Original BFF Interview: http://dafalcon10.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-with-bff-tag-team-of-evie-and.html
DF: Let's start with the dissolution of BFF first. For the fans that don't know the story, what happened to break up BFF and to bring animosity between you and Megan-Kate in of the wrestling ring?
DF: As you know, Dave
Prazak announced your booking at SHIMMER 53 on a Ringbelles podcast about ten
days ago. What went through your mind when Dave asked you to SHIMMER? How
has life changed for you since the announcement?
DF: Only about seven
women have been announced so far, what does it feel like to have your name
listed along with Saraya Knight, Cheerleader Melissa, Kharma, Madison Eagles,
Ayako Hamada, Athena, and Mia Yim? Not bad company, eh?
DF: Do you have any plans
to see WrestleMania since it's right next door? Are you planning to
network with any talent scouts for WWE? Is working for WWE a future
goals of yours?
Evie and her Million Dollar Smile
Photos By: New photography
Auckland Sports Photography and David Dunn
Sixteen months ago (Aug. 19, 2011), I interviewed the young New Zealand tag-team of Megan-Kate and Evie who worked for Impact pro Wrestling (IPW) in Auckland and called themselves BFF (Best Friends Forever). That interview, with responses from both members of BFF, became the second most popular post on Falcon's Joshi Blog with many thousands of hits. Clearly these athletic, attractive wrestlers from New Zealand have captured the wrestling world's imagination. I now have the privilege of interviewing Evie on the occasion of her announcement for SHIMMER Vol 53 in WrestleCom (Meadowlands, NJ) on April 6. During those intervening months she has gained a ton of ring experience, wrestled in Australia, landed two championship belts (both of which she still holds), and has had a falling out with her BF Megan-Kate -- at least in the ring, they are clearly not "forever." There is obviously much to catch up on with the charismatic Kiwi, so let's get started.
DF: Let's start with the dissolution of BFF first. For the fans that don't know the story, what happened to break up BFF and to bring animosity between you and Megan-Kate in of the wrestling ring?
Evie: It started during
the tournament for the IPW Women's Championship, to determine the first ever
title holder. Megan Kate's path through that tournament was, admittedly, rocky
and controversial. We both tried numerous times to make things fair, like
getting second chances with the Commissioner of IPW..in the end, she attempted
to do things her way. I knew something was up when she became a last minute
inclusion into what was supposed to be a one on one final match between myself
and Britenay. Even though I still managed to come away with that win, I could
tell something was up with her. I felt like I couldn't even talk to her
anymore, and that she wasn't herself. In my first title defense against
Britenay, Megan was at ring side.. and after the match, she clocked me with a
baseball bat. Then the leaked footage of her getting her slut on with the
Commissioner was the icing on the cake. I guess she went full circle in a way,
seeing as she started off in IPW as the locker room jail bait. I guess some
people never change.
DF: Talk about a powerful
heel turn! Megan-Kate shocked a lot of people with her bat-wielding
ambush tactics and her brutality towards you. What causes a person
to snap like that? Can you imagine yourself wanting to win so badly
that you throw the rules out the window?
EVIE: Personally, I
haven't been in that situation before so who knows? But I strongly believe in
letting your skills talk for themselves, rather than running your mouth or
whatever to get your way. Breaking the rules, I can understand that point of
desperation. But she was a traitor. We were a tag team in IPW for over two
years. I helped her break into the wrestling side of things, and we both taught
each other things along the way. She was my best friend and being a super loyal
person, I could never imagine getting to that point.
Evie with a brutal kick on Megan-Kate
DF: Congratulations on your PWWA Interim Championship -- the big win over Jessie McKay! The Aussies cannot be happy about an upstart Kiwi walking in and taking their belt. Tell me about that match and what it felt like to win that belt against the talented and beloved Jessie McKay.
EVIE: Thanks! It was such
a surreal night, that final match of the tournament. Jessie is an amazing
competitor, someone I had looked up to before our encounter. Honestly, It
didn't really feel to me like the typical "Aussie vs Kiwi" match up.
I feel like the PWA crowd had seen me grow and that I had won them over in a
way, since my PWWA debut back in Sept 2011. I had a lot of support from the
fans, so it was cool... It was a nice surprise, PWA is definitely my
home away from home!
DF: You're hardly known
as a heel, so wrestling fans find it hard not to like you and they are drawn to
your high energy work-rate. How did the Australian crowd respond to
you during that tournament? How did they react when you raised the
belt?
EVIE: It was a very split
crowd, which was surprising to me! I was so nervous before that match..
like ridiculously crazy nervous. It was so important to me to bring it on
the night. I had good support during the match, and even more support online
after it was announced internationally. I still get jittery talking about that
night!
Evie free falling v Jessie McKay
DF: Later in October you
retained the PWWA title in a 30-minute time-limit draw v Kellie
Skater. You had had great matches against Kellie
before. What is it about Kellie Skater that brings out your best
wrestling?
EVIE: Skater is an
amazing competitor. We definitely have some sort of crazy connection
- we both bring out the best in each other, and end up performing to high
standards. I couldn't put my finger on what it would be exactly, probably a mix
of things. Whatever it is, the matches that we do are always intense and
energetic. I could never get sick of wrestling Skater, as each time we face off
it's ALWAYS a crazy new experience. You just never know what's going to happen!
Evie v Skater
Evie with the PWWA Belt
DF: What an incredibly
busy fall you have had defending two belts in two different
countries. What match most stands out in your mind and why?
EVIE: An incredibly
busy Spring where we are! Both of the matches were back to back, so I was on
emotion overload. The IPW Women's Championship final match was intense. That
match was a main event of the show, and we had a very big turnout for the
event. The IPW crowd have seen us girls grow up and mature in the wrestling
ring. The division started 5 years ago, so it was a very historic night. The
feeling of finally winning the title was intense. It was very special to have
those familiar faces in the crowd too, those that have been
supporting you for so long.
The PWWA interim title tournament was a different feeling to me.
With other names in the tournament such as Skater and McKay, It was
intimidating to be included in such a thing. Facing off against my then BFF
Megan Kate also wasn't easy at the time. Making it to the finals was weird. I
almost felt like I was in a dream during the whole match! Winning the interim
title, the first emotion was shock... the belt is held in such high regard, so
there is a lot of responsibility that comes with it.
I can't pick one event over the other - in my mind, both are
important for different reasons. Both titles mean a lot to me, and I
am privileged to hold them.
Evie with the IPW belt
DF: No fans of BFF one
year ago could ever have predicted that their beloved tag heroes would be
pitted in a hard-core Bat-on-a-Pole match in December of 2012. But
that's what happened. What did you learn about yourself in that
match? Can you ever see yourself doing a TLC or other hardcore
match?
EVIE: I know, it was at
the other end of the spectrum if you compare our relationship from a year ago
to now. It was a very full on match. Megan had hit me with the bat twice in
matches previously, so I had a lot of fuel for the fire to get my revenge. I
had never experienced a hardcore match of any sort, and typically I wouldn't
choose hardcore matches over your standard wrestling matches. I'm not opposed
to hardcore matches, but my preference is more the wrestling side of
the scale. In saying that, this match was needed. The previous months were so
sketchy, with Megan always getting the upper hand with her weapon of choice and
the rumors flying with her and the Commissioner. In this circumstance, there
was no other match to provide somewhat of a conclusion to that.
Megan-Kate with a brutal kick on Evie in the Bat-on-a-Pole match
EVIE: Is it ok to say I
still feel surreal about this whole thing?? I am finally getting the
opportunity to wrestle in America, and with SHIMMER at that!! I'm crazy
excited and super grateful for the opportunity. Receiving all
the messages of support through twitter, Facebook and face to face
with my friends and family has been amazing. I didn't really understand the
level of support I had on the international scale of things, I have a better
idea now! As long as they don't mistake me for an Aussie, haha! ;)
EVIE: Jeepers! That's
pretty epic company if you ask me! It'll be crazy to be amongst these women,
most of whom I've looked up to for a while now. Like I said, it's surreal. To
be wrestling on a show with names like that, it's truly an honor!
DF: Who are the top
American, Canadian, and Japanese wrestlers that you would like to face in the
ring -- because your styles are complimentary or just because they are
wrestlers you've always wanted to challenge?
EVIE: Can I just say any
women wrestler ever?? I know it's near impossible, but I feel like I learn the
most when wrestling new opponents... and I still want to learn so much! The
SHIMMER locker room is overflowing with amazing talent, so any of
those girls would be rad. Madison Eagles is number one at the moment, and with
her being hungry for her title back it'll definitely be something of
an epic fairy tale for me if I got to face her for the PWWA unification match.
Evie with a MMA kick v Jessie McKay
EVIE: Wrestlemania is on
the bucket list, so why wouldn't I?! Definitely looking forward to
that! As for the WWE, I'd love to at least get a trial and that way I'd have no
regrets and give it a go, you know? It has always been a goal, as that's what
obviously got me into wrestling in the first place. And getting to do something
you absolutely love as a job?? Can't really argue with that! At this point however,
I'm just really keen to focus on wrestling in promotions where women's
wrestling is respected and where they put on amazing shows. SHIMMER has been
the biggest goal in my mind to date, so the fact that I'm actually going to be
a part of such a respected company is just mind boggling.
DF: I certainly hope (and expect) that you will also be announced for SHIMMER Vol 54-56 in Berwyn, Illinois. Are there other bookings that you have landed or are seeking in your travels to North America?
DF: I certainly hope (and expect) that you will also be announced for SHIMMER Vol 54-56 in Berwyn, Illinois. Are there other bookings that you have landed or are seeking in your travels to North America?
EVIE: None at this stage,
but you guys will be the first to know of any that pop up :)
DF: Tell us about some of the merchandise you plan to bring with you to North America. Fans need to begin saving now so they can splurge on April 6!
EVIE: 8 x 10s of course :) I'm trying to organize more things like t shirts, but I'm a bit new to this business! Maybe I should make some candy with my face printed on the front. Or temporary tattoos, now there's an idea!
DF: Tell us about your training during the past year. How often do you train, with whom, and what are the most important developments in your style or move set in recent months?
DF: Tell us about some of the merchandise you plan to bring with you to North America. Fans need to begin saving now so they can splurge on April 6!
EVIE: 8 x 10s of course :) I'm trying to organize more things like t shirts, but I'm a bit new to this business! Maybe I should make some candy with my face printed on the front. Or temporary tattoos, now there's an idea!
DF: Tell us about your training during the past year. How often do you train, with whom, and what are the most important developments in your style or move set in recent months?
EVIE: We train up to 3
times a week at our IPW gym here in Auckland. Otherwise, the guys generally go
to the gym and do their routines. Within the last half of the year, I've been
enjoying some awesome bootcamps, as well as regular boxing sessions for cardio.
My diet has also changed slightly, I'm limiting my intake of processed foods
and upping the protein and veggies I eat. I definitely feel like I
have more energy while I wrestle, so that's a plus!
DF: You seem healthy and on top of your game these days. Have you had any nagging or serious injuries to contend with during the past six months?
DF: You seem healthy and on top of your game these days. Have you had any nagging or serious injuries to contend with during the past six months?
EVIE: Nothing too
serious, I did however have a lower back injury in the middle of the year. That
injury is an old one, back from my Athletics days so it requires constant
stretching and strengthening. I've been pretty lucky otherwise, just the usual
bumps and bruises :)
DF: I must say, you have some spectacular wrestling gear: striking design and bold colors. Who makes your gear? What role does gear play in a wrestlers persona?
DF: I must say, you have some spectacular wrestling gear: striking design and bold colors. Who makes your gear? What role does gear play in a wrestlers persona?
EVIE: Thank you so much!
I take a lot of pride in having good gear, as it adds professionalism to how
you look in the ring. It also reflects the kind of person you are, hence why I
stick to a lot of bright, bold and sparkly colours. I think that's my girly
side in me too, reflected in my gear. I have a local tailor that I get to make
my gear, and she's just awesome. I get my fabric from another lady, and I love
going into her little shop. I do get carried away sometimes though, and I can
never plan colours as I am the most indecisive person! I will no doubt try and
get a couple more sets made before my trip over - just a good excuse as any,
right?
Evie, far corner, sporting professional gear with florescent colors and hot designs
DF: During our last interview I asked you to look
forward five years and share what you hoped Evie would have done/be
doing. Here's your response: "With
wrestling, I'd like to think by then I'm more well known around the women's
wrestling circles and even achieving my goal of wrestling with SHIMMER! And to
have more depth in terms of different wrestling styles…I'd also love to have
wrestled in the States or Japan by then!! And hopefully still teaming with
Megan-Kate. We work great together! We also have great costume taste, but that
aside there's a reason we are doing so well. We both take wrestling seriously,
and it's a passion we both share."
You are obviously much more well known in wrestling
circles. Anyone who can catch Dave Prazak's eye from half a world
away has already generated a significant "buzz" in the wrestling
world. By April you will have wrestled in SHIMMER and in the
States. What new goals will you set now?
EVIE: I haven't really
had a lot of time to think of anything else at this point...can you blame me?
SHIMMER is such an awesome deal! Right now, I just want to focus on that and do
my best. It is quite daunting to be going over and knowing some people have
seen your work already, rather than coming in as a completely unfamiliar talent.
I guess there are a lot of expectations, so I am working and training hard to
bring my A-game, and hopefully not disappoint!
DF: You go on to say
about your relationship with Megan-Kate: "We don't want to
be the generic female 'gimmick' within wrestling. In fact, the thought creeps
us out. At training, we constantly push each other and bounce ideas of one
another on how to better a certain move or to make a tag team move be more
effective. I don't think I'd be where I am today without my partner, she's my
rock!" Obviously this is a close and positive relationship;
but you are winning these belts and making this journey to SHIMMER without your
BFF teammate. How are you dealing with this career separation from
Megan-Kate?
EVIE: It was difficult at
first, that was until she made it well clear she didn't care about me - just
about herself. Yeah we used to be close, but knowing her true motives throws
everything else out the window. I do get sad thinking about what happened and
the path she chose, but dwelling on the past means living in the past. With or
without her, it doesn't matter to me. I have so many things to look forward to
this year, it's going to be amazing!
Evie, right, battles rival Megan-Kate
Poster for The Hobbit, by Peter Jackson (filmed in New Zealand)
DF: Is New Zealand going as crazy about The Hobbit as the rest of
the world is? What do you love most about being Kiwi? New
Zealanders have tremendous national pride -- and rightly so -- over athletic
achievement (in the Olympics, say), in rugby prowess, and in those fine Peter
Jackson films about Middle Earth. What makes your heart swell with pride
when you think about your homeland?
EVIE: You did NOT just
mention The Hobbit. Ahhhh I love the whole franchise! I'm a Tolkien fangirl!
The fact that Jackson has proudly displayed the films in our homeland makes it
even more epic. Even just driving through the countryside this summer, you can
get a real films for being in middle earth which I love! Along with that, the
All Blacks are arguably a sports team that almost every kiwi supports.
My Granddad was an All Black, so that pride is in the blood...and when
we won the World Cup back in 2011, it was epic. The whole country partied and
it was amazing! Along with these things, I think growing up in such a small
country with a close community has made me the person I am today. Even though
most people over look New Zealand, I can't imagine calling anywhere else home
:) I also love our Summer Christmas and New Year holidays ... can't beat the
beach and BBQ during the festive season!
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins on location in New Zealand
DF: What advice would you have for a young girl -- say age 16 --
who wants to join Team KICK? She wants to begin training and
wrestling professionally -- what would you tell her?
EVIE: To hold on to that
passion, and find your nearest (and legit) professional wrestling school! Do
some research on the companies that are around your area, and contact them for
more information. I would also say that being fit and active helps A LOT...I
can't even emphasize how much it has helped me :)
DF: Is there anything you
would like to say to your fans in the States and around the world?
EVIE: THANK YOU for supporting
me :) I know I come from a relatively unknown place to majority of women
wrestling fans, so having your encouragement means that much more to me. I
can't wait to get over there and meet you guys, and to finally wrestle in the
states!! #TEAMKICK
Action from an Evie v Skater match often spills out of the ring
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