By Mark Worrall@hoohoowozza
The following is a conversation that I had today with Chantal Jordan, a member of the Kamikaze Pro roster. Who at the tender age of just 15 is rapidly making a name for herself, not only on the Kamikaze Pro scene, but all around the Midlands as she continues to grow and become a top player amongst the super Female talent that the UK has to offer. Chantal in my opinion is a future star and I was fortunate to find out just how she came to be in the wrestling business, and what plans she has for the future.
Mark: Why and how did your love of wrestling first come about?
Chantal: My love for wrestling started when I was about 8, my dad used to come over and bring wrestling tapes to watch. He and my brother loved watching them and I wasn’t really interested at the time until I saw Mankind vs. The Undertaker Hell in a Cell match, and for some reason that match really got me intrigued and interested. Then I started watching more matches with the likes of Chyna, Lita, DX, and Evolution etc. Then I went to my first ever wrestling show back in 2013 at Preston City wrestling, where there was Tommy Dreamer vs. T Bone. And I really enjoyed the show as the action was so up close and from this I went to more shows and that’s how my love for wrestling started out.
Mark: I guess from your answer that your family enjoys wrestling too? Was it watching the local shows that gave you ambitions to become a wrestler yourself or was it watching WWE?
Chantal: Yes, my family enjoy the wrestling too, watching the local shows made me have that ambition to become a wrestler.
Mark: So how did you go about training to become a wrestler, and how old was you when you began? Also, when did Kamikaze Pro come into your life? Have you always trained at their Dojo?
Chantal: So basically, since watching the local shows, I then found Kamikaze Pro down at the Cadbury club, I think it was their first Frost Fight show, I’m not particularly sure but they had the likes of Uhaa Nation vs. Val Kabious, Pete Dunne vs. Ryan smile etc. And I noticed they had a training school down at the Budokan Martial Arts centre in Birmingham. So, my mum contacted them about us coming down at some point for a session and told them about how I had a background in Kickboxing, I was only 11 years old when I started training there and ever since I’ve constantly trained there every week. Kamikaze is literally like a home to me and it’s like one big massive family.
Mark: So, from your answer your mum seems like your biggest fan? Has it made it easier for you to train to be a wrestler knowing you have the full support of your mum? Have you had anyone try to discourage you?
Chantal: Yeah, I will always say, my mum is my biggest supporter, if it wasn’t for her taking me down to shows, to training etc. I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing now. It has in some way made it easier for me to train knowing that my mum is always supporting me because without her I wouldn’t be able to get to training sessions and she enables me to follow my dreams. I have had many people try to discourage me, I get bullied every day at school for following my dreams, name calling, and many people tell me that I’m too young, or I’m not good enough, but I know that I love and have so much passion for what I do and all the hate and negativity motivates me even more to pursue my dreams, and train harder. If you believe in yourself anything is possible.
Mark: Absolutely! We also know as wrestling fans how good you are, and Chantal, you are living your dreams and last June you made your Kamikaze Pro Live debut at the Collingwood Centre, Great Barr. A show I was at and your arrival was not advertised as you beat David Scott Preston. Firstly, you were known as the baddest Girl on the planet! Was that your idea? Or was it given to you? Also, with your Kickboxing background, is that the reason for your style of wrestling?
Chantal: Originally it was given to me as nobody else had that nickname but then early on this year it was changed to the bad girl due to Ronda Rousey using the nickname baddest woman on the planet and my trainer didn’t want people to think that I’m a Ronda Rousey copy. I’ve been doing kickboxing now for 9 and a half years and it is a massive influence in my wrestling style and so with the MMA training too, And I thought that I may as well also incorporate what I know with wrestling.
Mark: You are undefeated in the Pro Live shows, which I think suits your character; however, your move to the main roster saw you perform at the Rise of an Empress tournament on April 14th in which you reached the Final and really showed how good you are. How disappointed were you not to win the belt?!
Chantal: Yeah that’s correct; to perform in the tournament was such a special moment. Every girl on that card deserved the title. But wrestling Shanna was honestly a dream becoming reality. Ever since I saw Shanna back in 2013/14 and had my first ever seminar with her, I’ve always wanted to wrestle her, to me she is one of the best in the world and being able to wrestle her was such an overwhelming experience. To be honest I wasn’t disappointed to not win the belt, I was honoured to be in the final with Shanna, I have so much respect for that girl and I hope sometimes I can have a rematch for that title.
Mark: No doubt that Shanna is a talent and the final was perfectly wrestled. How important is it to you that Kamikaze Pro has a Fighting Females title?
Chantal: I think it’s very important as there are many women wrestlers out there that can show what they can do, and the women’s platform is getting bigger and bigger. Fans have always been asking for years now for kamikaze pro to have a women’s belt and hopefully this will now produce more fighting female shows and more women matches on card to showcase more talent.
Mark: I couldn’t agree more, as a fan of women’s wrestling it is important to showcase the talent the UK has! Regarding that, who are your influence’s and if you could choose one person to wrestle, alive or passed, who would you choose?
Chantal: My influences in wrestling were Lita, Chyna and Kay Lee Ray, somebody I really look up to with her style, and would love to wrestle at some point. Also, that’s a hard question to answer as there are three people I would really love to wrestle and that’s Tessa Blanchard, Kay lee ray and Mercedes Martinez. But if I had to choose one it would be Tessa Blanchard. As she is a phenomenal wrestler, and I have never seen her in a bad match.
Mark: Finally, what are the goals for you Chantal? Where do you see yourself in years to come?
Chantal: My goals are to wrestle all over the world and I hope at some point I get into a major promotion like Impact, ROH, Shimmer, Stardom and AEW.
Mark: As one of your biggest supporters I have no doubt that you will wrestle in any promotion you choose in the future.
Chantal: Aww thank you.
Mark: Thank you Chantal, really enjoyed doing this and getting to know who Chantal Jordan is.
Chantal: No worries, it was a pleasure. Thank you so much for the opportunity to do this.
Chantal will be appearing for Kamikaze Pro Live on May 10th at the Cadbury Club, worth a trip not only to see a great show, but also to see the ‘Bad Girl’ herself!
Big shout out to Chantal for agreeing to do this interview.
Special thanks to Wrestleography@wrestleography for the images used
You can also find Chantal on Social Media on Twitter @chantaljordan37 Also, on Facebook @Chantal-Jordan
