She couldn't remember who first introduced her to sports
entertainment. She'd been taking acting classes first in Chicago and then
New York city with Lee Strasberg. Her ultimate goal had been to be in a
soap opera.
"What a soap opera I landed in" she smiled at the thought
She remembered meeting Steve McMicheal, her first husband. That was the turning point in her memory, he was one of the Four Horsemen, the notorious wrestling faction. She went to shows and backstage, to support him, to be there for him. She had loved him. Wrestling came with the package. He'd slipped away, it wasn't painful anymore to think about, it was in the past. She picked out the only photo she'd kept of the two of them together, she had been happy, they both had. She placed the photo to one side. She's gone over that time in her life so many times, now was not the time to start overanalysing. She wiped the tears from her eyes quickly, careful not to rub the bruise and winced at the effect the sudden movement had on her back. That was still a painful reminder. It stung.
How had she got involved in wrestling? That was a hazy time. She remembered meeting Vince, talking to him about her desire to act and be a star. She remembered him telling her that they needed a new valet in the business, someone who was smart and sexy, a business woman. It was what she needed, she'd grown to love the business, it had got into her, she needed that challenge of making a name for herself in a man's business. It thrilled her to think of the things she could do, the new obstacles to overcome, another chance to be the best, to push herself. She told him she was interested and when she met with him the next day, he'd drawn up the idea of her character. Debra on screen was scheming, all buttoned up but not afraid to unbutton to get her way, blonde and beautiful but intelligent about who to pick as her clients. She looked at the photos of her backstage, ones of her in the ring. If someone had asked her describe her look, she would have laughed and said 'glossy'; short tight skirts, very low cut matching suit jacket, high heels, hair shining, lots of perfectly applied make up, everything seemed to glisten about her back then. She'd liked the look, the classy tailored look, she liked it.
She remembered the first time she'd stripped to distract one of Jeff Jarrett's opponents, the roar that went up from the crowd when she pulled her suit top off to expose her bra, she couldn't help smiling widely. It had given her a buzz to hear that reaction from people. It had been a simple role, accompany Jarrett out to the ring, react to his match and at a certain point, interfere by stripping allowing Jarrett to win or sometimes not. She'd enjoyed herself, hearing the crowd, feeling the atmosphere there. It was fun, it was paying the bills and she was getting a chance to act. Heck, she even won the Women's Championship even though she couldn't wrestle! She'd won because Shawn Michaels liked how she looked in underwear. A picture of with the belt made her smile, for a time she was the best female in the company. She had been the best. That was the time when the 'puppies' chants began, the fans would chant 'We want puppies' when she appeared with Jarrett and that was when she received that nickname; the Queen of Puppies because apparently she had the best set in the company! The other divas didn't mind, they though it was cool that she'd achieved a moniker like that, they certainly hadn't been jealous. It something that would always be her trademark and always associated with her, she would always be "Debra and the Puppies". They were part of what made her so popular, a big part. She picked up the Raw Magazine from years ago that had her on the cover, she was topless holding a pair of baby dogs over her breasts, it was an iconic image. It was the way she would be remembered.
Then Wrestlemania 1999 came about when she really noticed Steve. Word in the back was that he was having a load of problems in his personal life. That night, they talked, properly talked for the first time. She'd helped him he told her later, she'd helped him sort through everything before he went out and beat the Rock for the title. She'd been there for him and helped.
"So why's he turning on you now? Why is throwing that back in your face? This is how is rewards you?" the voice in her head chimed in.
She would not think that, she knew better, she knew Steve. So much for her 'no dating at work policy'! She would always remember that night when they just talked about everything he needed to talk about and it was that talk that really made her notice him. He became a person in her eyes, not just another name on the roster. After that, they stayed that way, talking, going out together, having fun. She knew Steve better than anybody else and God she respected him! The things he put up with, the work he put into this business and refusing to stop because he knew he was on a roll with his character and he didn't want to stop. He was the top in the business and maybe always would be, until someone else with his work ethic stepped up. She'd stood firmly in his corner all the time, still being the Queen on TV, still popular even though people such as Chyna had entered the company, ushering in a new kind of role for the divas. Chyna was one of her close friends, despite the opposite edge of their characters, they became good friends through the rigour of the road travel. She was sad Joanie had left. She'd tried to get hold of her on her cell phone when she heard but had to leave a message to thank her for the times they'd shared. Just like Amy had for her. Would she be spoken about with the same scorn that some directed to Joanie? She hoped not. She hoped her small legacy would stay intact, she hoped no would destroy her achievements.
She was flying high and enjoying everything; her time in front of the camera and her life with Steve which was growing. But she gave it all up. She'd split from Jarrett but had the chance to manage anyone new she had her eye on. She gave it all up. For the man she loved.
"What a soap opera I landed in" she smiled at the thought
She remembered meeting Steve McMicheal, her first husband. That was the turning point in her memory, he was one of the Four Horsemen, the notorious wrestling faction. She went to shows and backstage, to support him, to be there for him. She had loved him. Wrestling came with the package. He'd slipped away, it wasn't painful anymore to think about, it was in the past. She picked out the only photo she'd kept of the two of them together, she had been happy, they both had. She placed the photo to one side. She's gone over that time in her life so many times, now was not the time to start overanalysing. She wiped the tears from her eyes quickly, careful not to rub the bruise and winced at the effect the sudden movement had on her back. That was still a painful reminder. It stung.
How had she got involved in wrestling? That was a hazy time. She remembered meeting Vince, talking to him about her desire to act and be a star. She remembered him telling her that they needed a new valet in the business, someone who was smart and sexy, a business woman. It was what she needed, she'd grown to love the business, it had got into her, she needed that challenge of making a name for herself in a man's business. It thrilled her to think of the things she could do, the new obstacles to overcome, another chance to be the best, to push herself. She told him she was interested and when she met with him the next day, he'd drawn up the idea of her character. Debra on screen was scheming, all buttoned up but not afraid to unbutton to get her way, blonde and beautiful but intelligent about who to pick as her clients. She looked at the photos of her backstage, ones of her in the ring. If someone had asked her describe her look, she would have laughed and said 'glossy'; short tight skirts, very low cut matching suit jacket, high heels, hair shining, lots of perfectly applied make up, everything seemed to glisten about her back then. She'd liked the look, the classy tailored look, she liked it.
She remembered the first time she'd stripped to distract one of Jeff Jarrett's opponents, the roar that went up from the crowd when she pulled her suit top off to expose her bra, she couldn't help smiling widely. It had given her a buzz to hear that reaction from people. It had been a simple role, accompany Jarrett out to the ring, react to his match and at a certain point, interfere by stripping allowing Jarrett to win or sometimes not. She'd enjoyed herself, hearing the crowd, feeling the atmosphere there. It was fun, it was paying the bills and she was getting a chance to act. Heck, she even won the Women's Championship even though she couldn't wrestle! She'd won because Shawn Michaels liked how she looked in underwear. A picture of with the belt made her smile, for a time she was the best female in the company. She had been the best. That was the time when the 'puppies' chants began, the fans would chant 'We want puppies' when she appeared with Jarrett and that was when she received that nickname; the Queen of Puppies because apparently she had the best set in the company! The other divas didn't mind, they though it was cool that she'd achieved a moniker like that, they certainly hadn't been jealous. It something that would always be her trademark and always associated with her, she would always be "Debra and the Puppies". They were part of what made her so popular, a big part. She picked up the Raw Magazine from years ago that had her on the cover, she was topless holding a pair of baby dogs over her breasts, it was an iconic image. It was the way she would be remembered.
Then Wrestlemania 1999 came about when she really noticed Steve. Word in the back was that he was having a load of problems in his personal life. That night, they talked, properly talked for the first time. She'd helped him he told her later, she'd helped him sort through everything before he went out and beat the Rock for the title. She'd been there for him and helped.
"So why's he turning on you now? Why is throwing that back in your face? This is how is rewards you?" the voice in her head chimed in.
She would not think that, she knew better, she knew Steve. So much for her 'no dating at work policy'! She would always remember that night when they just talked about everything he needed to talk about and it was that talk that really made her notice him. He became a person in her eyes, not just another name on the roster. After that, they stayed that way, talking, going out together, having fun. She knew Steve better than anybody else and God she respected him! The things he put up with, the work he put into this business and refusing to stop because he knew he was on a roll with his character and he didn't want to stop. He was the top in the business and maybe always would be, until someone else with his work ethic stepped up. She'd stood firmly in his corner all the time, still being the Queen on TV, still popular even though people such as Chyna had entered the company, ushering in a new kind of role for the divas. Chyna was one of her close friends, despite the opposite edge of their characters, they became good friends through the rigour of the road travel. She was sad Joanie had left. She'd tried to get hold of her on her cell phone when she heard but had to leave a message to thank her for the times they'd shared. Just like Amy had for her. Would she be spoken about with the same scorn that some directed to Joanie? She hoped not. She hoped her small legacy would stay intact, she hoped no would destroy her achievements.
She was flying high and enjoying everything; her time in front of the camera and her life with Steve which was growing. But she gave it all up. She'd split from Jarrett but had the chance to manage anyone new she had her eye on. She gave it all up. For the man she loved.