Alundra Blayze to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2015
A trailblazing woman in every sense, it's only right that Alundra Blayze's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2015 was announced at the start of Women's History Month.
Alundra Blayze photos | Video highlights
Born Debrah Miceli, the Minnesota native broke into the industry in the mid-1980s, learning the ropes from Eddie Sharkey, the famed trainer who taught the likes of The Road Warriors, “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Tall, blonde and possessing the looks of a supermodel, she was a stark departure from the double-tough women of eras past. After adopting the ring name Madusa, she was brought on by Verne Gagne’s AWA, where she proved that despite her looks, she could hit just as hard as her opposition. Taking on future WWE Hall of Famers like Sensational Sherri and Wendi Richter, she captured the AWA Women’s Championship before leaving the company, and North America, for Japan.
Miceli spent three years wrestling and training with the revered All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling promotion. She excelled in the hard-hitting environment, incorporating martial arts into her arsenal. When she returned to America in 1991, she joined WCW and Paul Heyman’s infamous Dangerous Alliance, aiding rule-breakers like Rude and “Stunning” Steve Austin in trying to take out heroes like Sting.
Visit Alundra Blayze's WWE Hall of Fame profile
In 1993, she jumped to WWE, which was looking to revitalize its women’s division. Under the name Alundra Blayze, she won a tournament to capture the WWE Women’s Championship in late 1993. Blayze introduced the high-impact Japanese style to a new audience, bringing over foes like Aja Kong and Bull Nakano to show that women could fight just as well as their male counterparts.
Her career took a unique turn in 1995, when Blayze, after being released from her WWE contract, showed up on WCW Monday Nitro with the WWE Women’s Championship, only to throw it in the garbage on live television. The controversial moment remains one of the most talked-about milestones in the infamous Monday Night War.
Once again competing as Madusa, she helped WCW introduce its own women’s division, competing against Sherri and Nakano. By late 1999, she stepped outside of the women’s ranks and competed against the men, defeating Evan Karagias to capture the Cruiserweight Championship at that year’s Starrcade.
Since leaving wrestling after the closing of WCW, she entered the world of monster trucks, becoming one of the top drivers behind the wheel of a star-spangled truck bearing her ring name, Madusa. In addition to three reigns as WWF Women’s Champion, she’s also captured two Monster Jam World Finals championships.
Now, Alundra Blayze will be back under the WWE banner for the first time since 1995, when she joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
Tickets for the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com, the SAP Center box office, and by calling 800-745-3000.
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