Velvet Sky Article For The Miami Herald [long but good read]

BY SCOTT FISHMAN
MIAMI HERALD WRITER

After years building a fan base with the Beautiful People, TNA Impact Wrestling Knockout Velvet Sky is finding success flying solo, and the sky is the limit.

Sky appreciates the opportunity she has to spread her wings and elevate her skills in the ring. Fans in Fort Lauderdale can see her do that against TNA Knockouts champ Gail Kim, one of the best, on Friday, April 20 at the War Memorial Auditorium.

“For a while it was me and Angelina [Love in the Beautiful People],” Sky said. “I was never able to shine really and do anything on my own because she was always in the spotlight.

“Since then, they’ve broken up the Beautiful People, which I’m sad about because I wish they were still going forward with that. We had a lot of fun, her and I together, but I just feel like they broke us up, and I was able to be on my own as a singles competitor.”

It’s a major move for the talented wrestler.

Sky continued: “I just feel I have grown in the sense of you don’t have someone to have your back all the time. You don’t have the option to tag out and recuperate. I feel, more or less, being a singles competitor instead of in a tag team has helped me branch out and come into my own as a performer.”

Sky was an integral part of the Knockouts division from the beginning at Bound for Glory 2007. She has seen female talent come, go and in some cases return. She feels the inaugural crop of competitors were special because they provided the foundation for what the division has become.

“That was probably my favorite locker room of Knockouts,” Sky said. “I mean the girls who we have now, of course I absolutely love all of them, but we had a special bond because we were all starting from the beginning in a new company where we didn’t know what to expect. It was kind of like we were learning and exploring new things together. It has changed drastically from the Knockouts division of 2007 to where it is now.

“It’s still going strong, and we have a great group of girls, but it will never be the bond it was with the first ever Knockouts on the roster in 2007. It was brand new to everybody, and everybody was learning together. To this day, we just keep getting more and more girls coming to the roster. I’m grateful and appreciative for every girl we have here because they all work really hard.”

Another aspect of the company she is thankful is TNA providing the women’s wrestlers on the roster the time to tell stories each week and the freedom to progress. It’s not uncommon to watch an Impact Wrestling show or pay-per-view and see two or three segments involving the Knockouts. These parts of the show have also been, on many occasions, the highest rated.

“It’s awesome here because TNA lets us explore character development,” She said. “We are not just coming out there as girls wrestling and then you don’t see us for a couple of weeks. We get to do backstage vignettes and promos. They let us speak on the microphone, and we do a lot of it in the ring. You don’t see that elsewhere.

“There are matches [elsewhere] where the girls will wrestle for three minutes or so and go to the back. They don’t say a word, and you really don’t know who is who. Here [TNA] we are so grateful we get the chance to be able to come into our own, have time to talk and have our characters develop. I just feel like that has us connected with the fans more.”

This bombshell has emerged as one of, if not the most popular, Knockout on Impact Wrestling today. In turn, Sky has essentially used the adulation and appreciation from the fans to fuel her drive to have the best match possible.

“It has a lot to do with the talent I am working with because I work with a great group of girls here,” She said. “They are the best in the world in my opinion. Since I have branched out as a singles competitor, I have got to get more experience in the ring one-on-one.

“When you are in a tag match, you are only in there half, a quarter of the time or sometimes less. So me as a singles competitor has helped me improve better now than when I was in a tag team. I feel like that has helped me out a lot.”

She was rewarded for her loyalty and consistency as a performer by becoming the Knockouts champion at Bound for Glory last year. The journey to the title made her believe she had earned it, making the moment that much sweeter.

“I wouldn’t have wanted it right away because I felt like I wanted to work my way up to it and not just come in with a title and no credibility or no hard work or dues paid behind me,” Sky said.

“Of course I would have been grateful to get it in the beginning, but if it were up to me, I’m glad it took me as long as it did to achieve that goal. I had to undergo a lot of training, mental and physical preparation. Everything happens for a reason at the right time and right place. I just feel like when I got the title it was my time.”

Despite losing the championship to Kim, Sky is still in the hunt. She will not stop until she gets what she thinks is rightfully hers. Expect a heated contest between those rivals when Impact Wrestling makes its Fort Lauderdale debut at the War Memorial Auditorium.

“I think Gail is one of the best female wrestlers in the world,” Sky said. “It’s obvious she has been around a long time, and she is just one of the best. The only flaw with Gail is she has to cheat a lot to win. She has to use Madison Rayne to win and cheat. At Lockdown [pay-per-view], she had a hand full of tights at the end. It wasn’t really a fair fight for me because the referee didn’t see the tights being pulled during the match.

“I’m not even mad about it. I’m passed the state of being mad. I’m just more and more in the mindset to keep chasing it. I will chase it for as long as I have to. I’m never going to give up.”

Sky is always seeking new faces to test her skills. A dream come true would be a match with one her inspirations of making pro wrestling her occupation.

“I would absolutely love to work with Amy Dumas one day, the wrestler formally known as Lita,” Sky said.

“She is the whole reason I wanted to get into this business. I have always been a fan of wrestling here and there, but when I saw her for the first time, I was just so blown away by her look and athletic ability and how she connected to the crowd, whether it was male or female.

“I try to pattern myself after her. I don’t do the high-flying maneuvers, staying on the ground, but she is the whole reason I wanted to get into this business and got into wrestling. If she were to come here, I think that would be awesome. I would love to work with her one day.”

The popularity of the Knockouts led to past Internet rumblings of an all-female wrestling show on Spike TV or another outlet. Sky believes it would be good, but is grateful for the time and spotlight the female talent is currently receiving.

“Also, too much of something isn’t good for anyone,” Sky said. “I just think for the Knockouts there are times when we have two girl matches on the show and you don’t ever see that everywhere. They let us go in the ring and show to the crowd what we are supposed to do.

“The one thing that I would like to see for the Knockouts in the future is for there to be more girls in our tag division. I think it’s not strong enough because there aren’t enough tag teams and girls for it. I hope somewhere down the line that there is a little bit more focus on the Knockouts tag titles.”

With five years under her belt, Sky is proud of her progression.

“When I first came here five years ago I didn’t know what to expect,” Sky said. “With any new job, you just have to find yourself and come into your own. I feel during the last five years I have been able to open up more and become more comfortable in the ring and in front of the camera. I feel like I am more of a leader now.”

• Velvet Q&A

Do you have a crazy or memorable fan moment to share from one of your meet-and-greets?

“It was at a house show last year. Sometimes they will have me do pictures with fans, and the pictures get printed right there before the show starts. The next fan in line, she was what looked to be a female, and she came up to me. When she opened her mouth, I kind of questioned if she was a female, but I thought that wasn’t right.

“So we are getting ready to take a picture and at the last second before the flash, as I was looking at the camera smiling, she looks at me sticking her tongue out on my chin and left it there. I thought about what was going on here, but we did another one. The second time we did it she kind of did the same thing, but left it there a little bit longer.

“It was really kind of gross, but I come to find out she was a post-op he. You had to be there with everyone staring there sort of laughing and trying to figure out what was going on. Then I had a big drool stain after.”

If you weren’t a Knockout, what would you be doing?

“I would probably be doing something with helpless and homeless animals. One day I would like to have a homeless, no-kill animal shelter. A foster place where I raise the animals, mostly cats and dogs. I have a soft spot for animals. Sometimes I like animals more than I like people. I would feed it and take care of these strays until I can find them a good permanent home. That is now my long-term goal.”

What is your worst injury you suffered in the ring?

“Just a concussion really, so I’ve been lucky with that. I’ve been bumping, hitting my head and left matches with bruises for 11 years now. It’s not normal for the body to be experiencing trauma like that on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. Luckily for me that the style I wrestle in I don’t do crazy moves. I have a few years left in me, and I don’t want to walk away from it crippled and not be able to move. I try to work safe in the ring. That is why fans never really see me do crazy off the top rope planchas and stuff like that. I have been able to work safe enough in the ring where the worst injury I have suffered in the ring was a concussion, which is nothing light and pretty serious. My concussion wasn’t as serious, and I was okay.”

When did that occur?

“It happened at TV right when Gail [Kim] returned and attacked me. It was an accident, but it was my first time getting a concussion. It was pretty scary for me up all night and in tears. My head was pounding. I hadn’t experienced a headache or head pain like that in my life. I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I hope that is the last time that happened to me.”

What are your thoughts on fans have taken to, “Let the pigeons loose!”

“I have Taz to thank for that. He attached that catchphrase to me; so all credit goes to Taz. I always thought it was funny from the first time I watched Impact back. I just laughed uncontrollably. I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ I liked it because he hooked it to me and the fans caught on each week.

“On Twitter they are talking about pigeons all the time. I come to shows all over with signs having my name with the pigeons phrase on them. I even have the ‘Let the pigeon’s loose!’ merchandise here. It just goes to show you how strong and popular that slogan is. I have Taz to thank for that, but I’m not 100 percent sure what that phrase means, and I’m not sure anyone does. It’s funny and fans have a great time with it.

“The fans get mad when I have a serious moment or have a serious match, and I don’t do my ‘pigeons’ signature entrance. I don’t hear anything else. Not about the match or anything. I read, ‘Oh, you didn’t do the pigeons’ on Twitter? It’s hilarious. It really shows how it has caught on all over the world.”

What do you think the phrase means?

“I think it’s more of a use your imagination thing. It’s kind of like when you see a hot girl bend over. It’s just something to say when you see a hot girl you like or whatever. I don’t think it has a specific meaning.”

[ Eds. note: “Let the pigeons loose” actually was a phrase used on the former hit TV comedy show “Happy Days.” Fonzie’s rival, Count Milachi, the eldest Milachi brother, would say that before entering battle against easy prey “pigeons” in a demolition derby.]

What do you like about Fort Lauderdale?

“The beaches are great. I live in the Northeast, and it’s really not warm enough. So when I come here, it is all I want to do is go to the beach.”

• Meet TNA Impact Wrestling’s Jeff Hardy and Velvet Sky 2-4 p.m. Friday, April 20 at Direct Auto Insurance, 7558 W. Commercial Blvd. in (South Florida) Lauderhill.

Direct Auto Insurance locations in and around the Fort Lauderdale area will give customers a chance to win Impact Wrestling merchandise. Fans are encouraged to visit their nearest Direct Auto Insurance location for additional details.

TNA Impact Wrestling will visit South Florida with a house show (not televised) 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale.

Bobby Roode defends the TNA title against James Storm. Bully Ray collides with his former tag team partner Devon. Jeff Hardy takes on Gunner. Matt Morgan battles Crimson. Zema Ion goes for X-division gold against Austin Aries. Samoa Joe and Magnus defend the TNA tag belts against Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. Velvet Sky faces TNA champ Gail Kim.

A meet-and-greet is 5:30 p.m. for those who purchase $50 tickets.

To receive a $10 discount on select tickets, wear your Dolphins, Heat or Marlins jersey when you purchase TNA tickets at the War Memorial box office.

• Impact Wrestling will bring the same card to the Germain Arena 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in (Southwest Florida) Estero. For details, visit www.impactwrestlingtour.com.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/19/v-fullstory/2756687/smooth-transition-for-tnas-velvet.html#storylink=cpy