LadySports ::: MIGHTY APHRODITE

by S. Mata

Mythology tells us that Aphrodite could often be found in Beotia, bathing in a spring, in ancient Greece. But we know now that you're more likely to find her in... Aldershot, England?

And what's more while the mythic Aphrodite was the Goddess of Love, this modern day counterpart could quite possibly be known instead as the Goddess of War! Fitting, then, that she hails from a town known as 'The Home of the British Army'.

Aphrodite stands a mere 5'2", and only tips the scales at 120 pounds. But you see, this is deception. For despite her relatively small size, she is a hellion in the ring... so much so, that's she perhaps better known than anything for wrestling (and beating!) male opponents often twice her weight and more!

Despite this success, she remains self-effacing. "At the moment, it seems to be that I am working inter-gender for several promotions... CWC, SWWA, PTW, BRAWL, BAW and LPW. This is such an honour for me, because it proves the promoters see me as someone who has the strength and ability to face up to a man and give him a run for his money." Yet the twinkle in her eye suggests perhaps that she rather enjoys facing up to the men... and putting them down for the count.

Obviously, she didn't simply walk in off of the street and step into the ring. Rather, she undertook a gruelingly comprehensive training program ("I actually started training in March 2003 and debuted in singles action in December 2004"), under the tutelage of some impressive figures: Jake "The Snake" Roberts for 18 months, and a further six months with "Filthy" Phil Powers. Along the way, she's also studied with Johnny Lee, Dan Ryder, Mad Dog Maxx, and because she believes that, despite her success, she can never stop learning her trade, she continues to train with Jem Brown (aka MTX/Mikey the Pikey). The payoff for all of this rigorous schooling has been more than a few 'W's' in her record book.

One might wonder just what has driven this woman to devote so much of herself to her art. "I'd been watching WWF for years, then I went to a UK show starring Sweet Saraya, the First Lady of British Wrestling. I wanted to be like her, so I would say it was she who really inspired me to start training." Ironically, although Aphrodite has faced many competitors these last four years, her path has not yet crossed that of her inspiration, Saraya. But perhaps in 2008 she'll have the opportunity to tell the British ring legend that... while she's pinning Saraya to the mat.

And the sport has certainly taken with her: "Wrestling is my life now, and it's taken over everything!"

"I go to the gym several times a week", the brunette (who often sports blond or red highlights) says regarding her training regimen. "I lift as heavy as I can, five sets of five reps. I do legs one day, arms and shoulders the following day, and chest and back the next day after that, working opposing muscles. I don't think I'm strong enough, and I'm still regaining my leg strength following my knee injury [more on that below]. Most important in my workout is simply that I work as hard as possible."

What drives a woman to not only push herself so hard in the gym, but also to subject herself to punishment in the ring? "Well, I'm a single mother and have a very independent attitude... but combined with a healthy dollop of compassion. I always try and keep a professional attitude, which I think is very important. I get on with everyone and because I have so much fun at shows, I'm always in a good mood and cheerful company." But are there times when that mood might be a bit less cheerful in the ring? "It depends if I'm having a good day!" comes the answer, in a tone that suggests you don't want to provoke her.

But don't mistake her graciousness for weakness. When the opening bell rings, Aphrodite lets slip the dogs of war. "I am someone who wants to win at all costs! I have a good grounding in technical wrestling and am equally at home on the mat or in the air. I need to adjust my ring style depending on the size of my opponent; with bigger opponents, I have to fly to make the impact to get them down."

"I wouldn't say I'm known for any particular moves", she continues. "Although my Cornerana is pretty cool to look at, and my finisher, 'The Divine Retribution', is an amazing combination of high flying and impact. Nobody gets up from that!"

As mentioned earlier, Aphrodite has suffered her share of injuries; how could a woman who puts herself through what she does have not? "Most of my injuries have actually occurred in training. I've had a concussion and a strained trapezius muscle, which happened at the same time. But my worst injury by far was my knee dislocation in March of 2007. It's funny, I do all this crazy shit in the ring, then dislocate my knee doing a reverse nip-up! Oh, the embarrassment! And that kept me out of the ring for five months."

And what sort of reactions does she get when people discover she's a professional wrestler? "Usually surprise, followed by 'but its fake... isn't it?' I get more respect from women; men usually look at me and think because I'm small... or as I like to say, 'petite'... I'm winding them up or something. And there are men who think they're the first to ask whether I wrestle in mud or jelly."

Ask her who some of her toughest opponents have been, and she'll tell you, "Lucy Clayden is probably the strongest and toughest girl I've worked... and Erin Angel, despite being tiny, has huge talent. But I've also wrestled Ronin, a male, who outweighs me by about 15 stone! I like to wrestle anyone who will give me a challenge and a real test of what I can do."

"I've wrestled all over the country", she proudly says. "Well, at least up to the Midlands! Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, West Bromwich, Northampton, Southampton, Chichester, Exeter... any number of places." And those travels have been rewarded with gold: "I held the CWC Women's Championship in 2006, and I'm currently LPW Welsh Champion."

Many wrestlers can cite specifics highs and lows in their career. For Aphrodite, her most memorable victory is also linked to her most ignoble defeat, via the CWC belt. "I won the title in an 8-woman battle royal. Winning it was just amazing! It was my first title win, and to beat all those other women was just awesome." But what goes up, as they say, must come down. "Nine months later, I lost the same title to Clayden. That was my worst loss."

As for her most memorable moment in the ring to date, it should come as no surprise that it is her first one. "My debut against Erin Angel on 18th December 2004 for CWC. I was so nervous, but it turned out to be a really good match. At that point, Erin was the only girl I'd ever wrestled and I was really pleased my debut was with her. I lost, but it was a defining moment when I actually became... in my own mind at least... a professional." From that night forward, no one could ever say again that she is not a Professional Wrestler.

But as mentioned earlier, Aphrodite doesn't limit herself to only battling against her fellow females. She accepts... indeed, seeks out... mixed matches. "I enjoy inter-gender the most. I actually prefer wrestling men. I think it's because I was the only girl in my class and didn't actually wrestle another woman until I'd been trained for a year. I do like mixed tags, too, because I get to wrestle both men and women, and the different styles required for each are a true test of my abilities."

"I think its fantastic that women wrestle, and even more when, like me, women can take on men in the ring. I hope more promoters start realising the impact of inter-gender wrestling."

Were one to see the petite Aphrodite standing across the ring from a male adversary who literally dwarfed her, one might expect her... the obvious underdog... to be the favorite of the fans that night. But actually, nothing is further from the truth, as Aphrodite is routinely booed by the spectators. "I don't have any fans! I'm a heel worker and everyone hates me... but that just means I'm a good heel worker. As long as the fans react to me, whether they're booing or cheering, it means they're enjoying themselves, and that's the main thing."

And she's a very good heel indeed, judging by how many offers for work she receives. Indeed, her success has allowed her to pursue wrestling as her career. "I'm a full-time wrestler now, but I did have a day job until last summer... as do the majority of UK workers... in a fraud investigations agency. I can't imagine a life outside wrestling now. I just want to continue wrestling and make a name for myself in the business"

And although she's forged a reputation as a woman unafraid to take on... and take down... the male of the species, Aphrodite is canny enough to make allies of a few men in the sport, just to help watch her back. "Within BRAWL I'm part of the SCU (Street Crime Unit) led by Mikey the Pikey, who is also my tag partner at PTW. At LPW I tag with Carnage, and at SWWA with John Bull. I also support the Pompey Players at CWC."

It comes as no surprise that for someone who takes the sport so seriously, Aphrodite has some specific thoughts on what she would do to improve wrestling, if she could. "I think I would regulate it so that a minimum ability level is required. There's no regulation at all in the UK; anyone with a ring can put on a show. I think there should be some kind of registry so that only legit promoters with competent workers should be able to run shows. But I doubt that will ever happen", she adds ruefully.

"There's nothing else like it", she says when asked what's so special about the sport to her. "The excitement it brings, not only to the workers but to the fans; the way it can arouse such emotions in people; the extreme physical exertion... it's just like nothing else. I don't know why I love it so much... it's just part of who I am."

"My only regret is that I didn't start earlier. What's my motto? Don't dream it... be it. Yes, I stole it from the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show', but I'm living proof that dreams can come true if you work hard enough."

And if you're not afraid to take on challenges outweighing you by 15 stone... .

(Oh, and Aphrodite wanted to be sure to add, "I'd just like to say thanks for interviewing me... it's been a pleasure talking to you, and how much I enjoy reading all the interviews and reports of Ladysports.com." To which we can only say, the pleasure is all ours.)

pics courtesy of Aphrodite