As promised, here is our interview we conducted with the Knockout herself! Shantelle discusses what it feels like to be the first Knockout to hold the Knockouts Single and Tag titles, what her most memorable moment and match in TNA thus far, a list of injuries, what WWE Diva she would like to face, and for the first time – she names her finisher! Check out the entire interview below:
01: We would love to see you back in Shimmer. Are there any plans on a return?
Yes! I’d like to participate in Shimmer again. I’m hoping for sooner rather than later.
02: What would you say your most memorable match in TNA has been thus far?
I would say my most memorable match would have been when I beat Awesome Kong in the $25,000 challenge and became the Knockout’s champ. It was surreal for so many different reasons, and I hold that moment as a turning point in my life and career. I also have the same pivotal feelings towards when Sarita and I became the first Knockout’s tag team champions. Making me the first Knockout in TNA history to have held both belts.
03: Your the first Knockout to have both Knockout and Tag title reigns. How does that feel to make history by being the first woman to accomplish this?
I feel blessed and reassured that perseverance does pay off in the long run. I typically choose the road less traveled, which is inspiring but much more challenging. Accomplishments like that make all my hard work and sacrifices well worth it, and all the more sweeter.
04: We know that being a wrestler, that you travel a lot. Do you have any crazy airport stories?
For some reasons wrestlers are infamous for airport horror stories. Its like we are all cursed, or we just experience more extreme airport bummers since we frequent them so much. I’m pretty lucky, I would say I’ve heard more airport terror tales than I’ve experienced. I’m actually on a plane currently while writing this. The worst for me was finishing a house show loop and flying back to Toronto with fellow Canadian Bobby Roode and all around great dude, Kaz. We had an hour and a half lay over in Dallas, Texas. We boarded our connecting flight, Kaz and I sat next to each other and passed out before the plane even moved. Two hours later we woke up thinking we’d be twenty minutes away from our final destination, and to our dismay we hadn’t budged. We were still in Dallas. We finally de-planed only to stand in another line to re-book our flights. After waiting in a line for over an hour with a plane sized population of pissed off travellers we were graced with the glorious news that the next flight out to Toronto was in 6 hours. Sweet. Luckily, Dallas airport is pretty great. After walking in circles, getting a massage and manicure, and eating it was time to board our final flight home. Waiting at our gate our flight home was delayed ten minutes, then fifteen minutes, then half an hour. Finally we boarded and they almost cancelled our flight due to Toronto airport having strict noise control rules minimizing any flights landing after midnight. Thank goodness we had a speed demon of a pilot to get us there at exactly midnight. I got home in one piece, ten hours later then planned. I’m sure it could’ve been worse.
05: Who would you say is the best women wrestler today?
Awesome Kong, hands down.
06: Do you have any plans on naming any of your finishers?
I named my German suplex the “Wilde Ride“, I’ve just never had ample opportunity to establish it. I even wrote it in permanent black marker on my knuckles on iMPACT once. Feel free to spread the word!
07: We know that you tag teamed with Roxxi in late ‘08 – early ‘09. You now tag with Sarita, with whom you have held the tag titles with. Do you miss tagging with Roxxi?
Of course I do! She is one of my favourite people to be in the ring and out of the ring with. We have a connection that goes far beyond wrestling. I don’t think I’ve ever made a more honest, and pure connection with anyone. We just get each other, and even though we don’t see each other much anymore due to work and geographic burdens she is someone I cherish and am SO thankful to have in my life. She’s an amazing human being and a rock star, she will get her moment to shine, just you wait.
08: In your opinion, what would be the dream Knockouts match for you be?
Me, Roxxi, Awesome Kong, ODB Vs. Angelina Love, Madison Rayne, Velvet Skye, Lacey. The ultimate motley crew battling against the new and old school Beautiful People. Oh how the claws would com out.
09: If you could pick any wrestler past or present to face, who would it be, and why?
I have two. 1) Trish Stratus, because she was on top during a time when wrestling was larger than life. There was so much hype and electricity during that era, it was truly an innovative moment for the new generation of wrestlers like the Hardy Boys and Edge and Christian. Plus, it was the first time that beautiful women were really taken seriously as professional wrestlers. 2) The Fabulous Moolah, as far as I’m concerned she is the reason women have existed as professional wrestlers. She initially paved the path that I have been lucky enough to travel down. I would trade my right foot to pick her brain for an hour and hear some old tales about life on the road. Not to mention, she is the toughest female that ever lived, I would be honoured for her to beat the snot out of me.
10: Who or what inspired you to get into professional wrestling?
My uncle Darren, and my crazy imagination.
11: As a wrestler, you are bound to have a few injuries every now and then. What injuries, if any, happened to you?
I’m like a cat with nine lives. I haven’t broken a bone after five years of wrestling and eleven years of hockey prior to that. I’m more like a domino effect, my injuries rebel off each other. I’ve broken and dislocated a few fingers and toes. I’ve dislocated both my shoulders. My right hip is out of place which causes my tail bone to shift out of place, creating extra tension on my lower back, which in turn puts pressure on the surrounding nerves, causing my sciatica to run down either legs. I broke the protective capsule in my left elbow wrestling in Mexico a few years ago which causes tendentious, bursitis, carpel tunnel, cubic tunnel, and nerve damage in my pinky finger. I’ve rolled both my ankles, and a Partridge in a Pear tree.
12: Which current WWE Diva would you like to face, and why?
Natalya Neidhart. She rules! It would be her strength vs my speed and agility. I think it would make for a very exciting match.
13: What is your favorite food?
ANYTHING CHOCOLATE!!
14: Where would you most like to visit and why?
I’ve been blessed to do a lot of travelling in the last few years. I would love to go somewhere tropical like Hawaii. I went to Paris this year, but I’d live to go camping and cycling in the country side of France. I’d also love to go to Greece, I’m a sucker for Mediterranean food and the beach. I’ve been tapping into my more relaxed, romantic side lately, so those two places seem the most appeasing.
15: Do you have anything that you would like to say to your fans?
THANK YOU!!!!!!! I know this is cliche, but I sincerely feel like I have the greatest fans a girl could hope for. I’ve spent my last two birthdays overseas wrestling and my fans make me feel like I have a family no matter where I go. You give me the strength to be my best, motivate me to take risks and stay grounded, and I feed off of you to be the goofy Taylor Wilde you have all come to know. You are all more than fans, you are my friends. I love you all!
Name: Shantelle Malawski
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