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Backstage Chatter With The Glamazon, Edge and The Fink

Backstage Chatter With The Glamazon, Edge and The Fink

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 By: CMBurnham

I drove down to Laredo for a World Wrestling Entertainment show last weekend. Before the action, I talked with a few of the wrestlers who'll be in Houston this week for Wrestlemania 25 and other Wrestlemania-related activities.

I bumped into the Glamazon, Beth Phoenix, who'll be in the 15-Diva Battle Royale on Wrestlemania Sunday at Reliant Stadium. But first she'll be showing off her painting skills at WrestleManiArt on Wednesday. It's a fundraiser for the Houston Public Library.

Growing up, Phoenix was a total library girl.

"Absolutely, reading was a big part of the curriculum at all of my schools," she said. "We didn't have a lot of money, so the library was where I went to check out all kinds of wonderful books. I always had the bug to read. I was mostly interested in anatomy and science books and that kind of stuff, you know, Stephen King stuff. I was a little mature for my age when it came to reading. I really liked scary novels."

And now she's a scary wrestler.

"Let's just say I'm dominating. If my opponents are scared of me, I can't help that. Maybe they shouldn't be so wimpy."

Edge, the current World Champion, will face John Cena and the Big Show in a title match at Wrestlemania. I asked him to describe the tattoos up and down his arms. Especially that freaky-looking skull on his right biceps.

"What do you mean, what was I thinking? Actually each tattoo has a special meaning. Each tattoo represents a different stage in my career," he said.

"I didn't want tattoos with the words 'Edge' or 'Rated R Superstar,' so I got images that reflect the personality of my different characters. The sun is the design that was on my tights the first half of my career. Another tattoo is the design that was on the first T-shirt that was made for me. The words 'Rise Above' are on my forearm. It's a personal message, I believe in that philosophy. And my newest tattoo represent my current character, the sleazy bad boy."

Edge is a bad guy - a villainous, unrepentant, untrustworthy rulebreaker. He likes nothing more than hearing fans boo him.

"Being a bad guy is much more fun, without a doubt, at least to me. You've got to have bad buys to make the good guys look like superheroes. It's interesting, when I was a kid, I always was rooting for the heroes like Hulk Hogan. Maybe a little part of me liked bad guys like Roddy Piper and Macho Man Savage. But when they faced Hulk, I still wanted Hulk to beat them.

"When I'm in the ring, I don't want to have any redeeming qualities. I want 100 percent of the people to despise me. So far, I have a pretty good track record. I think 95 percent of them hate me. It's fun to hit the fans with a really good line and hear them boo me. It even entertains me."

Saturday night, ring announcer Howard Finkel will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He's been with the WWE for 35 years, longer practically than anybody except Chairman of the Board Vince McMahon.

Maybe his greatest contribution to the company ... he came up with the name "Wrestlemania."

"This was back in 1985, when we were planning the first Wrestlemania. We had Hulkamania to describe the fans excitement over Hulk Hogan. Plus there had been Beatlemania when the Beatles came to America. So I thought ... Wrestlemania! It stuck. Now we're doing the 25th Anniversary Wrestlemania," he said.

No, he didn't think to trademark "Wrestlemania."

"I love the WWE. It's theirs. But it's nice knowing that I made a contribution to the biggest event in wrestling history."

This week, the WWE is giving me unprecedented access to all the wrestlers who'll be competing at Wrestlemania. Is there a question you'd like me to ask them? Send it to me at ken.hoffman@chron.com. If I don't think your question will offend the wrestler, causing me to get hit in the head with a sledgehammer, I'll ask it and report back.

 

Tags: Beth Phoenix, WWE

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Spotlight in History

  • 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 06-09 to Sat: 06-15

  • 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Champion
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  • 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Champion
06-13
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  • Mikey D Jun 13th Today!
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  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
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  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
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  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
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  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
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  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
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  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
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