Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
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| Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Acronym | G.L.O.W. |
| Established | 1986; 2001 |
| Style | American Wrestling |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada (1986-1992) |
| Founder(s) | David McLane and Jackie Stallone |
| Owner(s) | David McLane (1986-1992) Jackie Stallone (1986-1992) Ursula Hayden (2001-current) |
| Website | GorgeousLadiesOfWrestling.com |
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW or G.L.O.W., was a professional wrestling promotion for women, begun in 1986 (the pilot was filmed in December of 1985) and continued in various forms after it left television. Colorful characters, beautiful women, and over-the-top comedy sketches were integral to the series' success. Most of the performers were actresses, models, dancers, stuntwomen hoping to get in to show business through sexy wrestling. Several performers went on to do other things.
- Lisa Moretti (aka Tina Ferrari) went on to wrestle for two other women's promotions, the Powerful Women of Wrestling (POWW) and the Ladies' Sports Club (LSC). She is best known for joining WWE as Ivory in 1999, and went on to win the women's title three times over the years before eventually leaving. She now takes independent bookings.
- Major Tanya is now a photographer and works with the GLOW Yahoo Group. She also has her own site.
- Las Vegas native Janeen Jewett (aka Palestina) went on to POWW, LSC, and competed briefly in the AWA. She then became a singer in England.
- Tiffany Melon (Sandra Margot) got into the porn business briefly, and then went on to star in her on reality series as a bounty hunting mom for WE.
- Jeanne Basone (aka Hollywood) went to appear in several tv shows and indy films. She also created her own video custom wrestling company which is very successful.
- Cheryl Rusa (aka Lightning) became a Hollywood stuntwoman.
- Eileen O'Hara (formerly Womack) aka MTV, a writer/producer/stuntwoman, owns Sisters Fierce Productions in Los Angeles, a production house and theatrical casting agency. She procduces films, live shows, and written property, along with performing stunts and teaching stage fighting. She is currently working with the Theatre Ensemble: Brethren of The Coast, Historical Theatre from the Golden Age of Piracy. website www.brethrenofthecoast.com
GLOW was originally created by David B. McLane as an aftermath of Jackie Stallone's physical fitness gym for women only, Barbarella's. Both David and Jackie created and promoted the girls for the entire running of the program. Mando Guerrero trained all of the girls initially.
A syndicated GLOW TV show was produced for approximately four seasons (1986-1990) from the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It differed from Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation in that they had actual seasons where some wrestlers were dropped, changed, or added before the new season began. It was not a promotion with roll-in and roll-out during the season.
Jackie Stallone (Sylvester Stallone's mother) was the figurehead owner and manager of the Good Girls, and Aunt Kitty (Kitty Burke) was the manager for the Bad Girls.
Steve Blance was the senior referee in season two before becoming GLOW's "commissioner" in seasons three and four. He was always the recipient of a GLOW Girl beatdown in season two.
Johnny Cafarella (As "Johnny C.") hosted seasons 3 and 4, was the figurehead owner (buying David McLane's "interest" in a storyline) and also served as Company Manager after the departure of McLane in 1987.
Each of the GLOW performers had her own rap song. It was shown on videotape prior to that wrestler's match. Similar to other wrestling promotions' use of wrestler-specific entrance themes, this gimmick may have been influenced by the Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle."
GLOW is still in existence, though not associated in any way with David B. McLane, the promoter who started the show. It was revived by the Riviera Hotel & Casino, where it was originally filmed, in 2001. Among its directors was Tony Cimber, the youngest child of the 1960s American sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and a brother of actress Mariska Hargitay.
David McLane also was behind three subsequent women's wrestling leagues, Powerful Women of Wrestling (1988-1990), Ladies' Sports Club (1990-1991) and Women of Wrestling (2000-2001).
Johnny Cafarella promoted a similar show in 2003 called CRUSH along with Steve Blance.
In a recent interview with Ursula Hayden there are hints of an all new GLOW program developing in Las Vegas featuring new stars of GLOW along with some of the show's past stars including Babe (Ursula Hayden), Daisy (Helen Lacount), Godiva, Big Bad Mama, MTV, and Roxy Astor who have been rumored to return to help launch the all new GLOW.
Contents |
[edit] Stallone's Sweethearts
The 'good girls' were the 'baby-face' a.k.a. face wrestlers managed by Jackie Stallone.
- Babe The Farmer's Daughter (Real name Ursula Hayden, purchased rights to the promotion in 2003)
- Mount Fiji - (Real name Emily Dole) Dominating, heavyweight 'Good Girl'
- Little Fiji - (Real name Nga Chan) Pretty and petite sidekick to Mt Fiji
- Sally the Farmer's Daughter (Real name Becky Mullen), replaced after the first season by Amy (Real name Trudy Adams), who in turn was replaced in season 3 by Babe, Sally later returned. Trudy is not related to any of the Adams' wrestlers (Chris, Toni or Brian).
- Tina Ferrari (WWE's Ivory, former GLOW champion)
- Ashley Cartier (she and Tina Ferrari made up the Beverly Hills Girls)
- Americana (All-American, one-time GLOW champion) - frequently feuded with Ninotchka and Palestina
- California Doll (Real name Jane Hamlin) (ditzy blonde angle and often did points to ponder skits)
- Susie Spirit (her elbow was famously dislocated in one match)
- Liberty (teamed with Justice)
- Justice (African American wrestler that teamed with Liberty, had a black panther gimmick)
- Debbie Debutante (she and Susie Spirit made up The Cheerleaders)
- Cheyenne Cher (Real name Deborah Ann Choctoot) (Billed as both one-half of the "new" Cheerleaders with Vicky Victory and a native American, former GLOW Champion)
- Vicky Victory (Real name Peach Janae, really) (one-half of the "new" Cheerleaders tag team with Cheyenne Cher)
- Tiffany Mellon (Real name Sandra Margot) (an "airhead" Park Avenue Knockout known for GLOW gossip and her annoying laugh; later became a porn star after GLOW known as Tiffany Million)
- Zelda the Brain, a diminutive stereotype nerd with glasses
- Roxy Astor - (Real name Tracey Phelps) A redhaired New Yorker who hailed from Park Avenue.
- Queenie - A GLOW girl who only wrestled in house shows and never made it to the tv screen.
- Magnolia - Replaced Scarlett as Tara's partner, only wrestled houseshows.
- Tammy Jones - (Real name Tammy D'Amato) 'Good girl' wrestler who wore ribbons and lace as part of her ring attire; one time GLOW champion by defeating Matilda the Hun. Appeared as a contestant on the Bob Eubanks version of Card Sharks under the name Debbie D'Amato; later, the GLOW girls of the time would be a part of one of the show's audience poll questions, which was famous for the episode where Mt. Fiji lifts Eubanks for a body slam.
- Olympia - 'Good girl' wrestler with the bodybuilder/physical power angle.
- Little Egypt - Petite 'good girl' wrestler with the exotic 'harem girl' angle. During a match, towards the end of the second season, she tore ligements in her right knee forcing her to sit out the last part of season two. She then toured with POW as Jasime Yurek the Turkish manager of Palestina. She has since went on to have an extremely successful real estate career in Las Vegas.
- Little Feather - Petite 'good girl' wrestler with a Native American angle.
- Ebony - 'Good girl' wrestler; one of the few African Americans on their roster.
- Daisy - (Real name Helena LaCount) Tall 'good girl' wrestler who was managed by Gremlina before becoming a full time 'good girl'. Became GLOW Champion by defeating Cheyenne Cher; last GLOW Champion at press time.
- Sunny, the California Doll - 'Good girl' wrestler who played the 'sexy and ditzy beach blonde' angle.
- Dallas - 'Good girl' wrestler with a 'cowgirl' angle; her outfit was strikingly similar to that of a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
- Tulsa - (Real name Jody Hasselbarth) 'Good girl' wrestler with a similar 'cowgirl' angle as Dallas; succeeded her in appearances on the show.
- Southern Belles - 'Good girl' tag-team with Scarlett in light blue and Tara (Sheila Best) in pink ring attire. Ring entrance attire consisted of parasols, hats, gloves, and hoop-skirts consistent with the Civil War-era Southern upper class fashion.
- Thunderbolt and Lightning - 'Good girl' Tag Team with a 'superhero' angle. "Lightning" was Cheryl Rusa, "Thunderbolt" was Dana Felton.
[edit] Kitty's Killers
The 'bad guys' were the 'heel' wrestlers managed by Aunt Kitty, who was seen as a parody of then WWF manager, Bobby Heenan.
- Godiva - (Real name was Dawn Rice) seductress wearing little more than hosiery.
- Beastie - (Real name Colleen Favare) 'Bad girl' from Australia with a Mad Max angle.
- Colonel Ninotchka (actress Lori Weathers made this Russian gimmick her own). She later turned face then went back to heel.
- Major Tanya - (Real name Noel Tyler) 'Bad Girl' with a Russian spy gimmick and teamed with Ninotchka.
- Angel (had a biker chick gimmick)
- Matilda the Hun (Dee Booher, who later changed her name to Queenie Kong) (played female descendant of Atilla the Hun).
- Habana (Had a terrorist gimmick similar to Palestina from prior seasons)
- The Black Widow (wrestled as Dementia in early seasons, was also known for poisoning her opponents prior to matches)
- Dementia (Played by two actresses, Real names, Michelle Damon then Nancy Daley) (The Widow in third season) - 'Bad girl' wrestler with a pseudo Lizzie Borden angle, acted catatonic at times and carried an axe to the ring.
- The Soul Patrol (Tag Team consisting of Envy and Adore who had a 'dominatrix' angle).
- The Housewives (Tag Team of Arlene and Phyllis, portrayed by the same actresses who portrayed The Heavy Metal Sisters)
- Heavy Metal Sisters (Tag Team of Spike and Chainsaw)
- Hollywood (actress and model Jeanne Marie Basone) and Vine (Real name Janet Bowers) (Tag Team; Vine also wrestled under a mask in GLOW as the Princess of Darkness).
- Princess of Darkness (had a demonic gymmick; aleways wore black with a white mask. Used a giant bone to hyponotize her opponents).
- The Headhunters (stable consisting of Mina, Mika, and Manna).
- Corporal Kelly (replaced in the second season by another wrestler who used the same name).
- Attaché (Corporal Kelly's charismatic sidekick and Tag Team partner. Often referred to as the "Mean Marine" ).
- Star (Powerful wrestler with an astrological gimmick).
- Jail Bait (trained for show, but was sidelined due to a knee injury on the first step of her first match).
- Spanish Red (Stage name Ericka Marr) (the Latin Sensation, famed for her finishing move, the "Spanish Press").
- Palestina (Janeen Jewett), an Islamic militant character.
- Royal Hawaiian, one time GLOW champion, defeated Tammy Jones to win title.
- MTV - (Real name Eileen Womack-O'Hara) Stood for, "Melody Trouble Vixen", a 'bad girl' the "Wrestling Rock Star".
- Gremlina - 'Bad girl' valet/wrestler/manager to Daisy; dressed in gothic/monster themed makeup.
- Big Bad Mama - (Real name Lynn Braxton) 'Bad girl' wrestler who played a 'voodoo queen' angle; had a guest appearance on the television show Married with Children and wrestled the character, Al Bundy.
- Sarah and Mabel - 'Bad girl' wrestler tag-team with their ring attire consisting of jean overalls, long-sleeved shirts, and wore canvas sacks on their heads with eyelits and mouth-holes cut out as makeshift masks.
- Evangelina - (Real name Christina Smith) 'Bad girl' wrestler with the 'intolerant evangelist' angle.
- Party Animal- formerly known as Lightning, only wrestled 1 match which was against Babe at the GLOW reunion PPV in 1993.
- Jungle Woman - powerful wrestler with a wild / amazonic gimmick. Had the Jungle Man -a wild guy who wore just a loincloth and barely stand in two feet- as his pet man.
[edit] Notable Gimmicks and Ring Entrances
Consistent with the professional wrestling entertainment angle, the GLOW performers had unique ring entrances or gimmicks to win (or lose) their respective matches. Some of them are the following:
- Matilda the Hun - Appeared with large turkey or roasted leg as part of her ring entrance, originally the crowd chanted "raw meat" as she made her way down the aisle.
- Royal Hawaiian - Appeared with pineapples in a cart, threatening to strike her opponent with it
- Corporal Kelly - Wore two belts of bullets criss-crossed over her chest
- Attaché - Usually brought a billy club with her to ringside, and frequently used it during matches
- Dallas (and later Tulsa) - Brought in a lasso and rope, occasionally trussing up her opponent during the match
- Dementia - Would bring an axe to the ring; would later attempt to use it against her opponent resulting in disqualification
- The Widow - Would offer her opponent her favorite beverage before the match that was "spiked"; opponent would soon succumb to its effects during the match, providing her an easy pinfall victory that was followed by covered her opponent with a black lace shroud
- Heavy Metal Sisters - Would carry in a chainsaw and small propane torch as part of their ring entrance. Would attempt to use them during the match (and get disqualified) and were often taken away from the match in straitjackets by Security
- The Housewives - Would bring in mops; pails and other assorted household supplies; would use them on their opponents during the match and would be disqualified inevitably.
- Palestina - Conducted a pre-match prayer on her knees in the center of the ring, analogous to Islamic prayers
- Tammy Jones - Carried a small basket of candy and provided them to kids in the audience as part of her ring entrance
- Susie Spirit and Debbie Debutante - Conducted a cheerleader routine
- MTV - Sang a song about her opponent, usually not very complimentary, before beginning her matches. She almost always hit them with her guitar or a musical instrument.
[edit] Vignettes
In between the matches, GLOW also presented humorous vignettes featuring the GLOW girls in various short skits/vignettes, possibly to market their acting potential. Some of these recurring vignettes were the following:
- "Points to Ponder" presented by the California Doll, to play up with "beautiful but ditzy" blonde angle
- "MTV's Glow Connection" with Melody Trouble Vixen
- "Advice on How to Get the Man You Want" by Tina Ferrari
- "The Bare Facts" by Godiva
- "Easy As KGB" Colonel Ninotchka talking on the phone to KGB agent Vladimir
- "Country Girl Dates" with Tulsa and Babe the Farmer's Daughter
- Mount Fiji as a Carmen Miranda-like character
- "Ask Ashley", an advice column segment by Ashley Cartier
- "Vicious Vicky" by Vicky Victory doing the Wicked Queen from Snow White who ended up getting hit in the face with a pie
- "Glow Gossip" with Tiffany Mellon
- Spanish Red's "Spanish Kitchen" before passing it to Angel
- Angel's Kitchen
- Hollywood's lessons from the streets (Public service announcements)
- "Cheyenne Cher's Indian Folkore"
- "Zelda's Zingers"
- "Beastie's Beanery"
- "Bad Girls of Poker"
During Season 4, an original sitcom angle was used with the GLOW Girls as stars. The sitcom was called "Life In The GLOW House" aiming for a possible Real World-like show.
