A two-time WWE Women's Champion, Jazz is back in the spotlight -- but it's not at WWE Evolution, for Impact Wrestling, ROH, or the national stages where you see many familiar faces. Instead, it's the NWA, and their 70th Anniversary show.
Jazz was profiled by NWA after holding their Women's Championship for over two years, giving viewers a look inside her life. With a new regime in the company, Jazz will defend her championship Sunday night against Penelope Ford, who had a breakout performance of her own at last month's All In show. For Jazz, she wants to do for the NWA Women's Championship what Cody Rhodes, Nick Aldis and Tim Storm have done for the Ten Pounds of Gold over the past year.
"The NWA before was just passing belts along to whoever they thought was pretty and cute at the time. I'm trying to make the NWA mean what it meant before. Make it represent like with Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. It's not something I'm just putting around my waist and saying 'I have a belt.' This is my legacy. I'm taking this to heart, so I hope Penelope is coming prepared. I'm not in there trying to be the prettiest girl in the back 'look at my ass, look at my tits.' I'm there for business. Jazz is nothin' to fuck with," said Jazz to Fightful.com.
Jazz first emerged on the national scene in the late 90s for ECW, wrestling men. She'd experience her biggest exposure as a part of WWE years later, but was quick to admit that the style of wrestling didn't really fit her profile. She's expecting to get back to her roots at NWA 70th Anniversary.
"I had to tone myself down a little bit in WWE coming from ECW. I had to work a little less the way I worked -- less stiff. Of course I was working men, I had to lay it in. I couldn't look like a girl out there and expect a man to sell. I had to re-teach myself how to work with women to still be vicious, but not give them a reason to bitch. Mentally, physically, I'm prepared for this opportunity. It's not gonna be nerves and butterflies. The only thing on my mind is to come in with aggression and physicality and beat the shit out of Penelope Ford and walk out with my title," said Jazz.
At 46, Jazz isn't the only person of her age to take women's wrestling by storm, as she is joined by ROH Women of Honor World Champion Sumie Sakai. On the other hand, Jazz's opponent in Penelope Ford? She's 20 years the junior of the NWA Women's Champion.
NWA 70th Anniversary takes place Sunday, October 21 from the Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. You can order the show on Fite TV, and check our our live coverage and discussion here at Fightful.com. We will also be bringing you a live, post-show podcast right after the event.
