LadySports ::: YOUNG LIONESSES OF 2006...

by Shiai Mata

The only constant in Professional Wrestling is change. Year in and year out, newcomers enter the sport. All but a handful won't last a full year...they'll find the injuries and the pressures and the heartbreaks to simply be too much to endure. Of those who remain, most will probably last a few years and achieve a fair amount of success before hanging up their boots. Only a select few will truly fulfill their potential and become genuine legends in the sport.

Each year, the PGWA likes to look at the new crop of rookies and, after careful study, select several whom we feel have the potential for greatness. Mind you, these aren't predictions, merely an acknowledgment of the successes which these newcomers have already earned, and an understanding that from such humble beginnings, greatness might emerge in the fullness of time. A short list of just some of the pro's whom the PGWA had recognized early in their careers includes Lexie Fyfe, Christie Ricci, Joanie "Chyna" Lauer, Amy "Lita" Dumas, Nora "Molly" Greenwald, Alexis Laree, Riptide, and Malia Hosaka.

These are women whom we feel might one day join those exalted ranks.

We begin with Josie, the "Power Princess" of Midwestern wrestling. Although she's been in the sport for several years now, its been in recent months that she's truly blossomed. From her debut, her rise was quick, and she rapidly won several championship belts. Given such success, one could not fault her for not wanting to mess with a good thing; her brawling, powerhouse style had clearly put her on the path to success, after all. But Josie is a woman for whom challenges are sought, not avoided, and so she has set for herself the task of learning a new, more technical-based style. Her goal is to become a genuine total package competitor, the kind of wrestler who not only reigns in regional indy rings, but who can also step up to run with the best across the United States, in Japan, and indeed anywhere else in the world. Knowing of her fierce determination, and realizing that willpower is the root of success, we think she might just achieve her dream.

Crossing the Atlantic, we find two women whose fates have intertwined. First, there is Jennidee. The "Liverpool Ladette" often finds herself towered over by her opponents, but size is relative when speaking of this woman, who fights without abandon. In the ring, she's very nearly like a force of nature, barely able to stand still. She puts that pent up energy to good use, relishing the opportunity to clothesline, forearm smash, spear, and otherwise batter her adversaries until they're essentially a big bruise on two legs! And in her strength there is great confidence, demonstrated in her stated determination to become the greatest English female wrestler of all time! Spoken by anyone else, such a goal would seem the height of arrogance. But coming from Jennidee, it almost seems like a prophecy.

Great Britain is also home to the woman whom Jennidee cites as her greatest nemesis, the woman known as Skye. The are certainly like night and day... or, perhaps, more like stone and air. For while Jennidee is about raw strength, Skye (like her namesake element) is more like a gale force wind in the ring, moving with a gymnast's grace while overwhelming her opponents with an arsenal of complex technical moves The Hertfordshire brunette takes inspiration from many high flying U.S. and Mexican grapplers (and has been trained by Chris Benoit, among others), and has displayed a marked willingness to take risks in matches that have brought some spectacular success. One is tempted to say that the sky's the limit with this lass, but as clichéd as that may be, it's certainly not an exaggeration!

Never ones to let the British claim all of the glory, the Irish are contributing one of their own, the young warrior named Rebecca Knox! She is presently on an extended visit to North America (with a quick, exciting visit to Japan), and is winning over fans with her rapid-fire style, which combines the best in European grappling with high flying moves reminiscent of the best Mexican luchadoras. And speaking of Mexico, rumor has it that Ms. Knox will be making the trip to Monterrey in 2006! In the meantime, she continues to amaze in Canadian and U.S. rings. Like her namesake fortress, this Knox is truly golden!

Back in America, our attention now turns to Kara Slice. Of all of the women we're discussing, she by far has the most experience in the sport, going back nearly a decade now. However, she began her career not as a wrestler, but as a manager, and in this capacity she was a tremendous success. With her trademark cheerleader outfit, "Miss Kara" wowed fans and led her men to victories up and down the East Coast. But over time, managing alone wasn't enough... Kara was drawn by the siren's call to be a wrestler in her own right! As in all things, she did not undertake this halfway, and instead has plunged into the ordeal of learning as much about being a wrestler as she can. The result is that she is being hailed as one of the finest workers to emerge from the prestigious OVW school, and she is tearing up rings with a skill that is fast winning the respect of her peers. If there are second acts in pro wrestling, Kara Slice is commanding the spotlight once again.

And last, but most definitely not least, comes the youngest wrestler on our list this year. If age is just a number, then Scarlett Rose isn't letting her youthfulness stop her from following her dreams. At an age when many of her contemporaries have fewer responsibilities than their household chores, Scarlett has driven herself to earn her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, recorded her own CD of music, and (following in the footsteps of her father, the Super Destroyer), has launched her own career as a professional wrestler! Never one to shy away from a challenge, Scarlett has plunged into heated battles with some of the most vicious women in the Midwest, winning matches, losing some, but always... ALWAYS... learning from the experiences. And although currently sidelined with an injury, we have absolutely no doubt that she will return to the squared circle soon and pick up exactly where she left off... heading upward!

Clearly, this is not meant to be a comprehensive list. There are a number of other worthwhile women who have demonstrated their exceptional talents in the ring. But consider this a representative introduction to the scores of rising stars in the sport. And don't be surprised if more than a few ladies mentioned here are someday ranked among the greats in Professional Wrestling!