.:: WRESTLING TRAINING ONLINE INTERVIEW ::.

:: Interview by Alan Taylor ::

:: PART I :: GETTING STARTED ::

Here is our second interview, again being run over 4 days to break it up for you all. Lexx is another female wrestler from the UK who has been working hard establishing herself and is sharing her knowledge with you all here!
 

Where did you train, and how did you find out about them?

The first place I ever trained was Adam Brown’s which I found out about from an online contact, but most of my training has been with wZw’s NBWA training academy which opened when Adam broke away from the company.

Who was the trainer that you worked with?

Iceman, Spitfire & GTS were the main trainers at the time, as well as many guest trainers.

How did you fare? Did you struggle with any of the movements?

I picked a lot of thing up pretty easily but there were things like leg locks that I would have trouble with simply for the fact I’m a bit on the short side! Top rope moves are always hard but a lot of the time that’s down to confidence, for me at least.

How did you warm-up before training sessions?

There was a set warm up which included an intense cardio workout.

How long did you train before you had the chance to work in front of an audience?

About 9 months

Do you think that you were treated differently because you were female?

I was the only female trainee but I was pretty much treated like one of the guys. As far as the trainers were concerned everybody was treated the same.

Did you have to travel far to train?

Not too far.

What expenses did you incur when training?

The Tyne Tunnel, it’s the bane of my bank account!

How did you finance your training?

Working as a retail assistant and then later got a job in admin.

Did you have outside support?

My friends and family have always been very supportive. There have also been other people who have helped me out which I’ll always be grateful for and will never forget.

:: PART II :: TRAINING ::

Here is the second part of our interview with the UK women's wrestler Lexx.
 

How often do you work out?

Not as often as I’d like, my job tends to take up a lot of my time.

Do you do any weight training?

No. I really should, but I hate it with a passion.

What is your preferred method of cardio training?

Swimming is always good.

Can you describe an average session at your gym?

Unfortunately I don’t have much time for the gym I’m afraid.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I watch a lot of wrestling, as much as I can get my hands on, and keep focusing on why I want to do this.

What is your diet? Have you designed it around wrestling?

I find that once you start messing with diets you end up eating a lot of crap that you don’t even like. Personally if I eat food I don’t like it just makes me feel sick so my “diet” is to just eat the food I like but not in stupid amounts.

Do you have a specific diet before a match?

Show me a wrestler who doesn’t go to McDonalds on a show day! All joking aside a lot of the time pre-match nerves rid me of an appetite so I just make sure I drink plenty of water and snack on something sugary.

Did you work to change your image when you started training, such as dieting or working out more than usual?

Wrestlers these days come in so many shapes and sizes that I never really gave it much thought in the beginning. I found I lost a bit of weight simply through the regular warm ups in training.

Have you experienced any injuries that have set you back?

My back and my knee. Both injuries set me back a lot.

If so, how did you rehab so that you were able to wrestle again?

I saw a physio for my knee, and took a few months out to rest my back.

Have you ever wrestled injured for any reason? If so, why?

Yes, I was halfway through a match when I hurt my knee and I didn’t see any reason to stop the match. Adrenaline got me through. I kept training on it thinking it wasn’t anything serious but then it just got worse and eventually I was sent to the physio.

:: PART III :: WORKING ::

Continuing our long interview with Lexx, she covers how she got her start in the business.
 

How did you start to get bookings?

Obviously if you’re training at one company that tends to be the first place you get booked. Outside of wZw it was my website that attracted some attention. A few promoters liked my site and wanted more info.

How do you currently get bookings?

My site still gets noticed and also some of my friends in the business will put my name forward if promoters ask them for names of female workers that they might want to put on their shows.

What is your average pay for a match, and how does it compare to when you started?

That is something I tend to keep between myself and the promoter.

Do you find yourself being treated any differently because you are female?

Sometimes.

How do you travel to bookings? Is the cost paid for or compensated?

It depends on where the booking is. If it’s local it could be a bus, the metro… mostly I try to catch a lift with one of the other workers who I know working the same show. Expenses are almost always covered.

Do you think there is more demand for competent females than competent males?

I’ve heard it said that there are so many great male workers out there that they’re easily replaced or overlooked, but there are nowhere near as many great female workers and so if you have the talent there’s no way you’ll be over looked. I’m not sure how true that is but given what the WWE has done to the general views of women’s wrestling I’d say there is a bigger demand for something more than fake boobs and lipgloss!

Have you ever been asked to do something in the ring because you are female that you have not been happy with?

One word: Catfight.

Have you ever been approached to do modelling for any of the groups that you have worked for? Would you ever?

I’m not a long legged blonde so that would be a no, haha! I would consider it yes, but it depends what they’re asking me to do!

How do you promote yourself? Do you run your website yourself?

I run my own site, and I also have a MySpace (let it be known I had one FIRST!)

How do you create your image? Do you use make-up in the ring?

I just apply my usual make up… with about 3 or 4 extra layers of it!

How did you come up with your gimmick?

I don’t really have a gimmick as such, I’m just an evil little bitch!

Do you ever deviate from your gimmick for bookings? Would you ever?

It would all depend on the gimmick I happen to be using and what I was being asked to change.

Have you ever been filmed for a groups DVD offering?

Yes.

If so, do you receive money for sales of that product?

No.

Do you have a merchandise range?

Working on it as we speak!

If so, how did you get it started?

I’ll get back to you on that one. I’m still shopping around for suppliers and comparing prices at the moment.

Do you think your location has an impact on any of your bookings? Does your accent have an affect?

My location is a bit on the crappy side so yeah. My accent has never been a problem.

:: PART IV :: FUTURE ::

Here is the final part of our interview with Lexx. We wish to take this opportunity to thank her for taking the time to talk to us this week.
 

What are your goals in wrestling?

I’d love to go to the USA

Do you think that the market in the UK is strong enough to make a living from?

Not at the moment, no.

Do you think that the market for women’s wrestling in the UK is strong enough for a women’s promotion?

I know of at least 2 women’s promotions out there, they seem to be doing pretty well.

What are your thoughts of women in the industry who do not wrestle or valet? Would you ever consider such a role yourself?

I doubt I would.

Do you intend to use wrestling to gain skills that could be used in other industries?

No. Wrestling is my only dream, I have no real interest in other industries.

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