Interview's

Interview with
Wresling-online.com

BELLE OF THE BRAWL
Lekihsa Faith Oliver, [lekisha@wrestling-online.com]

Lately, the big three federations in the sports entertainment/wrestling fields have been dominant. However, here in the southern part of the United States, we have always had our independent federations to look towards for the future of sports entertainment. I was checking around the internet a couple of weeks ago, and I remember hearing about a wrestler named Brianna Star. I heard some great things about this woman and I decided to check out her style both in and out of the ring.
I checked her credentials and realized how remarkable that this woman is the first Women's Champion for the Mid-South Wrestling Organization, based out of western Tennessee. I went to Ms. Star and requested an interview.
She graciously accepted my interview for the Belle of the Brawl article. Before and during the interview, I saw how determined and strong she is and how much she wants to succed in all that she does.
The interview follows:
Lekisha Oliver/Belle of the Brawl (BB): Thank you for allowing this interview. Let's get started and ask who trained you?

Brianna Star : I was trained by a few different people. Rude (of the NWA Midsouth Tag Team, Naughty By Nature) trained me on the more "today" style wrestling (like dropkicks, suplex's, etc.) Buddy Wayne, Vicious Vickie, and Greg Peal trained me on the "old" style wrestling (like holds, submissions, etc.) So with the knowledge that all four people gave to me I learned a lot about the business before ever getting into the ring.

BB: Why did you want to get into the business?

Brianna: I had always like watching wrestling growing up, and always thought it would be cool to do. But in my early teens I kinda got out of it, cause I always heard at school, "your a girl, your not supposed to watch wrestling". So I stopped watching it. Then when I turned 17 the wrestling craze was just starting to get "reborn" and I attended my first Indy wrestling show, which also was my first live wrestling show ever. From that night on I was hooked. I knew this was what I was gonna do. And from that point I have worked to make it in the business.

BB: Who is your inspiration/hero?

Brianna: Outside the business, without even having to think about it, my Mom, she is my hero. She has been there for me thru all the good and bad. She did not, and still don't understand why I want to do this for a living, but she has always supported me and tried to do anything and everything to help me fulfill my dream .In the business, I would have to say Vickie (who trained me) and my "sister" Becky, both of them have helped me in so many ways. They have believed in me, when I did not believe in myself. I have nothing but respect for them and for what they have done in the business.

BB: What was the best/worst moment of your career?

Brianna: Best moment, no doubt, was on March 5th, 2000 in Gibson, TN when I won a battle Royal to crown the 1st Ever MSWA Women's Champion. Worst Moment, I would have to say was back in June '99 when my tag team partner, Dakota, turned on me by watching 3 guys try to break my leg in thering. She was standing out by the concessions stand and just watched. I was out for 6 months with my leg.

BB: Any plans for the present?

Brianna: My present plans is just to have live life to the fullest, go out to each match and give the fans 110%, and be the best Female wrestler I can. Defend my belt, fight my battles, and try not to get hurt.

BB: Plans for the future?
Brianna: Well, my present and future plans are a lot alike. But for the future I would like to make it in this business. I've got a good start now, I'm headed in the right direction. I just hope I'm able to keep it that way. I'm gonna try to prove to the wrestling world that there are a few "real" female wrestlers out there, and make a name for myself.

BB: Would you consider going further in the business, like into the big 3?

Brianna: I would love to make it to one of the big 3. Anyone who say's they don't want to make it to one of them is lying to themselves. I would like to see a few changes in the way they do their female wrestlers. But I would love to get the call saying "hey we want you."

BB: Tell me about your hopes for anyone who wishes to get into the business?

Brianna: First off to anyone who is wanting to get into this business, I have to say Good Luck. This is one of, if not the hardest business to make it in. For someone, especially a female, trying to get in, DON'T GIVE UP. If you have the heart, desire and know deep down this is what you want to do, go for it no matter what. You have to be willing to put your body thru pain day after day, the bruises, the soreness, the mornings you wake up asking yourself "WHY?". Going thru the training is the hardest part, but find a good trained and get in there and learn everything about the business in and out of the ring. And then the first time you step into the ring and hear the fans cheering you, well at that point you don't ask yourself "why?" cause you know at that point. its the greatest feeling ever, and I hope anyone who has this dream can fulfill it.

BB: Who is the one wrestler that you admire or look up to, if any?

Brianna: Chyna, in my eyes she has done so much for the women in wrestling. She went into the WWF, looked around and then took control. She proved she could wrestle as good, if not better then most of the guy's up there. She has proven you can have the look and the attitude, and the talent.

BB: What do you thing of the WWF, WCW, ECW, and the Mid-South organizations?

Brianna: I think all the organizations have there good and bad points. I'll admit every Monday night I'm sitting at home watching wrestling for hours. I do think sometimes they take it a little to far past wrestling. And I do not agree with the way the women are not allowed to really wrestle. I think they are missing a big opportunity not having real female wrestling matches, you can have your "sexy" side to the women but there are a lot of great female wrestlers in the WWF, WCW, ECW, and here in the Mid-South but they only want to let the ladies do so much then its, roll around for a while and cat fight. How many of the men's matches have you seen brake out into a "catfight"? I can say every now and then the big 3 surprise me and have a real ladies match, which I love when this happens. that's one reason I like working for the company's that I'm with right now cause myself, along with the other ladies get to step into the ring every week and have wrestling matches.

BB: Thank you for the interview and I hope to get to interview you again.

In and out of the ring, this woman means business. And from this writer, I will be looking forward to the day the Brianna Star is in the ring with the WWF or WCW Women's Championship around her waist. I wish all the best for Brianna in the future and good luck.

I would just like to thank Lekihsa for asking me to do this interview. I was greatly honored when she asked me to do this. Kihsa, you did a great job, and thank you.

New Women's Champion
Written by Garry White on August 09:
On The Road
Hello Independent wrestling fans across America. I jumped in my old wore out Toyota Pickup and headed to Dyersburg Tenn. It's friday night, August 4, 2000. It?s so hot outside you cook fry an egg on the pavement. My old Air conditioning in my truck is all but gone. I arrived at the Arena where NWA/WOWF matches are to take place. I grabbed a coke and a good seat and sat back and enjoyed another Independent Show. On the card that night was a women's title match) the match I actually came to see). Dakota, The women's champion would put the title on the line against Brianna Starr. These two ladies have met on several different occasions and on any given night one could defeat the other. And on these particular night we would see the crowning of a new champion. Brianna Starr has accomplished something a lot of women could only dream about. Not only did she get the win over possibly the best woman wrestler in the business today, but she won the coveted NWA Mid South Championship. Brianna has sacrificed a lot in her career to achieve this goal. You know for a man to accomplish want she has is really difficult but for a woman, it's nearly impossible. There's not a lot of women wrestler in the Indies, so a lot of the time, the women has to get in the ring with the men. Unlike Stephanie McMann, the WWF women's Champ, Brianna will be defending her title against all comers. Stephanie has held the WWF title, I know for six months and to my knowledge she has never defended her title. On top of being an outstanding competitor, Brianna is also a very nice lady. She always takes the time to talk with the kids and give autographs. If you want Stephanie McManns Autograph, you will have to pay for it. My Hat's off to the Indy promoters that gave Brianna the opportunity to compete in their company. NWA and MSWA in West Tennessee always try to bring in the best talent in the area. And by talking with a lot of the fans, I know they appreciate it very much. Where ticket prices for WWF and WCW are ridiculous, these promotions keeps it affordable for the average working fan. Brianna, I hope you hang on to the title for a long, long time. Always remember your fans and the kids that come to watch you perform. Well it's time once again to gas up the old truck and head for another town and another "INDEPENDENT WRESTLING EVENT" the best doggone wrestling in the world. So until next time. everyone give it up for THE NEW NWA/WOWF WOMEN'S CHAMPION, "BRIANNA STARR".
This is off the column Garry White does for Wrestlinglife.com

Off of the Questions With the Pros Website

Interview By Tony D.
TD: What's your real name, and what gimmicks have/do you use?
BS: Brianna Starr.....Just being myself.
TD: What height/weight are you?
BS: Height: 5'9 Weight: You never ask a real woman that.
TD: What wrestlers have you managed?
BS: When I first started my career I was managing Moondog Rover, but now I am a member of Naughty By Nature so I only manage the NBN boy's Pokerface, Rude, and Tully.
TD: What circuits do you currently work in?
BS: MidSouth Wrestling Association (Gibson, TN), NWA MidSouth/WOWF (Dyersburg, TN), Old School Wrestling (Hardin, KY), Tennessee Championship Wrestling (Brighton, TN)
TD: What circuits have you worked in?
BS: MidSouth Wrestling Association (Gibson, TN), NWA MidSouth/WOWF (Dyersburg, TN), Old School Wrestling (Hardin, KY), Tennessee Championship Wrestling (Brighton, TN), plus a few house show's for Power Pro Wrestling.
TD: What titles have you held?
BS: I was the first ever MSWA Women's Champion
TD: When did you decide to get into wrestling?
BS: I had always thought it would be cool to be a wrestler, but it was not till I turned 18 and went to my first live wrestling show that I was hooked and knew that being a wrestler was what I wanted to do with my life.
TD: And how did you get started?
BS: I had talked to the promoters at the local show I went to about getting me in touch with a trainer, finally after I made a few contacts in the business I started training. I went thru several different trainers till I found one that I could trust.
TD: Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
BS: I would have to say Rude and Pokerface. I know I have mentioned them a lot, but what they have done to help me is more then anyone else could ever do. Just watching their matches and working out with them I learn something new. I owe them a lot.
TD: What has been the greatest moment of your career?
BS: Becoming the first ever MSWA Women's Champion on March 5th, 2000. And then becoming a member of Naughty By Nature. Winning the belt was great but joining NBN was something I had wanted for a long time. Cause you can't beat someone to get a spot with them you have to earn their respect, and the fact that they let me in the group was a great moment in my career.
TD: Who are/were you trained by? What kind of athletic background do you have before you became a wrestler?
BS: I started my training with Buddy Wayne and Vicious Vickie (the old school wrestling like holds), but Rude and Pokerface finished my training with the new style (like suplexs, Hurricanrana's etc.)
TD: Who is your favorite wrestler to work with in the ring?
BS: Without a doubt Dakota, Every time we step into the ring we take each other to the limit and make the other work harder. I know anytime I'm stepping into the ring with her it's gonna be a great match.
TD: Any major enemies? If so, who, and why?
BS: Dakota, we started out as tag partners till she turned her back on me. We have battled all over TN and KY.
TD: In which promotion are you the most over?
BS: I would say Old School Wrestling and MSWA.
TD: Do you ever consider working in the WWF, WCW or ECW if they are interested in your talent?
BS: I would love to work for one of the big 3, if they let the ladies wrestle. You can ask anyone, the way to get on my bad side is to tell me that I am a catfighter or all the ladies can do is catfight. Cause I never have been and never will be a catfighter. So if the WWF, WCW, ECW wants my talents I hope they are planning on letting me WRESTLE.
TD: If you had to pick WWF, WCW or ECW, where would you go and why?
BS: WWF, cause they do have a women's division.
TD: Do you have a computer? If so, what do you think of the reporters and sheet writers on the Internet?
BS: I do have a computer, I read some of the reports on the Internet I think that some of the writer do a good job, but that sometime they get stupid with the stuff they report and how they report it. I hate to read a report by someone who try's to act like they know about he business, but don't know anything at all about it. But there are several reporters that do a good job.
TD: Do you have a college degree or any other higher education?
BS: I wish I did, but No.
TD: Any advice you'd give a wannabe wrestler?
BS: First off to anyone who is wanting to get into this business, I have to say Good Luck. This is one of, if not the hardest business to make it in. For someone, especially a female, trying to get in, DON'T GIVE UP. If you have the heart, desire and know deep down this is what you want to do, go for it no matter what. You have to be willing to put your body thru pain day after day, the bruises, the soreness, the mornings you wake up asking yourself "WHY?". Going thru the training is the hardest part, but find a good trained and get in there and learn everything about the business in and out of the ring. And then the first time you step into the ring and hear the fans cheering you, well at that point you don't ask yourself "why?" cause you know at that point. its the greatest feeling ever, and I hope anyone who has this dream can fulfill it.
TD: Any final comments for the readers?
BS: Never give up, no matter what is thrown at you. If you want it bad enuff go for it. I went for what I wanted and now I'm living out my dreams.