LuFisto is an independent wrestler who first stepped in a wresting ring on June 19th 1997 and has been going strong for the better part of 20 years. The current Shine World Champion has taken her craft all over the world while becoming an infamous rule breaker when it comes to inter-gender wrestling.
Fearless is the perfect word that describes “The Wounded Owl” based on her various in ring performances. From Incandescent Light Tube battles to Hardcore Death matches, she has faced the toughest opponents around and is one of the most intense competitors you will witness today. Her quest to revolutionize women’s wrestling as a force to be reckoned with is what leads her into battle.
Now a proud member of C4 at Shine Wrestling, she takes her opponents on a one way trip to The Wounded Owl University. In her own words, this is where knowledge is acquired through pain with misery being her pleasure. She has truly been a professional in and outside the ring, which is why the respect she receives from her peers is unmatched.
By following the Independent Circuit and their storied careers, I am able to catch up with some of them and conduct an interview from time to time, which allows them to share with us their story. Recently I was able to catch up with LuFisto and she was gracious enough to put a halt to her busy schedule to discuss her career, future, and accomplishments. This is what she had to say.
* When did your pro wrestling career begin? How did you get started?
The journey began in 1997. I was already a wrestling fan (mainly of the Undertaker) and a school opened its doors in my hometown of Sorel, Quebec, Canada. Many people I knew were joining but most of them thought I wouldn’t be able to go through the classes because I was too short, not in shape enough and that wrestling was not for girls.
What motivated me was proving people wrong. I had just recently discovered Joshi wrestling because of Bull Nakano joining WWE. I just fell in love with Japanese wrestling. I also was a big fan of Luna Vachon so I began researching about Vivian, a legend in Quebec wrestling. My first match took place on June 20th 1997 after only a few months of training.
* What federations have you worked for along the way?
Hundreds. Would be too long to name them all but here are a few:
Shimmer Women Athletes – USA
Shine Wrestling – USA
Beyond Wrestling – USA
Women Superstars Uncensored – USA
Lucha Libre AAA – Mexico
Bellatrix Female Warriors – England
Absolute Intense Wrestling – USA
Alternative Wrestling Show – USA
AtoZ – Japan.
Combat Zone Wrestling – USA
SMASH Wrestling – Canada
Lucha Libre Feminil – Mexico
Alpha Omega Wrestling – USA
Ring of Honor – USA
Jersey All Pro Wrestling – USA
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla – USA
International Women Grand Prix – Japan
Lucha Pop – Mexico
NCW Femmes Fatales – Canada
Deutche Wrestling Allianz – Germany
North Shore Pro Wrestling – Canada
* How could you explain the life on an independent wrestler?
It’s a struggle. You have to go everything by yourself. You train, develop your character, promote yourself and manage your own schedule… It’s a way of life really. If you are serious about it, it affects everything, from friendship to relationships, to the way you train, you eat… You also have to deal with injuries, work around them. However, the beautiful thing about independent wrestling is freedom. You can choose where you wrestle, against who and when.
* Are there any funny/crazy road stories you would like to share?
It’s funny how everybody asks this question. In 20 years of wrestling, many things happened. It’s always hard for me to pick one or actually, remember one… There’s that one time where a midget wrestler was locked outside his hotel room… He was drunk and completely naked running down the hall… This is something that is hard to forget. 🙂
* When did you decide to go full speed ahead to becoming a professional athlete?
Since I’m not signed with any major promotion, I don’t consider myself a professional athlete. If I were a professional, I would have someone dealing with my schedule, my finances and I wouldn’t struggle as much for sure. I’m more of an athlete who is doing wrestling on the weekends, the style of wrestling we call “professional”.
With that being said, wrestling has always been very important for me and I do threat it as such. People come to see me wrestle and I will always give them everything I got when I’m in the ring.
As I mentioned before, when you are serious about it, even if you are not a “professional athlete”, you have to act like one anyway. You have to put in the time needed and make the sacrifices it might require to be successful. You have to promote yourself on social media or via a website just as much as if you were someone like Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks… Yes Chicago is my favorite hockey team… #OneGoal! 😀
* How did you decide on your name/gimmick?
When I went to Japan in 2003, they asked me to change my then name “Precious Lucy” that was given to me by “The Mountie” Jacques Rougeau so what I did is mix of my old name “Precious Lucy” and Jedi Fisto from Star Wars: LuFisto. It’s easy to remember, easy to pronounce in any language and sounds like something out of a comic book.
The first version of LuFisto was inspired by Mangas and Animes. I really liked also their paradox: extreme cuteness juxtaposed with ultra-violence. I thought it was the perfect fit for me. I inspired my ring attire from actually Anime characters such as Sailor Moon and Cutey Honey. In 2009, I added a manager doll by the name of Pegaboo. However with time, I noticed that too many people started to look like me, even some carrying dolls as well. So I modified it so I could stay unique.
I now use the “Wounded Owl” nickname because it defines the scars and knowledge I collected throughout 20 years of wrestling on the independent circuit. What I wear is inspired mostly by musicians and bands such as Stone Temple Pilot Scott Weiland’s army look on stage or Iron Maiden’s Eddie.
I just want my gear to reflect my own style now. I’m a metal head with tattoos, piercings who changes her hair color often. It has to match my personality so I can stay comfortable with my character. I will play with the style depending if I’m a babyface or a heel.
* Were there any obstacles on your journey to the ring? If so, what were they and how did you overcome them?
Back then, I was often the only girl on the shows. Therefore, most promoters wanted me to be a manager. I wanted to be a wrestler. So I butted head with many people along the way to be treated as an equal, a wrestler, not just a piece of meat, the girl that goes to the ring with a man wrestler and whatnot. I had to wrestle guys and some of them were not happy. I got beat and stretch pretty bad but I would always fight back. I would get back up. Every match was about to prove that I belong in there. I even fought the government of Ontario, Canada who wouldn’t let girls fight guys.
How did I overcome all this? I don’t know. It took a toll on me physically and mentally. I just wouldn’t accept to be restricted because I’m a woman. I fought for my beliefs, any way I could.
* What are your thoughts on the current status of Women’s Wrestling and how it has been growing?
Today, women’s wrestling is a trend. It is cool to be a female wrestler. Promoters have also noticed that there are hardcore fans of it so they will make room for it on their card, even featuring the women matches in top spots. A lot of women that have worked hard on the Indy Circuit are getting recruited by the big leagues and it is wonderful. Women’s wrestling is in a very good place right now.
The only thing that still needs work is its standards. An older male wrestler will be seen as experienced and being a ring general… An older woman wrestler will be seen as “old and passed her prime.” Several males over 30 are having tryouts and getting hired… Women, if you are passed 30 and you don’t have someone pushing for you, you won’t be very lucky.
* What would be your dream match?
At this point, I just wish a major promotion would give me a shot, take a chance on me.
* What would you say is your greatest accomplishment in the sport of professional wrestling?
I stood up against everybody who told me I couldn’t do something because I am a woman. I fought for women’s rights in wrestling with the other few women that were there when no one believed in us. Today, it is much easier to be a woman wrestler. People say the women’s revolution is recent when it is not. I was built throughout the hard work of the women on the Indy Circuit. I’d like to think that I’m one of those.
* What is your most memorable match and who has been your toughest opponent to date?
There are several matches that were memorable to me, like wrestling my idols like Jazz and Ayako Hamada. The most recent thought would be my last match against Kimber Lee before she left for NXT. It was quite emotional.
Toughest opponent? Definitely the Necro Butcher.
* Who are/were some your favorite wrestlers and why?
Favorite wrestler growing up… Undertaker, Bull Nakano, Akira Hokuto, Owen Hart and Chris Benoit. Taker for his amazing presence, Bull for her skills and power and Hokuto because she was fearless. Owen because of his wrestling skills and he was so entertaining. Benoit for his intensity and technical abilities.
Today, I would say my favorite is Chris Jericho. He is a master at what he does. He makes everybody look like a million bucks. He is skilled and entertaining and such an amazing heel. I’m never bored watching him.
* Who is LuFisto off script?
I’m a loner who likes to keep to myself. I am very protective of my private life too. I keep my circle of friends small and close. I have two degrees in multimedia and graphic design so I spend a lot of time on the computer as I love to create stuff, wrestling related or not. Heavy Metal is what I love the most in life, Iron Maiden being my favorite band of all time. Before wrestling, I was in a band where I played bass and was also the signer. I recently bought myself a bass so I could play again.
I’m also confident about what I can do but very insecure as well. I am my worst enemy as my brain never stops thinking, even over-thinking.
* How did it feel to become the Champion at Shine 40?
It felt rewarding that the company would trust me to hold their title. I am extremely grateful that they took a chance on me and, after being a baby face for so long, they decided to use me as a heel. It is definitely a breath of fresh air and challenging.
* What is the C4 Stable all about? How did you become a member?
I could describe C4 as being “The Forgotten Ones”. Four girls that felt that Shine was not giving them a fair shot got together to create chaos. We might have lost a member already but now that I am the Shine Champion, nothing will stop us.
* What needs to be accomplished in your eyes to be able to look back and call your career a success when it’s all over?
I won’t be satisfied until someone gives me a fair shot at performing in a major company. I have worked so hard and sacrificed everything. Right now, the phrase “hard work pays off” is a lie to me. I hope it changes before I have no other choice but to retire. With that being said, being involved as a trainer, an in-ring guide like being a referee or helping the young generation as an agent would also qualify as being successful to me. All aspects and roles you can fill in a wrestling promotion interest me.
***Hopefully you enjoyed this interview and learned some new and interesting things about LuFisto. The world of wrestling is a demanding business and the time set aside to do this interview should not be underestimated. I would like to personally thank LuFisto for taking the time to share with me her stories so I could share them with all of you. Her time is greatly appreciated…..
***You can find more information on LuFisto by visiting www.lufisto.com. You can access all her social media accounts there as well. She has some very cool merchandise available, as well as exclusive downloads. 🙂
Go give her a follow and show some eWN love!
