Papierkorb » Neues Interview mit Gail Kim (englisch) UPDATE komplett

Teil 1/2 Wie sie zum Wrestling kam, ihre Anfänge in der WWE ....

PW: You were crowned the first TNA Women's Champion at Bound for Glory on October 14, hot on the heels of TNA's hiring of Awesome Kong and other females to create a proper women's wrestling division. As the figurehead, this must be an extremly rewarding time for you.

GAIL KIM: It's the happiest time of my career. This is what I dreamed about. The girl's divison in WWE was a very strong division when I was there as well ... But these girls that are in TNA now - like Kong, Roxxi Laveaux, Ms. Brooks and Jacquelin Moore - are so talented, and we have such a great locker room.

PW: What do you mean by a "great locker room" ?

GAIL KIM: Everyone is striving towards the same goal: to have these matches that fans are entertaining by. Everyone is very passionate about what she does. We get along. We watch each other's matches. It's a great work environement. And it's not just the girls: the guys support us as well.

PW: So, there's none of the spitefulness or backstabbing that you often hear about in wrestling?

Gail Kim: No. With girls, you'd always expect some cattiness. But we've really worked hard to not have that in the locker room, because truly that doesn't make for a good women's division. If you don't get along off camera, then you're not going to get along on camera (laughs). I had my best matches in WWE with Nidia and Victoria, and that's because I was really good friends with them.

PW: Your championship reign and the women's divison in general have received a favourable reaction from TNA fans so far.

Gail Kim: You know what? The fans had a perception that women's wrestling sucked: that's what I would hear from the fans. And that really disappointed me because I love to wrestle. We had all pushed so hard for this women's divison, and we were all under pressure to perform and give fans (quality matches). We knew we were going to be quick to be criticised if we didn't perform well. But we've really worked hard, and we do to this day, and we've been getting such a positive reaction.

PW: WWE can't say the same thing about the Diva Search, which has been resented by WWE Fans - and WWE Wrestlers - for years. And, in the 2007 competition, only two of the segments were held before a live audience.

Gail Kim: You know, Awesome Kong has made such an impression on fans and other wrestlers. Whenever anyone talks to me about TNA, Awesome Kong is the first name that comes up. People say: "I love her because she's different." You need more than the cookie cutter pretty girls: if you have something different, it makes an impact and people notice.

PW: What attracted you to the wrestling business?

Gail Kim: I was a fan as a child. I watched the Saturday Night's Main Events with Hulk Hogan and Tito Santana in the 1980s. Then, I stopped watching, but got back into it (in 1996) when I was about 20-years-old and became a huge fan again. I almost become obsessed with it. I joined wrestling school and I loved it so much from the first day. I knew I wanted to do this for a career.

PW: You were trained at Ron Hutchinson's school in Toronto , Canada in 2000, right?

Gail Kim: Yes, I trained with Ms. Brooks. She was the first girl I met there. We started together. Other names have come through that school, such as Christian (Cage), Edge and Trish Stratus.

PW: Like most wrestlers, you started your career on the small-time independent circuit. And, like most wrestlers in their early days, you can't have earned enough money from indie wrestling to support yourself financially.

Gail Kim: Right. I was bartending at the time .... I feel bad, but when I started wrestling, I dropped out of (college). I shouldn't have done that, but I am a very spontaneous girl. Once I knew I wanted to wrestle, that's all I saw: that was my goal. So, I left (college) and was bartending, which paid me great money. You can make a lot of money working behind a bar (laughs). And I'd been working at the bar for so long that they were very lenient: if I ever needed a weekend off to wrestle, they gave it to me.

PW: So, you never completed your degree in nutrition?

Gail Kim: Everyone thinks I have (a degree in nutrition), but I don't. I did four years of college, actually. I did two years of kinesiology at the University of Toronto. But I wanted to specialise in the fitness health area, so I changed course and did nutrition at another college. So, I had to start all over again on a four-year programme.

PW: You were signed to a WWE developmental contract in late 2002 and posted to Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kenntucky. How was that experience?

Gail Kim: That experience was weird: I actually did my first WWE house show before I moved to Louisville. I signed my contract and did my first show in december in Canada, and then I moved to Louisville in January or February of 2003. WWE asked me to move there. At the same time, I was on the road with WWE. I worked on Smackdown! house shows before they switched me over to RAW for my (television) debut. So, I would come home from the road and be exhausted, but have to wrestle matches for OVW on my days off as well.
It was such a culture change for me to move from Toronto to Louisville. That in itself was hard. OVW and life on the road: it was all new to me. It was an adjustment period.

PW: When you relocated to Louisville, did you feel you'd stepped back in time?

Gail Kim: Oh gosh. Toronto's very multicultural, and Louisville's not. I'm Asian, you know: I kinda stuck out when I was there. But there was a lot of workers down there, and everyone was very welcoming and nice.

PW: A number of Matrix-style videos preceded your television debut on the June 30th, 2003 RAW. By WWE standards, that was a red carpet introduction: they usually throw newcomers out there cold.

Gail Kim: Right.

PW: More amazingly, WWE gave you the Women's title in your frist televised appearance when you won a battle royal.

Gail Kim: I was shocked when I heared that. I was going to win the title (laughs). Right now, looking back, it's not something I would to take back because something I would want to take back because something like that goes down in history. But at that time, and a little bit later when I was in WWE, I did wish what WWE had built me up more and given the fans a chance to connect with me (before I had won the title). I was green at that point, too. It was a lot for me to take in. I had only been in the business for two years, got signed by WWE and was given the Women's title in my first televised match. And I had hardly ever worked as a babyface. So that was weired for me to come out as a babyface: I had worked my entire career as a heel.

PW: You lost the women's title to Molly Holly on July 23th, 2003, exactly four weeks after you had won it. Though it seemed like a vot of no confidence by WWE, I'm assuming you were relieved they made that decision.

Gail Kim: I was relieved not to have that pressure on me. I didn't even think that time that WWE wasn't happy with the way things were going.

PW: You suffered a broken collarbone in a match with Trish Stratus in November 2003. How did that happen?

Gail Kim: I was practicing doing a springboard, like what Rey Mysterio does. I was practicing that for weeks and (WWE Trainer) Finlay said to me: "I think you are ready to do it in a match" The Problem was, I had never done the springboard when I was tired, after going through a match ... I've watched the replay and what happened is that my foot slipped off the rope, I feel the wrong way and landed on my shoulder. I knocked the wind out of myseld, but continued on with the match and didn't even know that my collarbone was broken until the next match was over.

PW: Have you attempted the move since?

Gail Kim: No, I haven't. But I have every intention to do it, and I will (laughs). Paul Heyman asked me after the match if I was going to stop doing (the springboard). I said, "Absolutely not". He said: "Good Girl!"

PW: The injury was a setback: you didn't return to RAW until April 5, 2004.

Gail Kim: After I broke my collarbone, I was out for five months ... When I came back, my wrestling really began picking up. I worked really hard in the ring with Fit Finlay all the time. He brought me to another level. I started working the submission style, and that's when the fans started connetcing with me. Shortly after that, WWE let me go. They should have hung in there a little longer because I was starting to feel comfortable out there and I could tell that the fans were starting to (respond to me). But in saying that, I would never have everything that I have now in TNA if I hadn't been fired. All my dreams have come true with TNA, and I would never have had that if I was still there.

PW: I was suprised when WWE released you from your contract in November 2004. Were you?

Gail Kim: I never saw it coming at all (laughs): I had no clue. Paul Heyman and I had actually started working in the pre-tape room to try to improve my promos. I had just started a story line with Trish & Lita ... I had actually done a run-in (in an angle with Stratus and Lita) on the (November 1, 2004 RAW) and was fired the next day. People were confused by that.

PW: It was an odd that you were sacked so soon after you helped Stratus, then a heel, flatten Lita, who was then a babyface. Booking logic indicated that your run-in would lead to singles matches against Lita, and tags with Stratus against Lita and a partner.

Gail Kim: I don't even know if I ever got the true story as to why I was (fired). I asked then when they gave me the phone call, and I was told that they wanted to go in another direction with the women. I assumed by that they didn't want as much wrestling, which was too bad.

Quelle: Powerslam Issue #162

Teil 2/2 Über den Druck "schön" auszusehen, Frauenwrestling im allgemeinen, ihren Film ....

PW: You made your TNA Debut on the second episode of Impact! on SpikeTV on October 8, 2005. Joining Forces with Jeff Jarrett and America's Most Wanted, you helped them beat down Team 3D in the main event angle. This was an encouraging start, obviously. You must have been thrilled.

Gail Kim: Yes, I walked into TNA, and the only thing they had told me was that I would be managing for a while because they didn't have enough (television) time or enough girls for a women's division. They told me the plans were to start me off as a heel and eventually turn me babyface. It took time, but they take their time - and it definitely paid off.

PW: You had several hard-hitting battles with Jackie Moore earlier this year, I enjoyed your cagematch at Lockdown on April 15, and was deeply impressed by the cross bodyblock you used off the top of the steel structure to win the match.

Gail Kim: It was crazy. That hurt (laughs).

PW: Didn't you slightly overshoot her on the move?

Gail Kim: What happened was ... I shouldn't be saying this ... I saw her getting up and I didn't think she was going to be so close to the corner. But I just had to go for it and thank God, I hit her head. Upon landing, I felt like I got punched really hard in the stomach. It was a very memorable match. It was one of my goals to have a Cage match, and I' am so happy that TNA gave us the oppurtunity.

PW: It was very well-received by the 6.000 fans in attendance, unlike some other matches on the show. You had another full-on bout with Jackie, a Street Fight, at the April 30 Impact! taping. In that one, you knocked out two of her teeth.

Gail Kim: Yes, everyone thinks I knockes her teeth out on the finish when I dropkicked a chair into her face. I didn't. It happened when I put the garbage can on her head and I was swinging away with a (stick). Her front two teeth got knocked out ... I felt terrible about it. But let me tell you: she is the thoughest girl I have ever been in the ring with. She was totally fine about it. Afterwars she said: Oh, things happen ..." She has got my highest respect.

PW: And mine for enduring that and not complaining about it.

Gail Kim: I think half of the guys in TNA are afraid of her.

PW: Do you think pro wrestling presents positive role models for girls and young women?

Gail Kim: I think our company does. I don't mean to trash WWE because WWE does have some girls that you can look up to. I think there's some very talented girls there ... I understand that wrestling needs to have that sex appeal. But you can be sexy in your own way .... One night, in the other company, I saw one of the girls kiss another girl, and I don't think that's appropriate. I just wish that that I was more about the talent.

PW: I can't imagine Mickie James' Long Kiss Goodnight snog is going to convert too many females into paying wrestling fans, unlike a character such as Lita, for instance, woh was a hit with girls and young women in 2000-2001 because she seemed like a real person whom they could relate to.

Gail Kim: Right, I was a fan of Lita's before I got into wrestling as well.

PW:You underwent the silicone breast implant operation in early 2004, I believe. Do you think breast implants are a necessaray addition for female performers in the major promotions?

Gail Kim: I don't think you have to have them. I made the decision in high school that I wanted it done, long before I got into the business. It does seem that people say you need to have them, but you don't: there's several girls in TNA without them. I think if you're in the business and you feel pressured to geht them... I can understand that, but I don't think that's a good thing. Everyone that I've talked to in the business who has them says it was their decision (to have the operation) that they would have made, regardless. I'm good friends with Stacy Keibler. And a couple of people had talked to her about having a breast implants (when she worked in wrestling). She said that if she had them done, it would be on her terms for her (benefit).

PW: Nevertheless, I am convinced that female WWE performers believe they are expedient to achieving promotion from developmental to the main roster, Jillian Hall, Alexis "Micke James" Laree, Shelly "Ariel" Martinez and Beth Phoenix were all called up to the big time from OVW after they had the operation (or in Hall's case, a second boobjob). That's not a coincidence, surely.

Gail Kim: Right, I think there is pressure (in the WWE) to have a certain look, because the company puts out the train of thought that that's what they want. But there are girls there without implants. Not that many, I know... I think you have to show them you have something else to offer (if you don't have implants). That may not necessarily be true, but that's the way things are perceived.

PW: Were you ever a fan of Japanese women's promotions like All Japan Women, JWP and LLPW, which peaked in the first half of the 1990's?

Gail Kim: I watched a little bit of GAEA Japan more recently... The did some crazy things. I don't see how they have long careers (The action) was very physical... Kong came from Japan, and I love working with her because it doesn't matter how physical you get.

PW:Going back to something you mentioned earlier: When you returned to WWE in 2004, you started using exotic submission holds that no other female star had employed before in WWE or TNA. Did you devise these yourself or were they inspired by holds you saw in Toryumon or another promotion?

Gail Kim: I saw a litte bit of japanese wrestling, and I watch a lot of mexican wrestling: I love Mexican wrestling for all the high-flying stuff and the submissions as well. I worked with Fit Finlay and William Regal to improve some of my submissions. They helped me out a lot. They showed me how to tweak a hold and make it my own...

PW: What about the headscissors/armbar hold where you wrap yourself around your opponent's back?

Gail Kim: Ultimo Dragon showed me that one. That's why I call it Flying Dragon... I do try to be different. I really try to come up with fresh things because I know that's what I like to watch. I try to be innovative.

PW: You've just appeared in a martial arts movie called Royal Kill. Tell us about that.

Gail Kim: Actually, I shot it, like a year-and-a-half ago. It's an independet film. The director's just taking a long time on it. I'm not sure when it will be released.

PW: I was under the impression it would come out some time next year. But who knows, eh? You're featured heavily in the trailer, which can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com Do you have a large part in the film?

Gail Kim: The role in Royal Kill was perfect for me because it involved a lot of action and fighting. It wasn't a large part, but it was an important part. I'm pretty much only at the end of the movie. You'll have to see it to find out.

PW: Is acting something you would like to do more of?

Gail Kim: Well, I would definitely not turn it down because I really enjoyed my experience. But, right now, I would rather concentrate on shortterm goals, like improving my promos and wrestling.

Quelle: Powerslam Issue #162