Halloween Barbie (Desire) interview
by Jay Cal
In a little over a year, Desire has made a transition
from model and actress, to one of the hottest commodities in the
Southern California Indy scene. Some may argue that point but
in the last three months Desire has gained notoriety working for
UPW, WPW, CWA, shows in Arizona and was featured on TLC special
Professional Wrestling: Tricks of the Trade. She gained
most of her wrestling fame as the manager of Threat, The American
Nightmare and later as his tag team partner. In this interview
we discuss her start in the business, her aspirations, and what
will be coming next from this future star.
Jay Cal: Thanks for taking the time to talk
with me Desire. Lets get this interview started; you certainly
have a different story of breaking into the business. Could you
tell us what was your motivation was getting into wrestling and
how you finally broke into the business?
Desire: Well ever since I was a little girl,
I used to watch wrestling all the time. I was a hardcore daddy's
girl. One day my dad asked me, what I wanted to be when I grew
up and I told him a wrestler. He told me that if I wanted to be
a wrestler, then I could [be a wrestler.] As I got older I didnt
know how to become a wrestler so I thought if I started modeling
I would eventually find out. Every modeling job I got I would
talk to everyone and anyone that would listen about my love for
wrestling, hoping that [someone] would know how to direct me.
During this time my dad past away due to a car accident, which
destroyed me. I then turned that negative into a positive and
remembered his words of "if you want to be a wrestler then
you will be," [it drove me to be more] dedicated to finding
a way. Then I got a casting call for a movie called Backyard Dogs,
which I do not advise anyone to watch, or at least fast-forward
to the part I am in. Anyhow, that is where I met Mikey Henderson
and Moses Grimms along with Jesse Hernandez. I told them of my
dream and they invited me to come down to the school, I was so
ready!
Jay Cal: Your training was well documented
on the TLC special Professional Wrestling: Tricks of the Trade.
Like you said, you started at The School of Hard Knocks with EWF
and Jesse Hernandez. Who was the person that was the most responsible
in youre your training? Could you describe your wrestling
style? Which style of wrestling would you like to emulate?
Desire: Well I have had some great workers
actually take their time with me at the school. The Cubans, Iceman,
and Eric Matlock personally trained me; all these guys are great
workers and trained me well. Eric Matlock has taken the most time
with me due to the Cubans and Ice leaving to train at the dojo.
Right now, Matlock has been training me in shoot style wrestling
and chain wrestling. Hopefully next week I will begin my new training
in the ring and my goal is to become a more self-sufficient wrestler
and a high flyer. I have found lately that in my matches with
girls I havent been wrestling to my potential and I think
part of that is because I am use to guys like Devon Willis and
Eric Matlock help making my look good in the ring. I need to be
able to get in that ring with anybody and carry the match just
as strong as when I am in the ring with experienced workers that
carry the matches.
Jay Cal: Wrestlers often admit that their
gimmick is actually them, with the volume turned way up. However,
you rebel against that the norm when you stated on the TLC special
that Desire is actually the complete opposite of you. Where did
the Desire gimmick come from and do you find it difficult to play
a character that is not you?
Desire: I think that came out wrong. Desire
is in me deep inside of me. Because of various things that happened
in my life, I have some bitterness in me. When I am in the squared
circle Shelly is gone and Desire is in. The part of me that I
never let come out comes out. May I add one more thing? My name
has officially changed
Halloween Barbie.
Jay Cal: Halloween Barbie
is that specifically
for UPW or is that for all of your promotions? What prompted the
change?
Halloween Barbie: Well Desire is now being
used in TNA. And everyone knows Desire from EWF. Now that I am
no longer a part of EWF, I thought I would change my name to what
the fans have nicknamed me in Covina. Its a name that some
of my fans have given me so I thought it would be a great way
of thanking my fans for their support.
Jay Cal: Growing up, which wrestlers gave
you the greatest motivation to begin training in wrestling? Who
did you idolize most growing up? Who are your role models currently
in the business?
Halloween Barbie: That is a good one; I always
loved Owen Hart, Ric Flair, of course Hulk Hogan, and The Ultimate
Warrior. Right now my goal is to become a female version of Rey
Mysterio Jr.
Jay Cal: Some comments posted on the So Cal
Uncensored board have alluded to Empire Wrestling Federation,
cleaning out the troublemakers in EWF. How do you feel about these
comments? Also, how would you describe your earlier days training
at the School of Hard Knocks and how would you describe your final
days before leaving?
Halloween Barbie: Well if they are trying
to include me in their spring cleaning then I feel
that they are misleading everyone. I left on MY OWN, along with
Matlock. When I have read some of the post, I feel as though they
may be referring to me, but I can be wrong. I hope they are not
trying to say they let me go because that would be a lie and I
feel that would be trashing my name around. I do not trash EWF.
I am grateful for my start at EWF and will always be grateful
for all the training and experience I gained from EWF. When I
started, I didnt know anything about wrestling. I entered
the school, with no true understanding of the business. Now I
understand a hell of a lot more of this biz than before. I was
always loyal to EWF and despite what a person said on the message
boards I did have a good attitude towards the biz; more so now
than ever. It was just time to move on. Jesse informed me himself
once, when I told him that another worker had told me Jesse was
trying to hold us back, that is why he would hold us back. He
didnt want us there forever. Jesse wanted us to move on
to bigger and better thing, we just got our start there.
Jay Cal: A lot of attention has been given
to the girls of APW. What do you think of your counterparts; Nikki
and Melissa? How do you feel about the attention that is given
to them? Would you like to attempt to train their style or are
you content with the American style you have been trained in?
Halloween Barbie: I would love to learn different
style and then take from every style and make my own style. I
think both girls are great and I enjoyed working with them I just
hope that I can work with them again and have a better match.
Jay Cal: You competed in the UPW Womans
Battle Royal to help determine a womans champion. You were
in the ring with a talented group of ladies. I know you didnt
get very much ring time, but how would you rate this opportunity?
Could you compare the differences between UPWs locker room
and EWFs locker room?
Halloween Barbie: I enjoyed my time at UPW
everyone was very nice. Youre right the time in the ring
I had was short but I was on fire that night. I was pleased with
the results
Jay Cal: In that Battle Royal you had the
opportunity to be seen by WWE Talent Scout, Tom Pritchard. Its
not the first time youve had the opportunity to showcase
for the WWE, as you were also at the Casting Call for Tough Enough
II. Assuming that the WWE is the ultimate pinnacle in a wrestling
career, what other goals do you have that youd like to accomplish?
Do you have goals of competing in Japan?
Halloween Barbie: Well my first time being
seen by Pritchard was at an EWF show in Bakersfield. My goal is
to one day be in the WWE, but I would also like to travel and
go to Japan. Right now I am just trying to get my body where it
needs to be and train to be the wrestler I need to be. I also
have an interest in being a part of TNA as well.
Jay Cal: On July 19th 2002, along with Threat,
you captured the EWF Tag Team Champions in a Battle Royal. You
were the first womans competitor in EWF to be a champion.
How did it feel to win your first championship, considering it
was in a male division?
Halloween Barbie: I know that some of the
workers complained that they had to job to a girl
and wouldnt sell. I just wanted to be taken seriously. I
didnt want to be known as the girl but just as another worker.
In-fact, I think it caused a lot of heat [for us.] I was actually
glad to drop the straps when we did.
Jay Cal: A lot of your past work was with
EWF. Lately you have been wrestling in UPW, WPW, and CWA and have
had shows in Arizona. Who have been your favorite wrestlers to
work with?
Halloween Barbie: Well I feel that my best
matches were with PHAT. I also had an awesome match with Matlock
and Under Pressure. I like very solid matches; Devon Willis and
Eric Matlock are very solid workers, I enjoy that type of match.
Melissa and Nikki worked very solid too and I was very pleased
that they do work that way. Some gals will tend to say I work
to stiff, but I feel that I personally have better matches when
they are stiff or like I call them, solid.
Jay Cal: Who would you like to work with,
you havent yet?
Halloween Barbie: [My dream match] would
be to tag with Victoria against Trish Stratus and Lita! Wouldnt
you like to see that match? I would like to have a match against
Melissa again or maybe Luscious Lucy.
Jay Cal: Tell us about your involvement in
United World Wrestling and Steel-cage.com?
Halloween Barbie: I will be a part of UWW.
I just want to get one thing straight about this being another
5 Star wrestling promotion. I personally have seen all the permits,
licenses, and legal documents that UWW has acquired. I do not
this is another 5Star Promotion. Right now I am just their first
Diva. They are going to be building a womens
division [that I will participate in.]
Jay Cal: They want to release a Halloween
Barbie, Diva DVD.
Halloween Barbie: Yeah that is their plans.
Jay Cal: Finally Id like to borrow
a question Steves asked in the past. How do you feel about
the Southern California wrestling scene and how would you compare
it to the other scenes out there?
Halloween Barbie: Well, I appreciate the
experience and work I have gained from So-Cal Wrestling. I am
a So-Cal gal though and through, but I want to be in the East
Coast. [I feel] wrestling is taken very serious. Not to say the
So-Cal scene doesnt, but I am sure it is a different world
in wrestling east coast style.
Jay Cal: Is there any final comments youd
like to make to the fans out there reading this?
Halloween Barbie: I just want to thank everyone
that has supported me. I know that I am not the worlds greatest
wrestler and that I have a lot to learn but it is nice to know
that there are people out there that are rooting for you. When
I see people trying to trash me on the net and it makes me smile
to know that some are sticking up for me. For the record, I do
not want trouble with anyone. I know there are a lot of rumors
out there going around about me and I know where they are coming
from but as I choose not to trash them by name on the internet,
I wish that they would respect that I am keeping my mouth shut
and they should keep theirs shut. I am not about being caddy and
trying to get someone back, I just want to wrestle damn it!
Jay Cal: Once gain DesHalloween Barbie,
I appreciate your time in allowing me to interview you and I wish
you the best of luck on your up coming bookings. Best of luck
to you this year!