Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2019 21:56:22 GMT
This is part three of a series documenting the life and career of Jazmyn Rain. In this part, we cover the most extensive, significant portion of her career so far, her three year long run in Global Championship Wrestling. Jazmyn opens up some more as she becomes candid about her ups and downs she experienced in GCW.
Q: After two years away from the business and GCW taking a chance on you after initially saying no, you finally made your return to the ring. Was that return what you were hoping for?
A: No. My opponent smacked me with a chair and got disqualified. But, I did get my revenge on him shortly after that so all's well that ended well.
Q: You won three Global Championships and an International Championship and you feuded and clashed with some of their very best, win or lose. How would you break down your tenure there?
A: It's a roller coaster just like anything else. 2015 and going into 2016, I was still struggling with some psychological issues stemming from that old drug use from years before, but I did hit my stride like I had never left the business and I did pick up my first world championship late in 2015. The summer of 2016 was the hardest part of my time there, but also the time where I learned the most about myself as a person and a wrestler and that led me to the best time of my run (September 2016 to May 2018). Things were, for the most part, going strong... at least until the last few months of my time there...
Q: What was the best moment of your GCW run?
A: Gosh, there's so much to choose from. Overcoming someone who had long tortured me by breaking up her once-dominant faction definitely ranks up there. My third world title win would be darn high on the list. But... personally? It was winning my second world championship in an elimination chamber match. My first title reign ended horribly but it started a 20 month journey, which included evolving myself and growing and overcoming demons new and old, that made me strong enough to be champion again. That match, that moment... that was the culmination of my GCW career.
Q: What about the worst moment?
A: Losing a lifelong best friend when she stole my then-boyfriend from me and having to suffer torture for months upon months while she was trying to run me out of wrestling. We've recently reconciled and I'm so happy for that, but having to deal with her and having to beat up someone I never stopped caring about regardless of what she'd done to me was the worst torture I could have ever had to deal with in GCW.
Q: What's your biggest takeaway from your GCW career?
A: For all the hard feelings that may be there or that may not be there, it's where I grew and learned as a wrestler the most. I can never take that away from them. I regret that things didn't end differently there because a lot of my fans feel like I should have ended my career there and honestly... I did. I was loyal and stuck by them for so long. I wish I could write a different ending... no, not for world titles or anything like that... but to end things on a more positive note.
Q: Would you want to go back?
A: Never say never, but as of right now? I don't see it in the cards. If they invited me for one-offs, or for like a 500th episode reunion or something to that effect, great. But being there on a regular basis again? I don't see that happening.
Q: The big question that you probably knew was coming. Why did you leave? Money? A lack of respect? Company direction not aligning with your morals?
A: It sure as hell wasn't money. I don't wrestle to get rich. I also can't say the company disrespected me. I left because I felt like I didn't belong there anymore, which is saying something considering I was in my third Global title reign when I left. The vibe and the culture had changed the last few months I was part of the company and it just didn't feel like the home I got accustomed to. That's not to disrespect them. Change in the workplace happens all the time. It reached a point for me where it felt less like a second home and more like a job for me. I knew given time, I wasn't going to be as motivated and I was going to dread the grind and it was going to affect my performance. It wasn't right for me to short change myself as a wrestler and it wasn't fair for the company if I wasn't going to give them my best. So, I left while I was ahead. It was scary moving into unfamiliar territory but for me, I knew it was the best thing.
Check back soon for the final part of this Q&A... where Jazmyn talks about her post-GCW experiences and what's ahead for the future...
Q: After two years away from the business and GCW taking a chance on you after initially saying no, you finally made your return to the ring. Was that return what you were hoping for?
A: No. My opponent smacked me with a chair and got disqualified. But, I did get my revenge on him shortly after that so all's well that ended well.
Q: You won three Global Championships and an International Championship and you feuded and clashed with some of their very best, win or lose. How would you break down your tenure there?
A: It's a roller coaster just like anything else. 2015 and going into 2016, I was still struggling with some psychological issues stemming from that old drug use from years before, but I did hit my stride like I had never left the business and I did pick up my first world championship late in 2015. The summer of 2016 was the hardest part of my time there, but also the time where I learned the most about myself as a person and a wrestler and that led me to the best time of my run (September 2016 to May 2018). Things were, for the most part, going strong... at least until the last few months of my time there...
Q: What was the best moment of your GCW run?
A: Gosh, there's so much to choose from. Overcoming someone who had long tortured me by breaking up her once-dominant faction definitely ranks up there. My third world title win would be darn high on the list. But... personally? It was winning my second world championship in an elimination chamber match. My first title reign ended horribly but it started a 20 month journey, which included evolving myself and growing and overcoming demons new and old, that made me strong enough to be champion again. That match, that moment... that was the culmination of my GCW career.
Q: What about the worst moment?
A: Losing a lifelong best friend when she stole my then-boyfriend from me and having to suffer torture for months upon months while she was trying to run me out of wrestling. We've recently reconciled and I'm so happy for that, but having to deal with her and having to beat up someone I never stopped caring about regardless of what she'd done to me was the worst torture I could have ever had to deal with in GCW.
Q: What's your biggest takeaway from your GCW career?
A: For all the hard feelings that may be there or that may not be there, it's where I grew and learned as a wrestler the most. I can never take that away from them. I regret that things didn't end differently there because a lot of my fans feel like I should have ended my career there and honestly... I did. I was loyal and stuck by them for so long. I wish I could write a different ending... no, not for world titles or anything like that... but to end things on a more positive note.
Q: Would you want to go back?
A: Never say never, but as of right now? I don't see it in the cards. If they invited me for one-offs, or for like a 500th episode reunion or something to that effect, great. But being there on a regular basis again? I don't see that happening.
Q: The big question that you probably knew was coming. Why did you leave? Money? A lack of respect? Company direction not aligning with your morals?
A: It sure as hell wasn't money. I don't wrestle to get rich. I also can't say the company disrespected me. I left because I felt like I didn't belong there anymore, which is saying something considering I was in my third Global title reign when I left. The vibe and the culture had changed the last few months I was part of the company and it just didn't feel like the home I got accustomed to. That's not to disrespect them. Change in the workplace happens all the time. It reached a point for me where it felt less like a second home and more like a job for me. I knew given time, I wasn't going to be as motivated and I was going to dread the grind and it was going to affect my performance. It wasn't right for me to short change myself as a wrestler and it wasn't fair for the company if I wasn't going to give them my best. So, I left while I was ahead. It was scary moving into unfamiliar territory but for me, I knew it was the best thing.
Check back soon for the final part of this Q&A... where Jazmyn talks about her post-GCW experiences and what's ahead for the future...