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By
Jim Hall
One title, two topics. First off, I had
the opportunity recently to talk with the
one and only Jaime D. She recently won the
women's division of TNA's Gut Check
Challenge. She was gracious enough to answer
a few questions to let the world know her a
little better. What made you decide to get
into the business? I started out watching
BCW shows (Border City Wrestling - www.bordercitywrestling.com)
at the Ciociaro Club and I just wanted to
get up there and entertain the fans.
Something inside of me lit up, so I went
with it, I just followed my intuition and my
heart. Also, I want to go through what I
have to go through to be a role model for
children and other women, I wanted to show
people that if you want it you can achieve
it. Plus I love the art of wrestling - watch
two guys telling a story in the ring, the
characters, the way they play w/ the crowd,
and the way they give and take moves. It's
an art form and I love it.
When and where did you start training?
I started training in the summer of 2001
at the Can-Am Wrestling School in Windsor,
Ontario. I was so fortunate that there is
such a great school right in my hometown.
And it is a really great school.
Tell us about your first match?
It was in November, 2002 for BCW at the
Ciaciaro Club. I was fortunate enough to
work against Angel Williams and Tracy
Brooks. My adrenaline was flying. I was so
excited that I was blind and clueless. But
everything was pretty well laid out, so I
just went out and did what I was told. It
felt awesome. I had a blast.
What promotions have you worked for?
BCW, Max Pro, MMWA, Metro
Pro, UWA,
MWA, IWA
Mid-South, IWR,
and Thunderzone.
What was your best match to date?
Mickey Knuckles (IWA Mid-South) was the
toughest. The most fun I've had recently was
in Ottawa working She Nay Nay & Yce.
What about our scariest match?
I never really get scared about working
a match. In the beginning I worried about
forgetting stuff and screwing up spots, but
I never really got scared.
What was the "Gut Check
Challenge"?
TNA held a competition in Atlanta. It
was mostly physical & endurance
training, there was not a lot of focus on
wrestling skills. We did a lot of sit-ups,
push-ups, squats, and similar exercises. The
first two hours really eliminated a lot of
people who had trouble with that level of
activity. The wrestling part was just
running the ropes and taking some back
bumps. It was mostly a test of endurance -
they can teach you the wrestling skills if
you have the physical ability. I do really
want to thank the judges Elix Skipper,
Trinity, & Jerry Lynn.
How did you prepare for it?
When I found out about the competition, it
felt like a great opportunity - I cleaned up
my diet, worked on my cardio, stepped up
training on push-ups, etc. and changed my
thinking. I allowed myself no doubts - I
went into it thinking that this was mine. It
really was more mental preparation than
physical. If you believe you can, then you
can. The results were definitely worth it
and the prize package was very nice -
$4,000, a GNC magazine picture and story, 1
month of training at school in FL & TV
appearances for TNA.
What did it mean to win?
It means that everything I've been working
for and put into wrestling has paid off. Now
I need to take full advantage of next step -
the competition was a great experience, but
it is only one step.
What is next for Jamie D?
Keep improving & getting better - get
with TNA and do my best to contribute to the
product, get my name out, get more work
& exposure.
Do you have any advice for the young
fans that may want to follow in your
footsteps?
Make sure that it is truly what you want in
your heart, otherwise you won't last. Work
out in the gym, eat right, maintain your
focus, and stay disciplined. Listen, learn,
and keep a good head on your shoulders.
What do your fans need to know about
you?
Everything I say and do comes from my heart,
it really is for the fans and about giving
them what they want. I really care about
them - I'm really a nice person &
everything I do comes from my heart.
I also want to thank Scott D'Amore and
the students at the Can-Am Wrestling school,
the fans, my family, and my trainer Evan
Fogolin.
And now for a musical interlude…
I never really anticipated writing a musical
review for 1Wrestling, but I am currently
listening to "So Powerful… So
Beautiful" - the latest album from the
Bump-N-Uglies. The BNU are not only
Michigan's most popular tag team, they are
also the self proclaimed "Kings of the
Rock N Wrestling World." The new album,
from Steel City Records at http://www.steelcagerecords.com/catalog/scr032.html
just fits in with the title of this column.
I've always been a believer that if
"it's too loud, you're too old"
and I guess I have to thank Josh, Bubba,
Amado, and Rob for proving that I'm too old.
But wrestling fans, regardless of their
musical preferences, will pop for songs such
as "IS IT FAKE?!!… IS IT FAKE?!!…
IS IT FAKE?!!! (THE SAD SORDID TALE OF DR.
D. DAVID SCHULTZ)", "IT
AIN'T CHEATIN' (IF THE REF AIN'T LOOKIN')",
"ATTACK OF THE MOONDOGS",
and "YOU'RE PUTTIN' ME OVER."
I'm not enough of a music critic to tell you
what sort of punk rock this is, but I can
guarantee you that as a wrestling fan you
will enjoy such lyrics as "Low blow,
frog splash, not another word is said. Pick
up a chair, spin him around and make this
jobber see red." from "THEME
FROM A CHAIRSHOT."
Check them out and give the disc a spin
in your player. If you're a wrestling fan,
you'll enjoy it at least once. And if you
are a serious punk fan, you'll dig it a
whole lot more than that.
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