The ring announcer for any professional wrestling show is an especially important job and an irreplaceable part of the overall wrestling experience. For many wrestling fans, they have fond memories of their favorite announcers throughout the years, whether it be Howard Finkel, Michael Buffer, Lillian Garcia, David Penzer or even Justin Roberts. A good ring announcer can make or break a wrestling match, and many of their introductions can be just as legendary as the matches themselves. In Central and Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, you will likely not find a better announcer than the subject of today’s interview – the fabulous Miss Wendy! Wendy has been a part of the wrestling business for over twenty years, starting out as a wrestler, dabbling in managing and settling on her current role – hosting and announcing a number of wrestling shows in the area.
Considering how many shows I’ve been to this past year; Wendy has been a huge part of the experience for me and has had some truly fun moments. Perhaps my favorite recurring thing is her long running feud with TCW’s Van “Bam” Winkle, because try as he might to get under her skin, she always gets the last laugh. In this interview we’ll learn about Wendy’s origin story in wrestling, her championship run, her upcoming film, and her life as a queen of a faraway land. This is a great one, and I hope everyone enjoys it!
I generally ask a few of the same questions in these sorts of interviews, so don’t be surprised if you’ve seen me repeat a few before. As I build up a format that I like, I figure this makes it fun to compare how different people answer on a few of these.
Note: This interview was conducted electronically in December of 2023.
Any Images used are a combination of my photos from various shows, ones provided by Wendy, or fair use/public domain images.
For more Interviews I’ve done, click HERE
Hello Miss Wendy! Thank you for speaking with me today, would you mind telling my readers a little bit about yourself?
“I have loved professional wrestling since I was little. I used to watch All Star Wrestling out of Kansas City with my Grandmother Fanny and my dad. I grew up in a small town, Richmond, Missouri until my mom moved up to Kansas City. I also act on stage and in film. And my day job is a Lab Tech / Front Office Manager for a dairy company.”
Since you have been involved in professional wrestling for a while, and done many jobs, where did you originally train?
“I trained with Harley Race and was one of the older students of the school. I’ve been in the independent scene for around 20 years. Training with Harley’s group really was an experience that I will never trade out. I wasn’t the best grappler, I admit it. But I was a WLW Ladies Champion and am one of the best female announcers in the Midwest…if I say so myself.”
Do you have any tips for an aspiring professional wrestler?
“First of all: Know thyself. During training, I knew that ringwork was not my high point. Harley was SO kind and told me that I was a decent worker…so kind. But I knew that I just wasn’t putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. Training to take a bump is a far cry from working a match, putting everything together-creating that magic. So, knowing that about myself made me make decisions to do other things.
Second: Scout out a school. Go to shows, talk to the talent and ask them where they trained. A solid wrestling school will make the difference in “your” business in the professional wrestling business. You don’t want to end up with (pardon my language) half-assed knowledge and put your body on the line because that’s how you will be making your living.
Third: Nothing is promised. So, have a trade to fall back on. Graduate high school, go to college or better yet a trade school. Know that you are not going to instantly go to the top unless you network like a bulldog and have the capacity to move around the country.”
What’s a big mistake you often see newbies do getting into the business?
“Thinking they have nothing else to learn once they are out in the thick of traveling and booking shows. Being a human is constantly learning so do that. Listen to the people that have years under them because they know things.
And don’t have an ego…people are replaceable, and reputations proceed you.”
What is your favorite match you were part of?
“I was booked on a show for MWA Pro Wrestling in Omaha, and they didn’t have enough talent and decided to have a battle royal. Brian Blade, the promoter, asked if I wanted to be in it and I said why not! The guys took good care of me and let me win. HA! Eric Woodward gave me my first airplane spin. It was ridiculous and fun.”
What was the weirdest thing you ever did or weirdest place you’ve ever gone in the wrestling business?
“WLW (Harley Race) traveled to Texas to book shows with Ted DeBiase. Our ring was set up in the largest church pulpit! Imagine: a ring where a preacher usually gives his sermon.”
How about your favorite match of all time?
“Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs Randy Savage in WrestleMania 3 ….jeeeeesh! So good! Even the matches leading up to WM3. I was stupid happy when Steamboat got that pin! As a fan, I watched that entire scenario unfold and I felt I had just as much time and effort in as either wrestler. It was an incredible match of storytelling!”
I think I saw you for the first time in 2018 managing Curt Gannon in Sedalia, Missouri – Since you have done nearly everything in the wrestling business since (wrestler, manager, host), which role has been your favorite?
“Announcing is what I’m best at but I enjoyed managing too. In New Breed, I was a face manager so I didn’t do a lot but in MWA I was placed with heels and I had a lot of fun!”
You have been the host / ring announcer for a few wrestling companies I frequent (TSW, TCW), is there anywhere else fans can see you?
“This year I am adding in Show Me State Wrestling in the Jefferson City area.”
Going back to your ring announcer gig, how would one even go about becoming a ring announcer?
“Well, I fell into it because I was training with Harley’s group and he needed a stand in announcer. And it fit me, the locker room joked that I sounded like a flight attendant but they did like the way I announced their intros. Shortly after that, I was the WLW announcer until I was ready to work in the ring. As far as my other promotions, they have either written me or an announcer doesn’t show up if I was managing and I simply moved roles. I would speak with promoters, attend a show and throw your name in there. Worst they can say is no or not now.”
How did you get connected with Trailblazer Championship Wrestling? How about Tri States Wrestling?
“Curt Gannon was getting in training time (remember what I said about keep learning?) and my name came up. Jake contacted me about announcing the show and they had seen me as an announcer at Metro Pro years ago and remembered me! John Rockhold (TSW promoter) needed a second announcer for a few of his shows last year and we have worked shows with New Breed Wrestling so he reached out.”
You have an upcoming theatrical film coming out, Alan Jones Part Two, are you excited?
“Very much so! Thanks for asking!”
How did you get involved in acting?
“I have loved acting since I was a kid…probably the same time that I first started watching professional wrestling with my Grandmother Fannie. Of course, acting in highschool and college, then eventually with community theaters all over the KC metro area and now I am starting to audition for acting gigs in independent films.”
How does filming a movie differ from other types of acting?
“Movies are entirely different because you work on small scenes, wait, set up a shot, and perform. Alan Jones, parts one and two took us over four years to make due to Covid, locations, finding talent and use of special equipment. It was such an amazing adventure!
Stage acting is rehearsing with talent and crew for six weeks while you also build a set, perform and tear it all down.
I’ve also been Queen Anne Boleyn at the KC Renaissance Festival. That is rehearsing once a week for three months and doing most scenes by improv! Professional Wrestling is a wonderful mix all of them!”
Would you like to talk about your role as Special Agent Valerie Hall?
“Special Agent Hall is a woman that had a son 20 years ago that disappeared or was taken. She and her husband (Henry) split up and when she is assigned the case of a missing boy (she reluctantly takes the job), it takes her back to her old home town and she is thrown into working with Henry. Valerie is very stiff and stuffy in part one but in part two, we see more emotions from her.”
Where/when can fans see this movie when it comes out?
“I believe in February. If we are lucky we will have a showing of Part One and Part Two (different evenings) in the KC metro area. And of course you can keep tabs on the Facebook page Alan Jones Feature Film as well.”
Note: HERE is the Facebook Link
And HERE is a trailer
What would you say was your biggest achievement in 2023?
“I guess finishing the film and getting to work with my daughter, Erin. She was part of the crew for Alan Jones and she also filled in as an announcer for me at Trail Blazer!”
With 2024 somehow already here, what is your New Years Resolution or goal for 2024?
“I would like to toss my name in the hat for an acting agent which requires headshots (photography not a chair-HA!) and a reel.”
If you could kick absolutely anyone in the face, facing zero repercussions, who would it be?
“Actually, if I could do such a feat…I’d kick myself in the face for not having the confidence of trying new things when I was fresh out of high school or college.”
Outside of the worlds of wrestling and acting, what do you enjoy in your free time?
“Work. HA! I did a lot of work on a house I bought two years ago and I love going to historical museums, support my friends whom are in plays. I spend as much time as I can with my mom-she’s such a great supporter of mine.”
Do you recommend any good books, movies, TV shows etc. right now?
“My daughter has thrown many self help books at me lately so I’m unsure what that means. Maybe I am working too hard?”
I always end my interviews with a bit of a silly question – if you could travel back to any point of time in History, when/where would it be?
“Actually, I would like to visit so many different points in history! Of course, I would totally visit the 15th and 16th century Scotland or England. I was blessed with a trip to Scotland and Ireland about 8 years ago and it was amazing! We visited Stirling Castle in Edinburgh and I walked in the room where Queen Mary of Scots give birth to James…and later I was hired for a season to play her likeness at the Oklahoma renfest. Weird and cool all at the same time!”
Be sure to follow the socials for Wendy’s new feature film Alan Jones Part Two Here and be sure to check out that trailer HERE.
For More about Trailblazer Championship Wrestling, check out their website HERE, Facebook Page HERE, their Twitter page HERE, or YouTube HERE. TCW is also listed on Cagematch HERE.
For More about Tri States Wrestling, check out their Facebook Page HERE, their Twitter (or I guess X) page HERE, or YouTube HERE. TSW is also on Cagematch, HERE.
WLW has a website HERE, New Breed Wrestling has a Facebook HERE, and finally Keep an eye out for Show Me State Wrestling, coming soon to Jefferson City!
