If there's any woman on the independent wrestling circuit
that reads future WWE Diva, it's Ashley
Lane. On the surface that can be attested to her
blonde hair, stunning looks and petite body, a mold that
Vince McMahon deemed the ideal look for
a Women's Wrestler. But too often we associate a sexy woman
as being less capable in the ring, a stigma that the WWE
created after throwing countless models and aspiring actresses
in the ring who were not up to par with seasoned grapplerettes.
There's a difference in this case though--Ashley
is no model turned wrestler. She is has been paying her
dues and honing her craft, all stemming from a childhood
love for wrestling, in which she notes that her dream has been to be WWE women's champion since the age of 9.
Ashley is most know for her stint in Shimmer
Wrestling where she is featured in Volumes 15 through
20. There she tagged with Nevaeh, gracing
Shimmer with her remarkable athleticism.
She has already held the Ohio championship wrestling
Women's Championship and is contending for the Shimmer
Tag Team title. You can be sure that this girl
will hold a number of titles within the coming years. While
she haven't lived the dream of becoming WWE Women's
Champ, she's living her dream competing in the
ring and having the opportunity to do what she loves most
as much as she can. In an exclusive Lethalwow.com interview
she talks about working for Shimmer, Dave Prazak,
Allison Danger, TNA, WWE, Shantelle Taylor, ODB, Tracy Brooks
and much more.
Arron
Carlton: Hello Ashley,
I'm glad that you took the time out of your schedule for
lethalwow. com--You have definitely been developing a following
here on the Internet and around the country. What has been
going on with you for these past few weeks?
Ashley
Lane (Madison Rayne): Hi Arron, thank you for taking
the time to interview me…the last few weeks I’ve
been laying low a bit, giving my body a chance to recoup
from the crazy summer I had…I’ve been doing
a lot of studying lately though, and training, keeping myself
in good ring shape and getting ready for shimmer in a few
weeks.
Arron
Carlton: Studying? Is this wrestling
related or college related?
Ashley
Lane: By studying I mean studying
my craft…Studying different styles of wrestling…studying
my future opponents and re-watching my own matches to
learn from my past mistakes.
Arron
Carlton: Earlier this year, there was
some buzz about your being injured...was this true?
Ashley
Lane: I had a minor setback in early
august…nothing major, I’m back in the ring at
one hundred percent right now, but I had a nagging injury
that I needed to get taken care of while it was just that,
and nothing serious. I missed out on a few shows, and was
pretty bummed about that, but I’ve taking care of
myself in the meantime so I’m as good as new now.
Arron
Carlton: Would you like to elaborate
on what this injury was or would you rather not?
Ashley
Lane: I'd rather just keep a low profile
on the injury. It was a small injury but it needed to
be fixed before it became a bigger problem.
Arron
Carlton: A lot of people took notice
to you in SHIMMER Volumes 15 & 16,
how has it been working for the promotion and what relevance
do you see it having in the industry as we speak?
Ashley
Lane:Shimmer has been
an absolute blessing to me. When I debuted last November,
I was one of the newest girls in the locker room. To have
the opportunity to compete with some of the best women in
the world and really show what I’m made of is awesome.
I think they've got something really great there. They give
women in this business a platform to showcase their abilities
on, and it's helped jump start a few girls' careers! I'm
glad to be a part of that! Arron
Carlton: Any thoughts on the man behind
Shimmer; Dave Prazak and Allison
Danger?
Ashley
Lane: I can't say enough good things
about the two of them. They saw something in me when no
one else was ready to and the support they give all of us
is incredible. Dave has an eye for good
talent, and Allison is one of the most
talented women in professional wrestling. Together, they
run a pretty tight ship, and are a big part of why Shimmer
is so successful! Arron
Carlton: In Shimmer Volume 17,
you and Nevaeh were defeated by "The
Experience", Malia Hosaka
& Lexie Fyfe. Malia,
who has been wrestling since the 1980's, and Fyfe,
a respected technician in her own right--did you realize
the significance at the time? How was it working with these
ladies?
Ashley
Lane: I met Lexie at
a show in Cleveland a couple years ago. She had no idea
who I was, but she still took the time to give me a few
pointers to help me along. I knew going into that match
that Nevaeh and I had our hands full. They
were all-around more experienced than us. We looked at it
as a time to prove to ourselves and everyone else what we've
got and although we didn't come out on top, I think we learned
a lot from being in the ring with those two and coming out
still standing at the end. I'm looking forward to the rematch. Arron
Carlton: Speaking of the 80's, former
GLOW Women's Champion Lisa Morretti
(Ivory) refereed a huge match in your career--tell
us about that.
Ashley
Lane: As if a first match doesn't make
someone nervous enough, mine was at my old high school,
with all my family and friends there, and Ivory
as the special guest referee for the match! It was so much
fun though. She was incredible to work with and she really
helped us out that night! People say you never forget your
first match, and to this day, I don't think there's been
much, if anything, top that night.
Arron
Carlton: In Shimmer Volume 18,
you finally picked up a win in the promotion, you and Neveah
defeated Lacey & Rain.
In volume 19, you were victorious again over Cat
Power & Veronika Vice. How
has it been working with Neveah?
Ashley
Lane: Nevaeh and I
wrestled each other for two years straight, all over Ohio,
before we started tagging together. By that time, we knew
each other like the backs of our own hands. We are best
friends inside the ring, and out. I think that gives us
an advantage against other teams. We're like sisters; we're
going to fight to the death for each other. We can read
each other so well, I really think our chemistry in the
ring is going to take us places.
Arron
Carlton: You and Neavah
will complete in the Shimmer tag team championship
gauntlet. What are your thoughts? Is that a belt you will
like to add to your championship list?
Ashley
Lane: We have our hands full this time
going into the tag team gauntlet. As a team, Nevaeh
and I already have losses against two of the teams, and
in my debut match, Portia and Nicole
Matthews got the best of Lorelei Lee
and I. We're coming into this match more focused than ever
though. We've been pushing ourselves to the max. Since the
last Shimmer show and I have a feeling
people are going to see a whole new Nevaeh and Ashley lane
this time. We're coming determined to wear the tag team
titles home at the end of the night.
Arron
Carlton:Ohio Championship Wrestling
also played a substantial part in your career. You are a
2-time OCW Women's Championship and have
wrestling quite a few matches for the promotion. Enlighten
those of us who are who are not familiar with the promotion.
Ashley
Lane:Ohio championship wrestling
(OCW) is based out of a small town in Ohio
(Coshocton), where I grew up. I was trained there by the
owner of the company, Jeff Cannon. They
have done big things for my career. Giving me the opportunity
to test my skills against some of the top names in women's
wrestling (Shantelle Taylor, ODB,
Tracy Brooks, Hailey Hatred).
OCW is the first place I tasted championship gold as well!
I guess we can blame them for my drive to hold another championship
come October.
Arron
Carlton: You've taken on or teamed with
a few of the Knockouts, namely Shantelle Taylor,
ODB and Tracy Brooks.
Any matches, thoughts or experiences you care to share?
Ashley
Lane: Those three ladies gave me a run
for my money, I’m telling ya! ha-ha. Really though,
when I think back, working with each of them taught me so
much. Shantelle taught me how turn my size
disadvantage into speed and fire. Tracy
took me under her wing and some of her advice goes with
me everywhere now…and my match with ODB
helped me prove to myself that no matter how hard I get
hit…and I got hit hard that night…that I can
and will get back up and keep on going…they're awesome
and I’m really happy to see all 3 of them where they
are now. Arron
Carlton: With there now being a TNA
Women's Division, and the WWE
Division, is your ultimate goal to work for either of the
Top 2?
Ashley
Lane: My goal since I was 9 was to be
WWE women's champion. It's a goal I’ve
been working towards for 13 years. With the up and coming
women's division in TNA now, it'd be living
a dream for me to one day be a part of either of those companies. Arron
Carlton: If you had to choose a career
path of one federation, the WWE or TNA,
to work for first, which would it be and why?
Ashley
Lane: They both offer so many advantages
that I’d be thrilled to have a contract with either
one. TNA's objective from day one with their
women's division was to get women in there whose passion
is wrestling, and showcase beautiful women with incredible
talent to the world. And they've done exactly that…WWE
has gone through stages with their women's division, but
I feel like it's at a point now where, regardless of whether
they grew up with aspirations to be there, or have been
signed by chance and in the meantime fallen in love with
the sport, they have a good core group of women athletes
as well. Arron
Carlton: A lot of people have said that
you have the WWE Diva look and would make
it in the WWE. What are your thoughts?
Ashley
Lane: It’s flattering to me if
people do say that, because the WWE divas
are some of the most beautiful women in the world. I hope
they're right, I hope someday I do make it. But until that
day comes, I’m going to keep training, keep focused
on what my goal is, and keep embracing every opportunity
I get along the way. If I never make it to TNA
or WWE, I’ve always said that getting
in the ring at all has been a dream come true.
Arron
Carlton: What are your goals for 2009?
Ashley
Lane: 2008 was good to me…I achieved
a lot and I feel like I grew both in the ring, and in my
personal life…I feel with the opportunities I was
given this past year…consistently wrestling for shimmer,
getting a debut match with ring of honor…that it's
made me even more hungry and determined than ever…fingers
crossed, and god willing, 2009 will bring big things for
me.
Arron
Carlton: Where can anyone get videos
or DVDs of any of your matches?
Ashley
Lane: Dvd's with me included can be
found on the Shimmer website at www.Shimmerathletes.Com,
at the OCW website (www.Ocwrestling.Net),
and very soon, a compilation of some of my best matches,
stay tuned for more information on that.
Thanks again for the interview!!! Lethalwow. Com rocks
Arron Carlton is the Owner, Webmaster and Contributing Writer
at Lethalwow.com. He can be reached by e-mail at webmaster@lethalwow.com,
or through Myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/arroncarlton).
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