WrestlingLady's Tribute to G.L.O.W.
(The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling)

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GLOW (the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) was the first and only exclusively, all women wrestling show to ever appear on free television in the United States. Eventually it was broadcast via satellite to most parts of the world at one time or another. It ran during the mid 1980's, before the term "politically correct" existed.
Discussions of GLOW are often passionate, with some sharing their fond memories of the opportunity to witness female wrestling on television from the comfort of their own home. Still others, (most women wrestlers, I might add) viewed it as a degrading "T&A" show, with women who had little to no wrestling skill. But whatever your personal feelings regarding the show, the one unargueable point is that GLOW introduced many people to the sport of female wrestling. That's not to express an opinion on whether the show actually featured legitimate wrestling, but it was the "introduction to the sport" for many people.
So here I celebrate GLOW, and pay tribute to the women who participated in it's production.

History of GLOW:
GLOW was founded by two men named Matt Cimber and David McLane who, with the help of financial backing, put together the general concept for the show. There are several different opinions as to whose idea the format which ultimately was aired was, but the most popular theory is that David wanted a more wrestling oriented show, while Matt and the "money people" wanted more variety and "T&A". As is usually the case, the money talked, and so the GLOW we all know was born.
The "wrestlers" were primarily wanna be models with little or no prior wrestling experience. Open auditions were held in Las Vegas (the home base of GLOW), Hollywood Ca. and various other venues throughout the country. From there the field was dwindled down and eventually the "core" group of women were then given 2 months worth of training (4 times per week) at a gym in the Watts section of Los Angeles by a trainer named Mondo Guerreo.
The pilot was shot in Las Vegas on December 5, 1985. The show however focused as much on sexy costumes and acting as actual wrestling skills. That is why many people consider GLOW as having been a variety show, rather than a wrestling show. A perfect example is an interesting fact which a friend recently shared with me. Apparently the infamous lady wrestler "Luna" Vachon auditioned for GLOW at an open audition in Florida during the show's second season, and was rejected! Guess they were afraid that a real wrestler might put a few of those pretty faces in bandages!
Anyway, GLOW also spawned a short-lived magazine and a few video tapes, which still float around in some of the smaller video stores in the U.S. and abroad. (go to my LINKS PAGE for Websites where you can purchase GLOW tapes) But what GLOW is probably most famous for was the use of "crotch shots" (see below) and other sexually oriented camera angles.
Eventually, or so it is rumored, David McLane grew frustrated with the show and left to start POWW (Powerful Women of Wrestling), with the intention of focusing on wrestling. He lured some of the more skilled GLOW wrestlers with him, and was even able to get a few of the shows on television, but it never took off. He then attempted another women's wrestling venture called the Ladies Sports Club, but it was very short-lived, and never heard of by most people.
Jackie Stallone (Sylvester's mom) tried to copy the original concept of GLOW after it's demise, with a boxing/wrestling troupe she called "Knockouts". They even produced a video which featured women boxing and wrestling (pretty cheesy, I've seen it), but before long they too had faded away.
Some of the GLOW wrestlers were active in other ventures after GLOW, POWW and the Ladies Sports Club closed their doors, and even a few are still around today.

*Hollywood- (of Hollywood and Vine fame) still wrestles for several companies and was featured in "Fighting Females" magazine (she looked GORGEOUS!) as well as in a spread in Playboy which featured women wrestlers (1989,I think). She will even be producing her own wrestling videos in the very near future! She has also appeared on numerous network television shows as an actress. Another venture for this beautiful and talented woman is her own website called Hollywood's Hideway. Click on that title to access her page.
NEWS! HOLLYWOOD AND GODIVA REALEASE A BRAND NEW VIDEO! CHECK OUT HOLLYWOOD'S HOMEPAGE FOR MORE INFO!
*Matilda the Hun- has a website under the name of Queen Kong . Click on her name to access it. She has done a number of interesting things which you can read about on her website.
*Tiffany Melon- (the latter stages of GLOW), is now a famous porn star who goes by the name Tyffany Millions. There is a website which features personal info about Tyffany. Click here to access, but be aware, it is an adult only site!
*Salt & Pepper- became very popular wresters later on, Charlie "Golden Cat" Haynes and Princess Jasmine.
*Dallas- wrestled as "Debbie the Killer Tomato" with the AWA, Golden Girls video company and a number of smaller production companies.
*Lightning- (of Thunderbolt and Lightning) was really Cheryl Rusa, who wrestled for several organizations after GLOW, and appeared in a Playboy spread featuring "stuntwoman", which she is currenly in the Los Angeles area. I was forwarded an interview with her in which she speaks about GLOW and her wrestling experiences, but need her permission before I post it.
*Tulsa- Real name is Jody Haselbarth. Works as a stuntwoman currently in Texas.

*Godiva- I was very surprised by her popularity since of the tons of e-mail I receive about GLOW, the most requests for information are about this woman. Her real name is Dawn Rice (now Sanders) and she was origianlly from Las Vegas. Her high school chum, Debbie Debutante, convinced her to join GLOW in it's third season. She currently lives in Southern Cal., where she manages a restaurant. She is also a very gifted sculptor and artist. I do not beleive she continued to wrestle after GLOW's demise. I have corresponded with Dawn directly, and she was a very lovely woman.
NEWS! HOLLYWOOD AND GODIVA REALEASE A BRAND NEW VIDEO! CHECK OUT HOLLYWOOD'S HOMEPAGE FOR MORE INFO!
*Liberty- Real name is Barbara Roberts. She has appeared in Fighting Females Magazine as well as a few television shows and will be on the cover of the July 1999 issue of Biker Magazine. She also has her own website Barbaraweb.com. To be perfectly honest, I do not remember her character, nor do I have any pics of her in action. So if you do, please e-mail them to me.

And for even more detailed information on some of GLOW's most popular wrestlers, see below for my featured GLOW wrestlers pages, with lots of great pics and personal information.

With GLOW long gone, it is fun to look back on it and remember when you could switch on the TV and have a laugh, or be aroused, or even watch some decent womens' wrestling on ocassion. Everyone has their own memories of GLOW, so what I have tried to do here is show some pictures, provide some information, bring back memories and stimulate conversation about the show.

And last but not least, a special thank you to THORSTEN, HOLLYWOOD, MERLIN, BORIS, BEARHUG, The WATCHER, SHIAI, QUEEN KONG and everyone else who was so thoughful and helpful in contributing to this effort! You're all great!!!

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INCREDIBLE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN REGARD TO GLOW!!!
As you probably know by know, David McLane, the founder of GLOW, formed a new troupe of women wrestlers in early 2001 who go by the name of WOW - Women of Wrestling! Click on the pic to access the WOW Website!

But in a truly amazing recent development, it appears that Babe the Farmers Daughter (Ursula Hayden) have purchased the rights to the GLOW - Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling name and is trying to resurrect the promotion. Here is the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2001
GORGEOUS LADY OF WRESTLING ACQUIRES COMPANY
"Farmer's Daughter" Hopes seed sown in 90's will reap bountiful harvest.
Los Angeles, CA--Ursula Hayden, who portrayed the well scrubbed, wholesome Babe The Farmer's Daughter on the smash G.L.O.W.-Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling television series has announced she has purchased the company for an undisclosed price.
G.L.O.W. pioneered the woman's wrestling genre, and did so with a unique blend of action, comedy sketches and music videos.
If the G.L.O.W. name has a familiar ring to non- wrestling fans, it is probably because G.L.O.W. was featured in People Magazine, Married...With Children,Phil Donahue, and David Letterman. G.L.O.W. had broad national appeal and was a ratings winner that generated strong revenues.
Ms. Hayden becomes the first female owner of a wrestling company that spotlights female performers. "Male dominance really hindered G.L.O.W., just as it impedes other businesses" Hayden said today. "G.L.O.W. was especially vulnerable and impacted because the women were perceived and packaged not as the athletes they were, but as sex objects. My mission is to change that."
"It was interesting that when G.L.O.W. was programmed by a female P.D., as it was on WPIX in New York, the show ran at noon on Saturdays. G.L.O.W. became a huge hit there because young girls perceived the G.L.O.W. women as superheroes and role models. 70% of our fan mail from the New York'area came from girls 8-14."
"Of course, in some other markets, male P.D.'s decided because G.L.O.W. featued female wrestlers, it should run at 2 in the morning", Hayden continued. "With very few young girls, who were our target audience, able to watch at that the hour, the show did not do well. This was no surprise to me."
G.L.O.W. cast members Hollywood, Melody Trouble Vixen (MTV), Lightning, The Housewifes, Godiva, Johnny C., and Daisy have all signed with Hayden's company. In addition Hayden plans open casting calls in Los Angeles for new G.L.O.W. performers.
Hayden's plans include a G.L.O.W. reunion tour, web site (www.glowgirls.tv),television show and licensing program. G.L.O.W is currently in negoiations with two cable television networks. Star Quality Products of Minneapolis has been selected as the G.L.O.W. licensing agent.
"It's a new era for the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling" Hayden said before slipping into her trademark Farmers Daughter southern drawl. "I plum did good, didn't Ah? Ain't too shabby for a farm girl in the big city, right, pa?"
Click on the pic to access the new GLOW Girls website!

GLOW Wrestlers:
Below are pages devoted solely to a few individual GLOW wrestlers. Simply click on the thumbnail below to access that wrestlers' page.

AMERICANA TINA FERRARI SPANISH RED HOLLYWOOD
The GOOD GIRLS The BAD GIRLS

Had enough GLOW for now? Take a break and go see the other great women's wrestling stuff on my Homepage!

GLOW Video:
Click on the title to view a short video clip from GLOW (you must have a video player to view! Thanks Thorsten!)
GLOW VIDEO #1
GLOW VIDEO #2
GLOW VIDEO #3

GLOW Pictures:
Some general pictures from GLOW!

The most frequently broadcast pictures from the GLOW show and what they were "famous for", the
CROTCH SHOTS!

Another GLOW favorite, the Pile Driver!

And what tribute to GLOW would be complete without the BackBreaker!

More miscellaneous GLOW photos

Thanks for stopping by, but DON'T LEAVE YET! There's lots of other great womens' wrestling stuff on MY HOME PAGE, so click here to take a look!

© 1997 wrestlinglady@yahoo.com

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