DEBRA CHAT TRANSCRIPT!!
OnlineHost: Welcome Debra, let's get started.
Debra: I'm glad to be here talking to you guys and I'm looking
forward to the Pay-Per-View this Sunday, July 25. It will be a
great show!
Question: How do you like working with Jeff Jarrett?
Debra: Jeff is great to work with. I've worked with him for a
number of years now. I've really learned a lot working with him.
I think we have great chemistry. It would actually be strange
working with someone else. I know right now it feels very odd us
not working with Owen, because we all worked so well together,
Jeff, Owen and me.
Question: Do you ever see yourself working without Jeff?
Debra: I'm sure on down the line it may happen. But I don't have
any control over that. It depends upon how the storylines are
going. I'm sure if they ever did that it'd be for a great
storyline. But I hope not because I really enjoy working with
him. When you're out in the ring, it takes time to get to know
their moves. Working with Jeff, I know all his moves, I know
where he's going to be standing. I feel very comfortable with
him. Working with someone new would really be scary in the
beginning. I trust Jeff and Jeff is very good with the psychology
of wrestling. He's really good at saying, "Debra we're going
to do this, we're going to do that." Jeff really wants it to
make sense. And our fans expect that.
Question: When are you going to get back in the ring and wrestle?
Debra: I'm really not sure. I would guess I am going to have to
leave that up to the writers. I really enjoyed being the Women's
Champ, it was a wonderful feeling to win that belt from Sable.
But I do want the girls to have a chance at the belt. They
deserve it too. They've worked really hard in wrestling. And I
think it makes for a more interesting storyline if more women
have a chance to win. I believe Sable had the belt for way too
long. This is sports-entertainment and we have writers who write
these storylines. If they write it in that I have the belt down
the line, then so be it.
Question: How does WWF compare to WCW?
Debra: I am really thankful that I had a chance at WCW because it
makes me really appreciate working for the WWF. The WWF is very
professional. They treat you with respect. They definitely know
how to make stars out of their talent. They see something in each
character that can help make you a star. Just like when they
started telling me, do the business suit and start revealing
parts of your body on TV. And I'm going, "Where is this
going?" And then the puppies thing started. But they've
really marketed me well and I'm really getting over with the
fans. The WWF is just excellent at making stars out of the
talent. Another thing is the WWF has writers and WCW users
wrestlers as writers, which is terrible because they'll write in
their best friends in the storylines. And so the most talented
people will be left out. The WWF uses everyone to their full
extent. That's why we have the No. 1 and best show. That's why
the WCW is so boring to watch now.
Question: Debra, you were seen with Stone Cold at Shea Stadium.
What's going on between you guys?
Debra: Yes we are a couple. I will not elaborate any more on that
because that's my personal life.
Question: How did you get your start in the business?
Debra: I was married to a guy that played in the NFL and he
retired, so the WCW hired him, and therefore they brought me in
to be his manager. And so I worked with my ex-husband for a while
and then they put me with Jeff Jarrett. And then I got a divorce
and they fired me. So it's funny how that all worked out. Once I
got fired, I had heard through the grapevine that the WWF was
interested in me. I just called and told them that I was
available and I would love to work for the company. They offered
me a contract and I took it. And then they started out using my
last name, just to bring in my fans from WCW. Now they've dropped
the last name. But my background, I've studied acting for 6-7
years in New York. I always wanted to do soap operas and now I'm
doing a male soap opera. But I will admit the script is a lot
shorter to memorize.
Question: What advice do you have for a female that wants to
break into the business?
Debra: I would say it's very hard and from what I can tell most
of the women are usually brought in by husbands, boyfriends ...
usually they know someone in the industry. That's how they're
brought in most of the time. A small percentage is brought in by
them sending in tapes.
Question: What do you think of Vince and Shane McMahon?
Debra: I think Vince and Shane, on camera, are great characters.
They know how to raise your blood pressure and get under your
skin. Which makes for a very entertaining show. But off camera
they're very nice, very classy and very respectful. They always
speak to you They always tell you how glad they are that you work
for the company. I like that Vince does all these crazy
things--bleed, get cut-- he'll do all these things, that when you
are asked to do it, you feel better about it. Because Vince
doesn't have to do it, he owns the company and is worth millions.
And he would do it too!
Question: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Debra: In my spare time, I'm actually very boring and quiet. I'm
an outdoors person. I actually go hunting believe it or not. I'm
actually a bit of a tomboy off camera. I like to go
four-wheeling. And I love to go water skiing and go to the gym.
Any kind of activity outside. I really don't watch TV and I
really don't stay inside a lot.
Question: What is life on the road like?
Debra: Life on the road I think takes a special kind of person.
In the beginning you have to just get used to it. You learn how
to pack and wash your clothes on the road. You learn how to eat
healthy on the road. And you have to make sure you go to the gym
every day. But the weird thing is your body gets used to it. You
become a big family with all the people you work with. If I
didn't have this job, I'd probably be in a traveling theatrical
group. And it's kind of the same thing. And I really will miss
working for this company because it becomes addictive. When I'm
at home a lot I actually get bored.
Question: Can we expect to see you in a Playboy spread in the
future?
Debra: I would love to do a Playboy spread. But only if the money
is right. I think it's a very classy magazine. I normally would
never do something of that nature. Playboy is the only magazine I
would do that for.
Question: Who do you hang out with backstage?
Debra: Backstage my best friend is Chyna. I hang with her every
night at the show and I talk to her every night at home when I'm
not working. We're opposites on the outside, but on the inside
we're the same person. We both think alike. We like the same
things. But we just look different on the outside.
Question: What are you excited about concerning Fully Loaded?
Debra: Pay-Per-Views are always high energy. It's always our best
work. All our shows are really top quality. But all our storys
build up to the Pay-Per-View. There's a lot of energy backstage
at PPV. Everyone wants to go a good job. And I think all our PPVs
are exciting.
Question: What's in the future for you Debra?
Debra: I wish I knew that myself. I hope that I can be a big part
of the WWF. I would hope that one day I would be one of the top
lady stars of the WWF. After this job, I hope to work in public
relations for a company. I know this job will not last forever,
especially as a female. That's why I'm thinking PR because I
really love this company and I really would want to do it for
them. Last year I signed a two year deal with the third year
optional. I would hope for another two or three year contract. So
I'm hoping for another four years or five years.
Question: Besides Jeff, who is your favorite superstar?
Debra: Of course, Stone Cold. I like Chyna and Hunter. Those
three are my favorites. I think those three are very educated
with the psychology of wrestling. They put their heart and soul
into each match. They know what they're doing out there. They
know how to play the fans and put on a very entertaining match. I
personally have learned a lot watching these people. And they've
helped me a lot to with my character backstage. I didn't know who
to root for when Stone Cold stunned Jeff! But seriously, when I'm
on camera I'm Debra the character 100 percent. The fans paid a
lot of money to see us perform. My character is supposed to be
very tough, very sexy and sensuous. And I try to be all those
things. When they say my name I'm Debra 100 percent. And I do try
to show the puppies every time.
Question: Do you keep in touch with anybody from WCW anymore?
Debra: No. The other day I was in San Francisco and I ran into
Elizabeth and Lex Luger in the gym. And that was the first time
I've actually talked with anyone from that organization in a very
long time. We talked for a while and it was nice to see them. But
it's pretty much two different worlds. Those people, all you have
in common is wrestling, and you don't want to talk about what
your company is doing. So it's pretty much, "Hi, how are
you?" So pretty much I don't talk to people from other
companies.
Question: What do you think of the current "puppies"
craze?
Debra: I love it. I think it gives me more of an identity with my
character. That even people can relate to and find it
entertaining to chant. It's amazing being at the arenas now and
when I walk out I can hear thousands of people chanting for the
puppies. And it makes me laugh every time. And then again it's an
excellent marketing tool. I've got a couple of T-shirts coming
out. I'm on the cover of an upcoming RAW Magazine with two
puppies. And they're making a poster of that, and they're
actually going to do some hats too. So that puppies craze is
definitely a good thing for me.
Question: When you were a child, what were your career
aspirations?
Debra: I was a big ham. I loved to be in front of people. I was
always a clown I would always act goofy to get a laugh out of
people. In school I was very outgoing. I was cheerleader,
homecoming queen and the most popular. And I was in the drama
club. So doing this is pretty much on track with what I wanted to
do. I didn't think I'd be in wrestling, but I love it. I did
think I'd be in some sort of entertainment as a child.
Question: Did you watch the WWF when you were growing up?
Debra: Growing up I never watched WWF. I hate to admit to that.
But I never did. That's why working with Jeff has helped a lot in
learning the business and the psychology of it. I never knew that
wrestling had storylines and build up. I never knew how loyal the
fans were to wrestling. And I've found out that wrestling fans
are very smart and loyal and you can't trick 'em. They know
what's going on. And they're very dedicated. It's so nice to work
with the WWF and talk with the fans and they say, "what
about this storyline?" It makes you know that your work
isn't going unnoticed and the fans appreciate what you do. And I
know I wouldn't have a job without the fans. And I try to give
the fans my heart and soul so they can enjoy the match I'm
involved in.
Question: What was your most embarassing moment?
Debra: I'm had so many. Let me think. That's a tough one. I've
had so many stupid and embarrassing moments I can't even list
them. Some of them are so embarrasing I wouldn't want anyone to
know about them!
Question: Thank you very much Debra. Is there anything else you
would like to say in closing?
Debra: I just want to thank the fans for all their support and
helping make our ratings so super! Because of you I have a job.