Post by Pennyroyal_Tea (admin) on Jan 17, 2005 17:38:19 GMT -5
With most former wrestlers, there is at least one moment in their career that stands out above all others. For Wendi Richter, that moment came on July 23, 1984, the day she stunned the world of professional wrestling by ending the 28-year-long reign of The Fabulous Moolah and becoming the new World Wrestling Federation women's champion.
That match, which was shown live on MTV, jumpstarted a career in the WWF for the 23-year-old Richter. As the women's champion, Richter was featured in several high-profile matches in venues such as Madison Square Garden. At her side, in the role of manager, was the woman partially responsible for it all, pop star Cyndi Lauper.
Unfortunately, Richter's fame would be short-lived. A little more than one year after her historic victory over Moolah, Richter was out of the spotlight, and out of the WWF-the victim of a well-orchestrated plot.
"I was so angry," Richter said during a recent telephone interview as she recalled the incident and the role her former boss, Vince McMahon, played in it. "He wronged me!"
It was November 25, 1985. After losing and then regaining the title from rival Lelani Kai, a South Carolina wrestler who was billed as hailing from Hawaii, Richter was scheduled to defend her women's title at Madison Square Garden against a mysterious masked opponent known only as The Spider Lady. Although most matches are predetermined, Richter said she was never told who was under the mask or how the match would end.
Moments into the match, Richter was stunned when her opponent attempted to pin Richter's shoulders to the mat and the referee delivered a swift three count. She was even more surprised to learn that the woman underneath the mask, the woman who had just taken away her title, was Moolah.
"I don't even recall what maneuver she applied," Richter said. "I just know it was over quick. As soon as my shoulders touched the mat I lifted one of them up, but the referee did a fast count and the match was over. I was robbed of that title. I never lost it. My shoulders were never pinned."
Richter said she was so upset over the match that she left the arena still wearing her wrestling tights, hailed a taxi and went straight to the airport. She said she believes the loss was related to her request that, as women's champion, McMahon pay her more money.
Richter never returned to the WWF but went on to wrestle for independent groups and in Japan. She said she wrestled part-time while attending school. She eventually earned a master's degree in occupational therapy. In addition to working in that field today, Richter has recently opened a kennel, where she raises Yorkshire Terriers for show.
Richter has not spoken to McMahon since leaving the company and says she has long since put the incident behind her. Though she has been away from wrestling for awhile, she will reunite with several friends from her days in the WWF later this month at a convention.
"I'm not doing it for the money," Richter said of WrestleReunion, which is set to take place Jan. 28, 29 and 30 in Tampa. "I make more money now than I ever did in wrestling. I'm going because of the fans, and because a lot of my friends are going to be there. There will be people there that I haven't seen in 20 years. It should be fun."
View the original article at www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780235502&path=!news!entertainment!television&s=1037645508994
That match, which was shown live on MTV, jumpstarted a career in the WWF for the 23-year-old Richter. As the women's champion, Richter was featured in several high-profile matches in venues such as Madison Square Garden. At her side, in the role of manager, was the woman partially responsible for it all, pop star Cyndi Lauper.
Unfortunately, Richter's fame would be short-lived. A little more than one year after her historic victory over Moolah, Richter was out of the spotlight, and out of the WWF-the victim of a well-orchestrated plot.
"I was so angry," Richter said during a recent telephone interview as she recalled the incident and the role her former boss, Vince McMahon, played in it. "He wronged me!"
It was November 25, 1985. After losing and then regaining the title from rival Lelani Kai, a South Carolina wrestler who was billed as hailing from Hawaii, Richter was scheduled to defend her women's title at Madison Square Garden against a mysterious masked opponent known only as The Spider Lady. Although most matches are predetermined, Richter said she was never told who was under the mask or how the match would end.
Moments into the match, Richter was stunned when her opponent attempted to pin Richter's shoulders to the mat and the referee delivered a swift three count. She was even more surprised to learn that the woman underneath the mask, the woman who had just taken away her title, was Moolah.
"I don't even recall what maneuver she applied," Richter said. "I just know it was over quick. As soon as my shoulders touched the mat I lifted one of them up, but the referee did a fast count and the match was over. I was robbed of that title. I never lost it. My shoulders were never pinned."
Richter said she was so upset over the match that she left the arena still wearing her wrestling tights, hailed a taxi and went straight to the airport. She said she believes the loss was related to her request that, as women's champion, McMahon pay her more money.
Richter never returned to the WWF but went on to wrestle for independent groups and in Japan. She said she wrestled part-time while attending school. She eventually earned a master's degree in occupational therapy. In addition to working in that field today, Richter has recently opened a kennel, where she raises Yorkshire Terriers for show.
Richter has not spoken to McMahon since leaving the company and says she has long since put the incident behind her. Though she has been away from wrestling for awhile, she will reunite with several friends from her days in the WWF later this month at a convention.
"I'm not doing it for the money," Richter said of WrestleReunion, which is set to take place Jan. 28, 29 and 30 in Tampa. "I make more money now than I ever did in wrestling. I'm going because of the fans, and because a lot of my friends are going to be there. There will be people there that I haven't seen in 20 years. It should be fun."
View the original article at www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780235502&path=!news!entertainment!television&s=1037645508994