the top starlet. She claimed to be the executive producer and
titled WOW "The Lana Star Show." The character was also know for "star"
temper tantrums where she would hit other wrestlers with mirrors and
other
items to keep the attention on herself. Despite the characters antics
Lana
was one of the favourites with the audience. Wrestlers linked to Lana
in
story included Poison and Patti Pizzazz who were both her assistant at
one time. Lana's full name is Lana Kinnear. After WOW Lana signed up
for
a pilot for a new wrestling show called CRUSH as a character called
Beverly
Hills. The pilot however didn't seem to take off.
website:
http://www.absolutelana.
Lana
had a "Hollywood girl" gimmic, very Pamela Anderson style. The blonde
bombshell
stopped matches to fix her hair and powder her nose. Lana was the "over
the top" starlet. She claimed to be the executive producer and titled
WOW
"The Lana Star Show". Wrestlers linked to Lana included Poison
and
Patti Pizzazz who were both her assistant at one time.
|
|
ALL
AMERICAN
GIRLS
TERRI
GOLD
Terri
became the first WOW champion. Terri's finisher was the "Perfect 10"
(moonsault).
Terri has the typical fitness model tanned look and came from a fitness
background. Better known as Heather Lee Millard Terri was Dylan's stunt
double in the wrestling scene in "Charlie's Angels Full Throttle" movie
and has gone on to do "The Beauty Show".
SELINA
MAJORS
Selina
is better known to wrestling fans as "Bambi". Selina was one of two
wrestling
veterans in the troupe and a trainer of the other WOW women. Her
character
was more that of a traditional wrestler with a lot of the
characteristics
that people were familar with from "Bambi" present. Her look has not
changed
in many years of wrestling and as "Bambi" she would push the Southern
"charm". |
Selina
Majors and Terri Gold
|
Sport
Gals
 |
Although
an amateur wrestler or shoot fighter gimmick are often common in
wrestling
based on the pro wrestler's background WOW instead went for sport
gimmicks
that show no reference to in ring ability.
Randi
Rah-Rah and Patti Pep
Two
cheerleader gimmics as done so also previously in GLOW. These pair were
once a tag team called "Team Spirit." After an extended absence from
WOW,
Randi returned at the"Unleashed" PPV wearing an eyepatch to go with her
cheerleader costume.
Slam
Dunk
Slam
Dunk as the name suggests was a basketball gimmick, though how it was
suppose
to relate to wrestling is anyone's guess. The girl who wrestled as Slam
Dunk concentrated on talking and acting a lot during the matches
playing
a heel.
Roxy
Power
"The
Total Athlete" Roxy was never really defined as excelling in any sport.
Her
gimmick
was never clearly defined but they pushed her strength that would lend
to a power lifting background. Natalie T. Yeo (Roxy Powers) appeared in
the first Spiderman film after WOW finished. |
The
Country Connection
Beckie
the Farmer's Daughter & Bronco Billie.
Billie
did not appear as either confident with her gimmick or as a
wrestler.
In tag matches Billie was often the one beaten up whilst Beckie did the
save. Billie used as her finisher the bulldog and never really
developed
as a wrestling talent.
Beckie
on the other hand was handed a gimmic that David Mclane had used
in other promotions but she managed to pull it off. Beckie
carried the tag matches and had one of the best finishers, which
was
450 splash off the top rope called a Barnburner". Beckie was one of
WOW's
better and also more popular wrestlers. At Wow Unleashed she was lucky
to get a singles match against Jungle Grrl. The match was a
gimmic
"splash vs splash" match which Jungle Grrl won with a killer splash
form
on top of a ladder.
|
 |
|
the
Disciplinarian
The
Disciplinarian had a gimmick of a teacher from the board of education.
Kristen Davidson who played the Disciplinarian appeared in the first
Spiderman
movie.
Ice
Cold & Poison
Ice
was a street brawler. Although classed as a loner Ice was teamed with
Poison.
Ice stated herself "I like leaving people out in the cold." The
futuristic
costume of Ice Cold gave an individul look to her. |
Wendi
, disciplinarian, Poison & Ice
Wendi
Wheels
Wendi
although a decent brawler had a wrestling racecar driver a gimmick like
one previously used in the WWE with Spark Plug Holly.
|
CHAMPIONS
OF
WOW
WOW WORLD CHAMPION
TERRI
GOLD
defeated
Danger
February 4, 2001 "WOW Unleashed"
WOW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS
CAGED
HEAT
defeated Harley Angels in tournament final February 4, 2001 "WOW
Unleashed"
|
|
All
trademarks, service marks and trade names, including but not limited to
the WOW - Women Of Wrestling® and WOW® marks, as well as the
names
of its superstars, are proprietary to WOW
|
