LadySports ::: Misty James

Misty James

Never give up!

by S. Mata

Misty James may be a newcomer inside of the ring, but she's no stranger to the sport, both as a fan as well as the wife of longtime wrestler Beau James. Literally by accident she found herself stepping between the ropes, and to her own surprise, she found out she loves it!
And while Misty is now discovering the sport of wrestling, you can discover her, starting here with this exclusive new interview.


Height: 5'9

Weight: 145 pounds

Hair: Blonde

Hometown: Kingsport, Tennessee

LADYSPORTS: When did you first get into the sport?
MISTY JAMES: Just this past year, 2007

LS: Who trained you?
MJ: My husband Beau James, and friend Bobby Fulton.

LS: What was your biggest influence to become a wrestler?
MJ: That's a hard one. I really never thought I would, nor did I have an interest in wrestling. I have helped my husband promote wrestling for a while now. We had an event in North Carolina back in September, and the girls who were booked canceled at the last minute. Beau and Bobby told me two days before, "You're wrestling Saturday." I said, "No way!" The said, "Yes, it's in the contract with the fair... we have to have a ladies match." Beau gave me a crash course and off I went! Once I did it... I loved it, and we started training full-time every day that Monday.

LS: What other sports do you have an interest in?
MJ: I love baseball and football. I was All-State softball three years in high school.

LS: How would you describe yourself outside of the ring?
MJ: I'm easy going, I guess. I take the time to talk and listen to people. I love kids and dogs. I can't stand rude people.

LS: What is your most marked characteristic as a wrestler?
MJ: I wrestle. I have been studying a list of wrestlers that Beau told me to. And I really like the women that wrestled, like Debbie Combs and Sherri Martel. I really don't care for the way the girls are promoted and act in much of today's wrestling.

LS: Describe a typical day of training for you. What is most important in your workout?
MJ: My husband has wrestled for almost 20 years, Bobby for almost 30. So between the two, they know almost every hold and counter. They made me learn holds over and over until I was sick of them. I would say, "I want to do this and that", and they would say "Not till we say so", and get back to doing that one hold. Beau would only show me three holds a day and make me do they for hours. I have not had a lot of matches, but the one thing that I have already realized is that girls today don't take the time to learn to wrestle. So I think me learning more and more wrestling is most important.

LS: What moves are you best known for?
MJ: None really, yet. Like I said, I'm still learning and have only had a handful of matches.

LS: Have you ever been injured in the ring?
MJ: Yes, the first day of real training after my first match. I sprained my ankle real bad and was on crutches for a week. And I got my nose busted on Thanksgiving night.

LS: Who has been your toughest opponent?
MJ: Rebecca Lynn has been so far.

LS: Who are your allies?
MJ: My husband and the fans.

LS: What has been your most memorable win?
MJ: Beating Nicole Starr in Boone, North Carolina... that was my first singles match and first win.

LS: What was your worst loss?
MJ: Losing to Rebecca Lynn in my hometown on Christmas night

LS: What type of match do you enjoy the most?
MJ: I like doing mixed tags. I have been in a few of them. Not sure why, but I really like them.

LS: What sort of reactions do you get from people when they learn you are a wrestler?
MJ: No one in Tennessee knew I wrestled in North Carolina for a few weeks, and then when word got out everyone was coming to Beau's picture table at the matches telling me they just could not believe it. And I would tell them, "Yeah, I know, me neither."

LS: What are your fans like?
MJ: My fans are great! I love it when people ask for pictures and autographs. It just floors me that they care.

LS: If you had the power, what one thing would you do to improve the sport?
MJ: Make it go back to wrestling like it was when I was a kid.

LS: Where have you wrestled, and what titles have you held?
MJ: No titles yet. I have wrestled in North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee. I have matches coming up in Kentucky soon.

LS: What are your thoughts on women participating in the sport?
MJ: I'm all for it if they get the proper training and do it for the right reasons.

LS: What was your most unforgettable moment in the sport?
MJ: My first match. I was so nervous! Bobby Eaton kept telling me to breath. He was trying to get my mind off of the match in the dressing room. I think I made him nervous.

LS: Any regrets?
MJ: Yes, that I did not start sooner.

LS: What would you do if you couldn't be in wrestling?
MJ: Well like I said before, I have not been in wrestling very long. I have been around it most of my life. I'm not sure. Wrestling had taken me across the country four times before I ever even started wrestling. Beau gets booked out in the Northwest a few weeks every year and we go out there. Plus all the travel we do in the Southeast every week. So I guess without wrestling I would sit at home!

LS: What is your personal motto?
MJ: Never give up!

LS: What would make you most happy in life?
MJ: I'm pretty happy with life now. I guess being a mother someday would make me most happy.

LS: Anything else you'd like to add?
MJ: Just thanks very much for letting me do this, and keeping women's wrestling alive. Also I have a MySpace if anyone would like to contact me. It's myspace.com/mistymjames

pics courtesy of Misty James


Misty James

Misty James

Misty James

Misty James

Misty James

Misty James

Misty James

Misty James