LadySports ::: TONYA STEVENS

TONYA STEVENS

"I want to believe again!"

by S. Mata

"I want to believe again!" says Tonya Stevens. A longtime wrestling fan, she's followed through on her love for the sport by undergoing training to work herself. So just how is it that she's found herself as a referee instead? You'll find out in this exclusive new interview with her!


Height: 5ft 7in

Weight: 175 pounds

Hair: Brown w/blonde highlights

Hometown: Westminster, Maryland

LADYSPORTS
Welcome, Tonya. When did you first get into the sport?
TONYA STEVENS: In 1998 I was on-air at New Country 100.7 WGRX in Baltimore, Maryland. I found out that the Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation was doing a show very close to my home at North Carroll High School. My Hero, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, was on the card. I wanted to meet him, so I contacted the school, who gave my information to the MEWF. Playboy Bob Starr and Tim "Lucifer" Burke contacted me and asked if I would like to be the Guest Ring Announcer for the night! That is how my career in wrestling began. I became very good friends with Bob and Tim. I began to promote their shows on my radio show and then I would attend their events. Sometimes I would ring announce and then when their disc jockey quit, I became their DJ. Soon after, they opened "Brain Buster's Pro Wrestling Academy" and I decided it was time for me to do what I always wanted! I began training to become a Professional Wrestler!!!

LS: Did you undertake any specific training to be a referee? And are you required to be licensed?
TS: I never trained to be a referee... I was trained to be a wrestler. I became a referee by DEFAULT! After training with the MEWF for some time and paying my dues, it was time for me to wrestler. However, there was a problem: at that time, the State of Maryland would not allow a woman to wrestle a man... and we had no women wrestlers in the MEWF. There were some around, I am sure, yet none really close by. The MEWF decided that I had to do something; I had paid my dues in the ring... and unlike many in school, I had paid all my tuition! Bob, Tim and Dennis asked me, "Do you want to referee?" I knew how to wrestle, so being a ref wouldn't be an issue. I decided that it was a good idea because I wanted to work. Besides, Maryland had never had a woman referee! Yet, it almost didn't happen. The State Athletic Commissioner for the night, as we called him, was "Grumpy Old Lou," and he refused to license me as a referee because I was a woman. Lou stated that I could not be a Ref because I was a WOMAN! Would you believe that Lou pulled out the Official Maryland State Professional Wrestling Rule Book and went from page 1 thru 33, looking to find where it stated that "Only a Male can be a Referee"? Well, Lou never found what he was looking for, and the MEWF told the State Athletic Commissioner that if he did not license me to work the show, then come Monday morning they were going to file a gender discrimination lawsuit against the Commission! That pissed off Lou, but he gave me a license for that night only. He also told me I would NOT be getting a regular license after that, and I had better enjoy my brief time in the ring! Yet, two weeks later my Maryland license arrived at my home. The next show, I walked in and threw it at Lou! I thought his head was going to EXPLODE! There was nothing he could do...he had to let me work. I was over with the fans and my work as a referee was very natural. It was like I had been a referee forever. The wrestlers enjoyed me as a ref... they knew I could wrestle and could do more than just officiate. I realized as a referee that I got much more ring time than I would if I was a wrestler. So, with all that put together...I decided that being a referee was what I wanted to do in Professional Wrestling.

LS: Who or what was your biggest influence to get into the business?
TS: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka! And we can't forget the fact that my ex-husband... SATAN... would not allow me to do it, and told me I could never do it!

LS: What other sports do you have an interest in?
TS: In school I was a year-round athlete. I played field hockey, basketball and softball. I also enjoy NASCAR, baseball, World Combat Fighting and football!

LS: How would you describe yourself in terms of attitude, personality, likes, dislikes, and strengths?
TS: I am the type of person that you either "Like or Don't!" What you see with me is what you get. I am brutally honest and say what I think. That in itself gets me in trouble! I don't lie and I hate those who do! If you are decent to me I will be your friend. If you are my friend, I will always have your back.

LS: Would you characterize yourself as a 'face' ref, a 'heel' ref, or do you call each match fairly, right down the middle?
TS: Never really thought about it. I just get in the ring and do my job. I have been complimented numerous times about my work in the ring. I just go with the flow! A match should never be about the referee! I guess my answer would be that I call the match right down the middle.

LS: Do you find yourself giving wrestlers a certain latitude in matches? For instance, if one wrestler has been victimized by the rulebreaking tactics of their opponent, and they fight fire with fire, do you enforce the rules strictly on them, or let them enjoy a bit of payback first?
TS: Oh, yeah! I am notorious for turning my back and taking a "break" by leaning on the ropes ignoring a "FACE" totally kicking the crap out of a "HEEL" after I spent ten minutes trying to get the heel to listen to me! All is fair in Love and Wrestling! If you can dish it out...you should be able to take your punishment!

LS: Have you ever been injured in the ring?
TS: Yes. I was working J.T. Roberts's debut match against the "Mighty" Quinn Nash. I went down to count a pinfall and my left knee just ‘popped' and gave out on me! I was done for the night with a sprained MCL! Two months out of action and many nights of therapy. All good now!

LS: Who would you name as the best wrestlers you've ever worked with?
TS: There are so many. All of the past and current major wrestling stars that I have had the honor to work with. On the indy scene, I would say...Rikki Lane, Braydon Shockker, J.T Roberts, Quinn Nash, KAGE, I.B. Green, the Hardcore Mafia, Jim Christian, Bob Starr, Rockin Rebel, PW Cruise and Buster Maccabie, Agent Orange, Max Thrasher, the "late" Dino Casanova...so many!

LS: How willing or able are you to get physical in a match in order to enforce the rules?
TS: Very willing! Being a woman I must show that I have control and will stop at nothing to keep control of a match! I am not afraid of any man or woman inside or outside of that ring. Once a wrestler steps into ‘My House' it's their match but...my rules!

LS: What was the most memorable match you have officiated?
TS: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka versus Steve the Teacher! It was my dream come true... officiating a match with my hero, Superfly!

LS: Has anything ever happened in the ring that truly terrified you?
TS: I have stated before that if I have another wrestler ever break their neck again when I am officiating their match, I will retire! I think I hold the record for guys breaking their neck while I work...four! There is nothing I hate more than realizing a wrestler has landed wrong or is knocked unconscious. I don't play games, I stop the match right away and get help! The worst event ever happened in March of 2007: Rikki Lane went over the top rope and landed wrong in a battle royal. He left the building by way of MED-VAC! He was taken by helicopter to a trauma center. Thank God, Rikki was OK!

LS: Has a match every really spun out of your control? Did you feel your safety was threatened?
TS: Yes! I worked a Hard-Core match with Tony Hightower and Morgus the Maniac. It got so out of control that there was puddles... and I mean PUDDLES... of blood in the ring. I stopped the match! The first time ever I stopped a match. Tony Hightower came after me... I was really scared! I had one night where a "shoot" took place while I was working. I saw it coming and truly didn't know what to do. I just ran and jumped in the middle of it, trying to keep it from escalating. It did no good, and the whole federation just went out of control right in front of the fans. It was horrible! The night I will never forget is choosing to get into the ring for a the main event match knowing that three of the four wrestlers just snorted cocaine and the other was drunk! Worse night of my life! I left that match and that federation at the end of the night! Nothing more horrible than knowing you have no control.

LS: Of all of the wrestlers in the world, who are the two you would most like to ref a match between?
TS: Jimmy Snuka and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

LS: What style of match do you enjoy officiating the most?
TS: "Old School"! Strictly wrestling at it's best!

LS: What sort of reactions do you get from people when they learn you are a wrestling referee?
TS: "You must be kidding! Really? That's kind of cool!," "Wrestling is so fake... isn't it?" and "Wow, they let women referee?"

LS: What is so special about this sport to you?
TS: Professional Wrestling is the only sport that includes men and woman of every race/religion/country you can think of! There are giants, little people, animals, Olympic champions, homosexuals, senior citizens, etcetera...Professional Wrestling is the only sport that includes just about all of Mankind. Anyone can be someone in wrestling!

LS: Do you feel that referees get the respect they deserve from both workers and fans?
TS: I do. The workers understand what a referee is all about. Fans really do not know how important a referee is to the world of wrestling. Referee's are very important people! Ask any Wrestler what they would rather have in a match..."A great opponent and a bad referee?" or a "Crappy worker and a great referee?" I bet they will pick a crappy worker! A bad referee can ruin a match!

LS: If you had the power, what one thing would you do to improve the sport?
TS: I would totally revamp women's wrestling. Start making women's wrestling about Wrestling and Talent... not the T&A that women's wrestling has become. It is embarrassing! I would also try to take the business back to how it was when I was younger. I want to BELIEVE again!

LS: Where have you officiated, and what positions have you held?
TS: MEWF, BCWF, AAWF, WSWF, GBW, EGW, RPWF, EWA, SWO, WWWA, PCWA, BWO & ACW! I have been the Senior Referee for the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, Baltimore Championship Wrestling Federation, All American Wrestling Federation, Ground Breaking Wrestling and the Eastern Wrestling Alliance.

LS: What are your thoughts on women participating in the sport?
TS: I think it is wonderful. I want the women to be athletes, not fashion models. I keep meeting women who are getting breast implants and hoping to get into the WWE so they can pose for Playboy! That's bullshit! You want to be in Professional Wrestling because of wrestling. Not to model or do porn.

LS: What was your most unforgettable moment in the sport?
TS: For me...it had to be the first time I walked to the ring and stepped inside for my very first match. There were 800 people at North Carroll High School! I never heard any of them! It was like being in a daze ....

LS: Any regrets?
TS: Yes... I started in the business much too late at 28 years of age! And this past August when I visited Ohio Valley Wrestling for my two dark matches, I never thought to ask if I needed a license! Guess who never got to work her matches and nobody of importance got to see how good she really is! DAMN!!!!

LS: What would you do if you couldn't be in wrestling?
TS: I would be a mortician.

LS: What is your personal motto?
TS: "Prove everybody wrong. When you are told that you can't do something...go do it!"

LS: What would make you most happy in life?
TS: The Good Lord has blessed me and my family with everything that we need to be happy. However, truly I would really like that one opportunity for a tryout with the WWE.

LS: Anything else you'd like to add?
TS: It was really a surprise to have LadySports show up as an Add Request on my MySpace page. I never really knew that there were other women out there who believe in Professional Wrestling like me. I was always the "Weirdo Pro Wrestling Girl" in school and I was picked on all the time! I think it's great that there are women in this business who love it, have the talent and are finally getting the RESPECT that we as women deserve!!!!

Check out my MySpace page at myspace/cometu2

pics courtesy of Ms Stevens


Tonya Stevens

Tonya Stevens

Tonya Stevens

Tonya Stevens