LadySports ::: MERRY-GO-ROUND

by Shiai Mata

Nikki Roxx has a title to defend.

When she defeated Pippa L’Vinn in an upset this past April to capture the Professional Girl Wrestling Association Championship, the Bostonian was almost immediately inundated with match requests from a veritable Who’s Who of Women’s Wrestling.

Yet, she turned them all down. For the first four months of her reign, she did not once put the PGWA belt on the line in a match…the longest stretch in which any champ has not granted a title match. There is no stipulation in the PGWA charter which mandates that the champion must defend the belt within a certain span of time, but still, to many, it appeared that Roxx was taking an inordinate amount of time in selecting her first title contender.

For a woman who promised the fans she would be a “fighting champion,” some began to suspect that she may have been less than sincere in that pledge.

But we now know, just the opposite is true; Nikki so holds her title in high esteem, she wanted her very first defense to be against the best opponent possible, and to be a match for the ages that is worthy of the championship.

She wanted Susan Green as her first challenger.

The Texas Cowgirl, a true legend in the sport, has histories with both the belt and with Roxx. Green is, of course, the first woman to hold the PGWA crown, the only woman to hold it twice, and the woman with the longest record as titleholder. In short, Susan is the benchmark for what makes a great PGWA Champ…which is no easy accomplishment, seeing as how other titleholders include Judy Martin, Riptide, Lexie Fyfe, Leilani Kai, and L’Vinn!

As for Nikki, she and Susan first crossed paths one year ago, in August of 2004 at the PGWA’s “Hot August Night” live event, and theirs was a battle that caught the attention of fans around the world! Green was at a professional peak, but her young opponent wrestled just as brilliantly that night. The Cowgirl (just barely) won the match, and when it was over while she was resting her many aches and bruises back in the locker room, Susan called over a reporter to discuss the fight, and to talk about her opponent. And the Texan couldn’t stop raving about how amazed and impressed she was by Nikki Roxx! She even went so far as to predict that the New Englander was destined for championship gold soon.

Twelve months later, Roxx had her gold…and it was the belt once held by Green herself. Nikki was now an international star, and she could have had her pick of virtually anyone to defend her belt against. But, recalling how Susan brought out the best in her as a wrestler during their match, the champ decided that she wanted to again face the legend. It would be both a show of respect to the veteran, as well as the toughest challenge which the new champion could set for herself.

Unfortunately, she would have to wait a bit until she could wrestle Susan, as the Cowgirl was recuperating from a knee injury. But by August, she was ready to step back between the ropes, and the PGWA booked a match between the two as part of IWA/WWA Legends Reunion Card in Thomasville, North Carolina. Both women were avidly looking forward to the confrontation.

And that’s when an opponent too powerful even for the Texas Cowgirl to defeat laid her low: Susan Green was bedridden with a respiratory viral infection just days before the match.

Nikki and PGWA Commissioner Penny Banner then decided to offer the title shot to Amber O’Neal, a former PGWA Rookie of the Year who was scheduled to face Roxx in a match the following day. However, a family emergency required Amber to back out of both matches.

At this point, word of the match and the inability of either Green or O’Neal to take part hit the locker room grapevine, and the PGWA was contacted by several wrestlers about the possibility of getting the title shot. After a great deal of consideration, the decision was made to offer the opportunity to Persephone.

Come what may, the match on Saturday the 27th of August promises to be a titanic battle between two of the best young phenomenons in the sport today.

And, come what may, you can rest assured that Nikki Roxx and Susan Green will meet again in the ring, hopefully sooner rather than later!

There are 12 MORE pics online for MEMBERS.