In 1989, Madusa
accepted an invitation by the All-Japan women's promotion to work a six-week
tour of Japan. Madusa subsequently worked several tours there and eventually
signed a three-year contract with All-Japan. She was the first non-Japanese wrestler
to get a long-term contract from the promotion.
Madusa's popularity
in Japan transcended wrestling. She took Japanese popular culture by storm. All-Japan
issued Madusa posters, action figures and even a CD-titled "Who's Madusa?" -and
music videos. She then began adding to her repertoire in contact sports. Madusa
studied several forms of martial arts, including Mauy Thai, and competed in kickboxing
and boxing matches.
Upon returning
to the United States, Madusa reestablished her name by wrestling on the independent
scene for a year. From there, she signed with WCW, working mostly as a valet
for wrestlers such as "Ravishing" Rick Rude. After a couple years there,
Madusa jumped to the WWF, where she wrestled under the name of Alundra Blayze.
Madusa won the WWF women's title, feuding with legendary competitors such as
Bull Nakano and Monster Ripper (a.k.a. Bertha Faye). In one of her most con-
troversial moments, Madusa left the WWF in 1996 and returned to WCW. In her first
appearance back with WCW, she threw the WWF women's title belt in a trash can
on live television.
Madusa continues
to work for WCW, where she has had several roles. In addition to winning the
WCW women's title, she also became the first woman to win the cruiserweight title.
When she wasn't competing in the ring, Madusa served as a valet for the wildly
popular Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Recently, Madusa took on the task
of teaching the women of WCW how to take bumps. In addition, she writes a monthly
column for WCW Magazine. In 1999, Madusa added monster truck driver to her resume.
She has competed on the monster truck circuit for two seasons, and drove her
namesake "Madusa" monster truck to the USHRA Monster Jam World Finals.
Away from the ring, Madusa enjoys riding her four Harley Davidson motorcycles
and raising wolves. She is currently working on her autobiography.
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