Self Defense: Why It's Important for Women to Learn

Self Defense: Why It’s Important for Women to Learn

Earlier today, Congress passed an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act. Originally passed in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act authorizes funding for programs that help prosecute cases of domestic abuse and sexual assault and assist victims of such cases. The recently updated version of the bill will ensure up to $660 million each year for programs for the next five years. However, this is 17% less than the last time this act was renewed back in 2005 and while this act will help with the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault, it can’t fully prevent it which is why it’s also important for women to know how to defend themselves.

According to rainn.org, every two minutes someone in the U.S is sexually assaulted. 54% of sexual assaults are not reported to police and 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail. In about 8 out of 10 rapes, no weapons are used other than physical force. This type of violence against women affects not only the U.S. but worldwide. According to a 2013 UN Women study, more than 99% of women in Egypt are victims of some form of harassment. 

Former WWE Diva Eve Torres is a strong advocate against domestic violence and sexual assault. Having a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, she helps teach a women’s self defense program at the Gracie Academy called Women Empowered. Eve Torres also supports multiple charities that focus on domestic violence and sexual assault such as RAINN, Beauty Cares and V-Day.

While it’s best to avoid situations and places that can put someone in danger, that unfortunately is not always preventable. That’s why it’s important to prepare yourself in case danger should occur. Carrying mace or a rape whistle can help but it is not always effective.

It is also important to know how to spot a dangerous environment and what to do if a potential attack should occur. Make sure you report any situation to the local authorities, whether it’s an attack or even a situation or place that looks threatening to a person’s life and security. One thing that can help is to participate in some sort of physical activity that can be used as self defense such as kickboxing or karate.

Taking a self defense class is definitely beneficial but if there are no self-defense classes near where you live, you can still order self-defense DVDs that will help teach you moves that are useful in protecting yourself during an attack. A DVD of the Gracie Women Empowered program I mentioned earlier is available for purchase at gracieacademy.com. 

Rosa Mendes: Does she have a chance?

Rosa Mendes: Does she have a chance?



There are often times where wrestling fans will tend to over-criticize the WWE Superstars and Divas for not being talented enough in the wrestling ring. However, we have to remember that these athletes put their bodies on the line every time they step in that ring to entertain the fans worldwide. Many times when we hear criticism, it will often tend to be harsher when it concerns the Divas.

However, we also need to remember that these women don’t always get the chance to truly show the fans what they are capable of as wrestlers due to the fact they often have to hold back on moves so they don’t look better than the male wrestlers. Also, when the Divas actually do get a match that isn’t cut from the program, they tend to be very short and rushed to make time for the next segment or match that is sadly considered more of a priority in the world of WWE. Having that been said, I think one Diva gets much harsher criticism than she should be getting. That Diva is Rosa Mendes.

Rosa Mendes may not be the best female wrestler in the history of the WWE but she certainly isn’t the worse. She has shown a desire to improve but sadly has never really been given many matches throughout her career. This is an issue because it makes it harder for a Diva to improve if they aren’t getting the experience they need to improve in the ring. Now am I saying she should be immediately given a Divas Championship Title Shot at a pay-per-view? Not yet but maybe with time, she can improve enough to be Divas Championship potential.

Perhaps giving her some long matches on the smaller shows such as NXT, Main Event, Saturday Morning Slam and Superstars could help her to improve until she is skilled enough to start wrestling on the bigger shows such as Raw, Smackdown and pay-per-views. Until she improves enough, perhaps she can continue to be the manager of her tag team, Epico and Primo on Raw and Smackdown but maybe get involved more in their matches by interfering to help give her team the upper hand. However, since she is currently in a feud with fellow Divas Naomi and Cameron, perhaps we may continue to see more matches between those three.

One factor I think Rosa Mendes does decently now is promos and segments. I did find her brief storyline with Alberto Del Rio as somewhat interesting until WWE’s Creative Department decided to suddenly drop the storyline. Besides that though, I do think she can cut some heel (bad guy or in this case, bad girl) promos well.

Sometimes Rosa may tend to overdo it with her heel promos but many Divas in the past have overdone it with their heel promos including Layla El when she was a heel on ECW for a while. One way to solve that issue is just to tone it down a bit to make it appear more natural. Once Layla did that, she became an excellent heel character during her second time as a heel on Smackdown when she was in the tag team stable, Laycool which consisted of her and Michelle McCool. Despite Rosa occasionally overdramatizing her heel segments and promos, there have been times where she perfomed segments and promos very well.

Another thing I will praise Rosa for is the desire she has to be more fit and healthy. That is definitely a step in the right direction for improvement in the ring as good health is vital to have for this sport. For the past few months, Rosa has been focusing on a goal she likes to call Musclemania. 

The goal of Musclemania is to be as healthy and fit as possible by Wrestlemania  29 on April 7, 2013. Because of this goal, Rosa is showing her fans how her progress is going through various ways including posts on Twitter as well as videos on Youtube and Tout. She is also encouraging her fans to take part in Musclemania  by giving them recipes and tips on how to eat healthier. This shows that she cares about her fans and wants them to have better health too.

Best Wrestling Couples Throughout History

Best Wrestling Couples Throughout History:

In honor of Valentine’s Day being last week, I want to take this time to celebrate some of the best wresting couples throughout history.

Miss Elizabeth and Macho Man Randy Savage- This couple is my all-time favorite couple in wrestling. This couple was adored by fans in the 1980’s and 1990’s. As the valet to Macho Man Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth showed elegance and sophistication. Despite their brief separation in 1989, their reunion at Wrestlemania VII would still bring an emotional response from the fans. Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage would soon marry in the ring at WWF Summerslam 1991. Tragically, the real-life love story of this couple resulted in divorce and both Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage are now deceased.

Shawn Michaels and Whisper- This couple is my second favorite couple in wrestling history. Whisper started her career as a WCW Nitro Girl in October 1997. She would leave WCW in 1999 to marry World Wrestling Federation superstar Shawn Michaels, thus ending her career in the wrestling business despite sporadic appearances in WWE alongside her husband. Now going by her real name, Rebecca, her and her now-retired husband, who goes by his real name, Michael Hickenbottom have been blessed with two children, a son and daughter.

Maryse Ouellet and The Miz- While this couple had a brief WWE storyline together in 2009; their real life relationship has lasted much longer. While Maryse no longer works for WWE, this couple recently became engaged on February 21, 2013.

Stephanie McMahon and Triple H- This couple also shared a storyline together, starting in 1999-2002 and from that sparked a real-life romance. Stephanie has made sporadic appearances with her husband since then. The couple became engaged on February 14, 2003 and has happily been married since October 25, 2003. They also have three daughters.

Michelle McCool and The Undertaker-  This couple has been romantically linked since 2007. Michelle McCool married The Undertaker, otherwise known by his real name, Mark Calaway on June 26, 2010.  Michelle McCool is now retired from wrestling but is happily living her life with the Undertaker as a devoted wife and mother, having had a daughter with him on August 29, 2012.

Booker T and Sharmell- This couple met while both Booker T and Sharmell worked in WCW, also known as World Championship Wrestling. While Booker T wrestled there, Sharmell was a WCW Nitro Girl. The couple eventually married in February 2005. Since then, Sharmell has made occasional appearances with her husband in both Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment, even performing a storyline with him where they were royalty. Sharmell and Booker T also welcomed twins, a boy and girl on August 5, 2010.

Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett- After confirming her relationship in December 2011, former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis would make her Ring of Honor debut, accompanying her boyfriend to the ring at the Final Battle pay-per-view for his match against El Generico and Jay Lethal for the ROH World Television Championship. Unfortunately, Mike Bennett was unsuccessful in capturing the title but Maria Kanellis would continue to accompany him, leading her to be declared “The First Lady of ROH”.  On November 29, 2012, Maria Kanellis announced her engagement to Mike Bennett publicly on Twitter.

Mick Foley and Bruno Sammartino: WWE Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees

Mick Foley and Bruno Sammartino: WWE Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees
Every year before Wrestlemania, WWE hosts a night to honor some of professional wrestling’s greatest athletes by inducting them into the WWE Hall of Fame. This year, two big names that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame include Mick Foley and Bruno Sammartino who are certainly worthy of the honor.

Mick Foley-

Often referred to as “The Hardcore Legend”, this retired professional wrestler was known in the 1990’s as having three personas, often referred to as the “Three Faces of Foley”. Those three personas included “Dude Love”, “Cactus Jack” and “Mankind”. Throughout his career, he has achieved many championships including being a three-time WWF Champion and the first ever WWF Hardcore Champion. Mick Foley had an expertise in hardcore matches and literally put his body on the line in such extreme matches that involved the use of tables, chairs and other weapons. Mick Foley also was popular for teaming up with The Rock as the tag team called “The Rock n’ Sock Connection.” One of Mick Foley’s weapons that he would use to defeat his opponents was a sock called “Mr. Socko.” Mick Foley is also a published author, having written many wrestling-related books.

Bruno Sammartino-

Many fans will agree that this induction to the Hall of Fame was long overdue and that Bruno Sammartino should have been the first inductee. Bruno Sammartino is remembered as the longest reigning WWWF Champion, holding the title for over 11 years. Nicknamed “The Italian Superman”, Bruno Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 1960’s and 1970’s and had a notable feud with Larry Zybszko.

Olympics Cutting Wrestling

Olympics: Cutting Wrestling

A recent announcement from the International Olympics Committee has sparked much debate due to the committee choosing to cut wrestling, Olympics first sport from the Olympic Games in 2020. The decision to cut wrestling, a sport most beloved by the Ancient Greeks was due to the IOC wanting to open up space for new sports to enter the Olympics. However, many feel this cut is a bad decision, including those in the professional wrestling business.

“I do not agree with removing the first sport from the Olympics,” said Jasmine Skeans McDevitt, a professional wrestler from Kent, Ohio known as Selena. “Being from a wrestling family, with children who want to be Olympic gold medalists in wrestling and know many adult wrestlers, this is an insult to all sports driven people.”

Ryan Katz, a professional wrestler more famously known as GQ Money and host of Afterbuzz TV Raw from Burbank, California also shared his views on the issue.

“When I woke up and heard that wrestling would be cut from the Olympics, I was shocked and saddened,” said Katz. “The Olympics is the ultimate goal for amateur wrestlers, and the pinnacle of what we work hard for, sacrifice for and dedicate our lives to. Wrestling made me the man I am today, teaching me discipline, persistence, dedication, perseverance, hard work, strength, honor, pride and so many more qualities that have allowed me to live a successful life. The IOC has become a dream crusher to thousands, if not tens of thousands of individuals who have pursued, or are pursuing the epic dream of becoming an Olympian.”

Mario Konanski, a professional wrestling referee from La Puente, California agrees.

“Wrestling is a test of strength and skills,” said Konanski.  “It’s better than boxing yet boxing is still there.”

Yyan Wohosky, a professional wrestler known as Yyan Nakoma from Hesperia, California thinks that the IOC will come to regret this decision.

“When it comes to the IOC, their decision is so shocking and ridiculous that I can't quite form a civilized opinion on it because it all just doesn't seem like it could ever be reality,” said Wohosky. “It’s my opinion that this decision will not stick because while they may think they are in touch with their Olympic athletes, I feel they are out of touch with everyone else in the world . Whether the IOC believes it or not, so many other sports like MMA and pro wrestling have their roots in amateur wrestling. People who perform in these sports and their fans will show enough support that the IOC will have to realize it’s made such a bad decision.”

The cutting of wrestling from the Olympics will cause problems for both genders wanting to compete as the female competition in the Olympics has existed since 2004.

Professional wrestlers are not the only people upset by the IOC’s decision. Fans of both wrestling and the Olympics are also speaking out on the matter.

“I don't think it's smart since there are a lot of competitors for it,” said Nicole Smith, an amateur wrestler from Cincinnati, Ohio. “It's been around for a long time. The only reason they are doing it is because it doesn't make them enough money which is dumb.”

“I don't see how or why that would be a good idea,” said Kristi Graydon, a Cedarville University sophomore from Arlington, Ohio. “Athletes spend every day of their lives training to compete in these games and cutting this sport would be devastating to them.”

“I don't follow the Olympics too much but I think it’s a shame,” said Sean McCartney of Spokane Valley, Washington. “It goes back 120 years plus this is the ultimate goal for the amateur wrestler these days as the pro wrestling is a totally different ball game.”

“I was shocked when I heard that the IOC is going to eliminate wrestling from the Olympics after the 2016 game in Rio,” said Angel Barragan, Jr. of Los Angeles, California. “Greco Roman wrestling was an Olympic staple just like weightlifting, baseball & track & field.  To just get rid of it isn't right.”

Barragan went on to say what sports he thinks should stay and go in the Olympics.

“What the IOC needs to do is eliminate the extreme sports since they have their own version of the Olympics every year on ESPN,” said Barragan. “I’m sad because wrestling was one of my favorite sports since the 1984 game in Los Angeles.  I hope the IOC finds a way to keep it because it’s not fair that sports like baseball, softball and wrestling are being eliminated.”

Cedarville University’s Athletic Department also spoke out on this shocking news.

“I’m definitely surprised,” said Alan Geist, Athletic Director. “One of the biggest things watched is wrestling so some may not tune in as much.”

“It's disappointing when any organization begins to strip away parts of its foundation,” said Mark Womack, Sports Information Director. “As I understand it, wrestling was part of the first Olympics in 1896 and has been a constant throughout history. Tradition is one thing that makes sports what it is and wrestling in the Olympic Games is one tradition that doesn't need to be tampered with."

Women Wrestlers & The WWE Hall of Fame

Women Wrestlers & the WWE Hall of Fame

In recent wrestling news, Trish Stratus has been announced as an inductee into the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame. She has been long known as the quintessential WWE Diva, many fans and professional female wrestlers citing her as their inspiration. Starting off as only a fitness model, Trish Stratus’s career would evolve, accomplishing much in her tenure with WWE including being the only WWE Diva in history to have the most Women’s Championship reigns with a total of 7. She is also the second Canadian born woman to carry the prestigious title and is well-known for her multiple feuds with fellow former WWE Diva, Lita.

Therefore, many fans agree with Trish Stratus being inducted, myself included. However, we fans would like to see other females who contributed to the wrestling world also inducted as well. Here is a list of my personal choices for which ladies I would like to see inducted into the Hall of Fame and why I believe they would be great candidates for future Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Miss Elizabeth- Often called the “First Lady of Wrestling”, Miss Elizabeth was best known as being the professional wrestling manager for Macho Man Randy Savage in the 1980’s-90’s. She was beloved by the fans for her classiness and gentle disposition. Fans were devastated when Elizabeth and Macho Man had a brief split up in the WWF in 1989. They would then reunite in 1991 at Wrestlemania  VII to the delight of the fans. Shortly following that, Elizabeth and Savage would marry in the ring at WWF Summerslam 1991. Tragically, the real-life couple eventually divorced and both have now since passed away. I personally feel if Miss Elizabeth is ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, she and Savage will be inducted together.

Cyndi Lauper- This female singer, most well known for her single “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” also contributed to the WWF by being the manager of female professional wrestler, Wendi Richter at Wrestemania I where Richter defeated The Fabulous Moolah to win the WWF Women’s Championship. I personally see Cyndi being in the Hall of Fame as a celebrity inductee in the future and the best person to induct her into the Hall of Fame would be the wrestler that she managed, Hall of Famer Wendi Richter.

Lita- Well known for her time as the manager of The Hardy Boys, this former WWE Diva has also been a 4-time WWE Women’s Champion.  She also has had notable feuds with former Divas Trish Stratus, Molly Holly and Mickie James.  If she ever was inducted, I feel that the person inducting her would be Trish Stratus due to their multiple feuds and tag team matches together.

Jacqueline- This female wrestler was the first African American woman to become the WWF Women’s Champion. She paved the way for other African-American female wrestlers in the WWE today. Jacqueline has also previously been the WWF Cruiserweight Champion, a title predominately held by male wrestlers. Jacqueline has also had a notable feud with former WWF Diva Sable.

This concludes my list for potential female WWE Hall of Fame candidates.

Other notable mentions for Hall of Fame candidates: Bull Nakano, Luna Vachon,  Alundra Blayze, Molly Holly, Bertha Faye, Jazz, Ivory and Velvet McIntyre.