#no wonder she was always my favorite

[s0undsinmyhead]

Rewatching Derry Girls, and Michelle is such a Sirius Black variant 😍

[bixels]

Learning that fans hated Applejack and called her "boring" is crazyyy to me because I genuinely, unironically believe AJ's the most complex character in the main six.

Backstory-wise, she was born into a family of famers/blue collar workers who helped found the town she lives in. She grew up a habitual liar until she had the bad habit traumatized outta her. She lost both her parents and was orphaned at a young age, having to step up as her baby sister's mother figure. She's the only person in the main gang who's experienced this level of loss and grief (A Royal Problem reveals that AJ dreams about memories of being held by her parents as a baby). She moved to Manhattan to live with her wealthy family members, only to realize she'll never fit in or be accepted, even amongst her own family. The earlier seasons imply she and her family had money problems too (In The Ticket Master, AJ wants to go to the gala to earn money to buy new farm equipment and afford hip surgery for her grandma).

Personality-wise, she's a total people-pleaser/steamroller (with an occasional savior complex) who places her self worth on her independence and usefulness for other people, causing her to become a complete workaholic. In Applebuck Season, AJ stops taking care of herself because of her obsessive responsibilities for others and becomes completely dysfunctional. In Apple Family Reunion, AJ has a tearful breakdown because in she thinks she dishonored her family and tarnished her reputation as a potential leader –– an expectation and anxiety that's directly tied to her deceased parents, as shown in the episode's ending scene. In The Last Roundup, AJ abandons her family and friends out of shame because believes she failed them by not earning 1st place in a rodeo competition. She completely spirals emotionally when she isn't able to fulfill her duties toward others. Her need to be the best manifests in intense pride and competitiveness when others challenge her. And when her pride's broken, she cowers and physically hides herself.

Moreover, it's strongly implied that AJ has a deep-seated anger. The comics explore her ranting outbursts more. EQG also obviously has AJ yelling at and insulting Rarity in a jealous fit just to hurt her feelings (with a line that I could write a whole dissection on). And I'm certain I read in a post somewhere that in a Gameloft event, AJ's negative traits are listed as anger.

Subtextually, a lot of these flaws and anxieties can be (retroactively) linked to her parents' death, forcing her to grow up too quickly to become the adult/caregiver of the family (especially after her big brother becomes semiverbal). Notice how throughout the series, she's constantly acting as the "mom friend" of the group (despite everything, she manages to be the most emotionally mature of the bunch). Notice how AJ'll switch to a quieter, calmer tone when her friends are panicking and use soothing prompts and questions to talk them through their emotions/problems; something she'd definitely pick up while raising a child. Same with her stoicism and reluctance at crying or releasing emotions (something Pinkie explicitly points out). She also had a childhood relationship with Rara (which, if you were to give a queer reading, could easy be interpreted as her first 'aha' crush), who eventually left her life. (Interestingly enough, AJ also has an angry outburst with Rara for the same exact reasons as with EQG Rarity; jealous, upset that someone else is using and changing her). It's not hard to imagine an AJ with separation anxiety stemming from her mother and childhood friend/crush leaving. I'm also not above reading into AJ's relationship with her little sister (Y'all ever think about how AB never got to know her parents, even though she shares her father's colors and her mother's curly hair?).

AJ's stubbornness is a symptom of growing up too quickly as well. Who else to play with your baby sister when your brother goes nonverbal (not to discount Big Mac's role in raising AB)? Who else to wake up in the middle of the night to care for your crying baby sister when your grandma needs her rest? When you need to be 100% all the time for your family, you tend to become hard-stuck with a sense of moral superiority. You know what's best because you have to be your best because if you're aren't your best, then everything'll inevitably fall apart and it'll be your fault. And if you don't know what's best –– if you've been wrong the whole time –– that means you haven't been your best, which means you've failed the people who rely on you, which means you can't fulfill your role in the family/society, which makes you worthless . We've seen time and time again how this compulsive need to be right for the sake of others becomes self-destructive (Apple Family Reunion, Sound of Silence, all competitions against RD). We've seen in The Last Roundup how, when no longer at her best, AJ would rather remove herself from her community than confront them because she no longer feels of use to them.

But I guess it is kinda weird that AJ has "masculine" traits and isn't interested in men at all. It's totally justified that an aggressively straight, misogynistic male fandom would characterize her as a "boring background character." /s

At the time of writing this, it's 4:46AM.

[azathothweirdo]

If there's one thing I'm really kind of sad about the movie not adapting, it's this scene:

I feel it's kind of a important puzzle piece for Bodnrewd, Prushka and their relationship. While it's easy in the anime to come to understand that Bondrewd does love the children he uses, it's kind of lacking. This page is one of the few I keep coming back too when it comes to his character. He could have easily said "this is a cartridge" but instead he states this is a little girl, and what her name is. He never once denies her humanity despite her current form. And makes it clear that she's helping him, rather than just a tool to be used.

It's also interesting how this is probably the most "selfish" we get of Bondrewd, stating that he needs to see the new dawn of the abyss when it comes. But he also understands that he needs help, and is willing to ask for it. Which is a reoccurring theme in the entire series. If you help others, they'll help you. While his need for help is indeed twisted and cruel, it adds a layer and shows that he does understand human connections.

As for Prushka it did a heck of a number to her character being cut. We see here that she knew what her fate was going to be. Maybe not the total extent but she clearly was willing and wanted too do so. I think people miss that Purshka's kind of a twisted character in her own right despite her positivity. Which matches her environment perfectly. It makes me wonder how much the other children that must be at Ido front at the same time know what Bondrewd is working on.

Which leads me to this being why Bondrewd sees Prushka as special. She's a child who is willing to help him. She isn't frightened by the box, and even jumped into asking if he needed help. That would make her an incredibly special child, and the one who would push him to acquiring the blessing later on.

[proodence]

I'm rewatching Alex Rider for like the 7th time but with my boyfriend and guys season 2 is so fucking good SEASON 2 IS SOOO GOOD

Alex being such a cheeky brat with the department and Alan Blunt losing his mind because Alex is being so clever and annoying

The slowly building mystery with all the pieces that gradually come together

Alex and Kyra being so cute with the washer and "survivors club" and "keeping score" of who has saved each other's life the most (and the end scene where he's looking up at her from the stage🥹😭)

Jack having her own storyline that actually serves the story and gives her character a purpose

Tom and Kyra both helping to progress the plot in ways that are genuinely required from them and makes sense for their characters

The subtle hints that Yassen is going to wind up helping Alex in the end, the way his character gradually becomes more complex with each episode

Alex just generally being so smart, so resourceful, so capable and just really encompassing his character, not to mention the genuine depth that comes from his trauma + him accidentally getting people killed over the course of the season (Blunt telling him he has blood on his hands)

The tension that builds within The Department as Smithers and Mrs. Jones start keeping secrets from Blunt about Alex

Damian Cray just getting absolutely dogpiled by Alex and the gang who just keep screwing over his plan again and again

Alex and Yassen FINALLY having a full conversation and it holds so much weight and hits so good

The part where Sabina cracks Anders over the head with her own laptop (honorable mention)

All the cheeky light hearted bits where the kids are just being shitheads with too much power, like cutting off the electricity to the whole postal code just to use the computer lab

And then on the flip the angst that comes from literally no one believing Alex about anything for like 60% of the season

It's just scene after scene of "oH THIS PARTS SO GOOD" and it doesn't stop until the very end

has it been long enough that I can say that season 3 just doesn't hit the same😭

[thequeendomeffect-noah]

So Janiq just got the Parr back pony completely out of the blue (and she looks GORGEOUS).

[mossypidder]

Working on finishing up a cloak for a cosplay while Nugget was out. She thinks she needs to steal my fleece.

[cha1cedony]

Thinking about Darryl and Casey. again

[jessamine-rose]

*squeezes aine this time*

Read my Yandere! Dottore fics first (⁎⁍̴̆Ɛ⁍̴̆⁎)

Chemistry ๑ Magnum Opus

So @ainescribe decided to surprise me with more Darling fan art, this time of Dottore’s Assistant!! *sobs* I love it so much ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡

Once again, feedback will be in the tags. Thank you so much for enjoying my writing, Aine <3

[emphasis-on-the-oopsie]

WtW fandom, what are your opinions on every season of the podcast?

[entering--hyperspace]

Its 2am, quick! Ramble some preliminary thoughts about Rytlock and Leo's relationship, spoiler alert! Its complicated!

I'm currently "going through" the personal story, and I was thinking about how...complicated Rytlock and Leo's relationship becomes especially as Rytlock Puts Himself Into Situations and that affecting a whole lot later into the story. I was talking to my friend about this. Heres the thing about these two,

They are not perfect for each other. This isn't a fairytale relationship, they arent destined lovers, they will never get a true domestic happy life together, and they could probably find people to fit them both better in the long run.

But, they were perfect for each other when they met.

Rytlock, punished for ambition, losing someone he cared about because of this, gaining a literal physical reminder of it, after he had just lost Destiny's edge. Blinded by glory, torn apart by loss, failure. He grew distant from his warband because the warmth of a flame was more enticing than the bonds of his past. He had no one, he was ignorant to the repeated life lessons, he was bored.

Leo, on the other hand, was a coiled snake ready to strike. He had ambitions of his own, he grew tired of constant death, reckless fighting. Spirits lamented over lost opportunity, of being playthings in wars fought by higher powers. He grew up in a land that was a physical cautionary tell of how single individuals could ruin the very souls and doom entire nations. Souls that cant rest, souls that cant return. It was Ascalon that inspired him to become a necromancer, to commune with spirits, to treat the dead with reverance, and thus respecting life before its final march. It did outcast him from his warband, save for a single individual.

When his warband died fighting due to carelessness on behalf of his legionnare, he still chose mercy, even in grief and anger he would not throw away lives as his people were so readily to do. He would show them all, he would show them there was a different way, that the road harder to travel on was a road worth walking if it meant preserving life. Others would see him as weak for this, but he had the confidence and skill to back it up his claims.

Perhaps it was the sharpness, the same cleverness that Rytlock admired in Crecia that drew him to Leo. I like that, honestly. Its a bit selfish, but Rytlock is a very selfish character for a while.

So he chose him, he could see his potential, he was amused, if anything, by someone with beliefs so different than anything they were raised to believe and was ready to challenge the very foundation they stood on. Speaking of, Leo challenged him in ways that surprised him, in ways that if Rytlock were anyone else Leo would have surely been deranked or snapped at for his boldness. He made him stop and consider, a unique viewpoint a fire that had lived for so long it became too strong to be snuffed out, that alone was impressive. Lmao, It's Leo constsntly challenging rytlock that draws him to Leo as well I think. Someone who will truthfully grab him by the ear and snap him back to his senses. On the other hand:

Leo wasn't ignorant of Rytlocks many prior transgressions and the blood most higher ranked charr spill to stand as tall as they do. He didn't think too highly of him before, but desperate times call for desperate measures. They were also, both, lonely. Rytlock appreciated having someone who he slowly crept into being a bit more of himself around, and Leo appreciated the opportunity of gaining his favor, as well as the acceptance of his beliefs. Rytlock understood climbing a steep hill with the people around pouring water down waiting for a slip. He's loyal above all else, he's similarly ambitious. Maybe Rytlock didnt necessarily Follow him exactly, but he didnt turn away or laugh in his face when Leo one night truthfully shared his plans. He simply told him it would be hard, but challenged him to pursue it. And, if anything, Leo's words actually affected him, he could see it slowly, that was enough for him, They were friends.

Physical attraction was there too, of course, that is admittedly a constant even before they become romantic. I see it at this point of maybe not being a thing of romantic bond, but rather of trust. But this is also normal and expected of charr. Friends with benefits, nothing more. But that more would come in later.

A chain is harder to break than a string, much harder. It weighs heavy, its cumbersome at times, but it holds things together quite well despite everything, despite "everything"

They are not a red string of fate, rather a forged red chain. Charr care a lot about loyalty, they care about loyalty in a way that I feel is hard to describe other than something deeply rooted in their culture thus hard to shake. During the time Leo and Rytlock spent together as Leo climbed the ranks and together they took on Ascalonian missions, sharing nights, swapping stories, sparring, challenging, they forged that bond. A bond between two people with no other options. They chose each other.

My memory of path of fire is, muddled, I'll get there when I get there. But what I know for sure is that what began of a romantic relationship would become quickly strained as the story goes on and it is revealed that everything occuring is due to Rytlock's recklessness.

Leo isn't the commander, Connie is, this almost makes it worse for them in a funny way. Leo would probably be more forgiving over his own death, but instead he is made to watch someone else die, he watches countless others die, all while knowing at night he shares a bed with the person at the root of it. But he doesnt leave, because theres always that chain, its backs turned to each other but still comforted by the warmth of another, even if their presence is denied. Im sure when i learn the details of it i can share more thoughts on them but ough.

When Leo does take on more commander-like duties and rytlock is still at his side, it becomes even more apparent how their relationship isnt as ideal as it could be in a perfect life. In a perfect life leo wouldve left everything to be with the olmakhan, to live a peaceful existence, to raise a family. Rytlock thinks of his cubs in a similar regard, Leo and Rytlock cant give that to each other, the world will not allow that of them both, especially leo, But they leave together with that knowledge.

Does this make sense? Idk, i hope so. The love is there, but there is an acceptance of the fact that there will always be a void that cant be filled. Perhaps there is a gentleness to them both that they treat each other with because of that fact and thats just how it is.

[maaaxx]

when i was a little undiagnosed autistic kid i used to get SO excited about patterns ™️and greatly overestimated how much everyone else cared. So like I had locker number 123 one year and i was positive that was going to make me the most loved person in my school, like i thought i was the chosen one ,this is the thing that was going to finally make people like me, this is what ive been missing my entire life etc etc. And i was extremely confused when people were not lining up at my locker to see.

my school identification number had the sequence '654'in it and i was certain that my grade was eventually going to hold interrogation sessions that would break the Geneva convention in order to find out who had my id number because it might be one of the best lunch numbers to exist, like not only were the numbers by eachother BUT ALSO there was a 5 in it and two other numbers and 5 + 2 obviously equals seven and that was SO COOL (obviously 7 is one of the best numbers everyone knows that)

SPEAKING OF 7 my great aunts license plate was one of my favorite things as a child, because the letter part of it had 3 numbers that were also in her last name AND they were in the right order AND they were evenly distributed (so like if her last name were smith it would be SIH) and not only that but the letters were 5337 which, again i liked 7's, so like if you took the amount of numbers there are in the sequence that aren't the 5 or 7 (the two 3's) and added it to the 5, you would get the last number in the sequence. But also if you added the 3's together you'd get 6 and if you add that with the amount of numbers left besides the 7 again (the one 5) you would also get 7. And I swore she got that plate custom made because what are the fucking odds that you would get a license plate like that BY CHANCE

[girls-and-honey]

.

[orcelito]

My nails r getting kind of long. Almost to claw mode. I kinda don't wanna cut them tho bc I kinda wanna paint them for my birthday weekend

Nonzero chance of seeing my mom on mother's day. By my own choice, I guess. And I'm still not sure how I'm feeling about that. But ykno what, it'll be my birthday weekend, and I'm going to make sure to live it to the fullest..!!!

[buttercup-goodluck]

I’ve begun to realize that my favorite character dynamic is “absolutely insane about each other and their mutual best friend/in a qpr with”

[fromtheseventhhell]

They're so twins-coded

[blowflyfag]

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT/FEDERATION MAGAZINE: OCTOBER 1998

Beneath The Skin WITH CHYNA

AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY KEVIN KELLY

[For more exclusive photos of Chyna, check out the October issue of the RAW Magazine and see a side of the Ninth Wonder of the World you have never seen before!!!]

There’s an old adage which says that the people who are the quietest often have the most to say. 

Since departing from Walter “Killer Kowalski’s school for a role in the World Wrestling Federation, the only impression fans have received of Chyna is the powerful-and intriguing-bodyguard of D-Generation X. In reality, behind the stoic athlete there resides an extraordinary human beijing who was able to rise above a broken family and make it in a sport some have said she had no business being in. In this exclusive first-ever interview with the quiet leader of DX, we find out what it’s like to be the Ninth Wonder of the World. 

KK: First question: Where were you born?

CHYNA: In Rochester, New York.

KK: How many brothers and sisters do you have? 

CHYNA: I have one sister. She is my sister, mother, best friend in the world, everything to me. She’s five years older than me and I basically live with her. I have one brother I'm not real close with, but in my latter adult years I've been making the attempt to become more family-oriented with him. He’s four years older than me and he lives in Syracuse.

KK: Tell us about your parents.

CHYNA: It’s a very dysfunctional family. I have no contact with my father or my mother. After several attempts, my mother’s been married five times. I left home when I was about 15 years old. My father, who is a recovered alcoholic, hasn’t cut the mustard when I've tried to contact him, so it’s always just one disappointment after another. So, I have absolutely no contact with them.

KK: Sounds like your older sister really filled in when it came to parenting?

CHYNA: Yes. That’s the same with all us kids, which is probably the reason I'm not that close with my brother. But my sister and I have always held that bond together. Because of the age difference she did take over that mother role for me, and she’s always been extremely protective of me and caring. 

KK: I would imagine the normally painful teen age years were made even more difficult by the pressures at home. How did that impact school and dating and things like that?

CHYNA: Miraculously, honestly, I don’t know how I’m not one of the most dysfunctional people around. You hear about people who come from families like that are usually very disturbed. And, I think, although I never got along with my mother, she must have instilled some values in us all because we've turned out to be really good kids. And i think i learned to use that to my advantage. I would always integrate myself into my school wok. I always made the dean’s list. I was always very smart. I was always very athletic. I involved myself in everything I possibly could, as did my sister. Maybe that’s why I’m so driven to get attention and be in the spotlight and end up where i am today–because I've always been like that. I'm always seeking attention in some form or another. 

KK:Your grades were not affected. You stayed in school and you graduated. Did you go to college?

CHYNA: Yes, I did. I went to the University of Tampa, and I majored in Spanish literature. It’s actually a double major. I got a literature major, but I did it in Spanish. I was very into foreign languages. My actual goal was to work for organizations such as U.S. Aid or the United Nations. I did a lot of internships with organizations such as American States and one with U.S. Aid. I joined the Peace Corps after college and went to Costa Rica to teach people how to read and write in Spanish. That was kind of my goal, although that didn’t end up happening. 

KK: How did you go from upstate New York to the University of Tampa? CHYNA: Well, because of the fact that I did very well in school, when I was 16 I won a scholarship through the United Nations. I was very advanced in Spanish. And they sent me to Spain for six months to study. I liked it so much that when the time ended I Stayed there and finished my high school diploma in Spain. I enjoyed it so much that that’s how I picked up my major. So, I went from there. When I came back from college and the Peace Corps, I went back to Tampa and I graduated in two and a half years. So, I was really motivated to do things quickly. I didn’t quite know for what reason, but I was just really motivated that way. So, because I'd been there for two and a half years–which is longer than I've been any place in my life up until now–I decided I would job hunt there. I actually went to Miami, and i would commute there for certain weekends or during the week and line up interviews. I had an ongoing interview with the Secret Service for about two years. I wanted to be either an athletic trainer for them or a bilingual agent. They play head games with you, and it’s kind of a crappy job and the pay is low, but it was what I really wanted to do. They want to make sure you are the right candidate for them, so I spent a ton of time interviewing and testing and moving up that ladder. After a couple of years I guess I finally decided that was not what I wanted to do, because I was putting all my eggs in one basket. So, I went to visit my sister in New Hampshire for Christmas, and I thought I would just go out on a couple interviews for the sake of experience, and I ended up getting a job. I just kind of spontaneously said, “I've had enough of interviewing and I want to do something now.” So, I moved to New Hampshire and started at a company called Mobile Com, which is now Mobile Media. I sold beepers to major corporations like Polaroid and UPS and dealt with huge accounts selling beepers–which is not what I wanted to do. It was a sales job, so I had a lot of liberty. For your average job I guess it was good for me, but it was not what I wanted to do. I was bored stiff. KK: After some time in the working world, your interest was not only in academics but also in athletics. You said growing up you were involved in a lot of different sports. What did you play? CHYNA: Well, i tried to play everything, i tried basketball and couldn't shoot a basket to save my life. I tried soccer and couldn't kick the ball through the net. Genetically, I knew I had a gift. I was always bigger than everybody else. I was very tomboyish, and I saw what the guys were doing, so I just started putzing around with the weights a little bit. And really when I got into college, I was never much of a partier. I was always the fuddy-duddy. When everyone else was out having a good time, I found my way to the gym and started playing around. I absolutely didn't know what i was doing at all, but whatever i was doing my body started responding like that, and i just went “Wow” and stuck with it. So, it was mainly bodybuilding that got me going because I saw such a change in my body and I had such a genetic gift. KK: So, you not only completed school and college in two and a half years with a degree in Spanish literature, but you were also building another life as well–the life you would go to beyond the working world. When did you make the transition from the job to getting into competition and wanting to be an athletic professional?

CHYNA: Well, in college, when you have outside activity groups allow you to join in a college play or college song and dance or band. I sang in a band, too. I just always had that yearning to entertain as well. Once you leave that environment, what’s to do as an adult in the working world? There’s really not an opportunity. So, even when i worked, i did things like singing telegrams on the side on the weekends, I’ve done it all. I joined a belly dancing group and learned to belly dance. I actually toured around New Hampshire at all the Greek restaurants with the belly dancing group. And i loved it, i just loved entertaining. I just thought, “I have too much of an athletic gift and a yearning for entertainment to let it lie.” And I just always knew from the time I was a little girl that I was born to entertain and it was killing me just working and not doing anything. So, I started doing fitness contests, but I was too big. Basically, I remember one fitness contest I did–they told me not to come back. They also wrote me a letter saying, “This is not a body-building contest, we're not looking for your type of physique. Don’t come back.” And I said, “All right, I'll show you. You can’t stop me from coming back.” It was a televised event, and I wanted to get exposure because I thought somebody would see me. The more they were telling me i wouldn't fit in with them, the more they would see me. The next year i went back and did something totally off the wall. I did a sword dance with my belly dancing costume on! It was just so totally outlandish that I stuck out like a sore thumb. I got this idea in my head in the meantime that I would do so good in wrestling because I was such an entertainer. I could learn like that and my body fit well with that. I had been rejected from everything else. I didn’t believe in bodybuilding because overall as a sport I think it’s very unhealthy. And i think most bodybuilders don’t look good–they’re not fit people. They don’t look good all year long, they’re up and down and unhealthy, and most of them are heavy drug abusers. I was a fit girl, a big girl who wanted to entertain–wrestling seemed like such a good niche for me. So, that’s how I ended up going to Walter Kowalski’s school. Someone said, “He lives right around the area,” and I said, “I should do wrestling.” And word got to me that he lived nearby,s o i literally called him out of the phone book. This crotchety old man answered the phone, like 11 o’clock at night. I told him I wanted to come to the school, and that’s where it started. 

KK: Had you been a fan of wrestling while growing up?

CHYNA: No, never. I thought it was the stupidest thing and that it was for guys. My brother enjoyed it, and I remember when we were little we would have cage matches in the dog kennel in the backyard. I remember he would invite his buddies over and I would make them a little belt out of tin foil and my beads. I couldn’t appreciate it for what it was and never took it as an athletic form of entertainment the way I do now. I justknew I would be good at it, and it would allow me to entertain and use my body. 

KK: So, at Kowalski’s school you trained right along with the guys?

CHYNA: At Kowalski’s school… When I first went there–you know, Kowalski is obviously very old school–I walked into this big dump of a place. I thought it was a gym. It had a hard wooden floor and an old boxing ring there with 10 steel beams underneath. No springs, no padding, nothing. Just 10 steel beams and  rickety old ropes that were barely held on there, and I had to pay him. I didn’t want to pay him all this money until I got in there and saw these guys throwing each other around and I went, “Geez, I don't know if this is for me. That looks ridiculous.” I remember being all nice to him, and I asked him, “Oh would you mind if I just tried a few things to see if I like it or not?” He turned around and looked at me the way Walter does and he said, “You either do it or you don’t!” And I went, “Oh.” So, sure enough I saved my money and a few weeks later I went back and I said, “OK, I’m going to do it!” I joined with three guys that week, and before the end of the week they were gone and I was there. I was so sore, but I was going to show them I could take it just like the rest of them. I was the only woman, but I learned guy style and I did everything they did. 

KK: Like the fitness competitions, they basically told you they didn’t want you there. But you were not going to be denied and you set your mind to it and accomplished that goal of sticking it out in Walter’s school.

CHYNA: That’s right and I think actually one of the reasons I stuck with it was because I think when Walter saw me there were stars in his eyes. It’s very hard to read him–because he’s just a crabby old man–but I was one of very few people who could get in there and cuddle up to him. I think he saw me doing that and he would really push me by saying, “Go get in the ring and go do this and go do that.” And he loved my body–he would always show me off to people saying, “Look at this!” In his own way I knew he was very impressed with me. As a matter of fact, we actually got into a little conflict when I left, because I think he wanted to keep me there and wasn’t really rooting for me to come here. He said I needed to stay there with him and practice more and do his shows. Unfortunately, i didn’t cleave on bad terms, but i felt that he was bitter when i joined here and was hurt that i left him

KK: Certainly, you can't deny the way you and your character have transcended any previous views of women in wrestling–be they women wrestlers or the semi-traditional valet/manager roles. As a hybrid of both, do you feel that you’ve really placed women in professional wrestling in a totally new light?

CHYNA: Well, I do. And right from the get-go it was a fighting battle. I knew that I was going to have to push really hard or I wouldn't have a fighting chance to do this. And even when I joined Walter’s school… for the average person to be in this business, it was a very short time–probably a year and a half–since I had started wrestling before I came here. First of all,for a male, that’s no time. But, secondly, as a female who’s not married to anybody, didn’t have a boyfriend in the business and no family in the business, no connections whatsoever, but I was bound and determined and I spent my last 50 cents making a photocopy of old pictures that I had to get to people. I drove everywhere to every show. I pushed really hard, and I just happened to meet a couple of people who were very keen to the idea of having a female bodyguard type of thing–the younger guys like Hunter and Shawn. They really thought it was a cool idea. I had gotten to them, and I knew the older generation in the business didn’t like that. They would say, “Oh, it won’t work,” and I knew they didn’t want me. Then again, I knew the younger guys thought it was a cool idea. There was a generation gap there, and for a while I thought it wasn’t going to happen. But the younger guys kept pushing for it and when i finally got the job which i was very excited about, i almost came in very insecure because i thought because of the fact that people really didn't want me here maybe it wasn't going to work. I was pleasantly surprised. I think when I first came out, because it was such a unique thing, people didn’t know how to take it. But it took off, and even i can say–and i consider myself to be a humble person and I'm not one to be cocky or toot my own horn–but i have noticed that since the moment i started there’ve been signs and people yelling, whether bad or good, but they notice me every show and they want to see me. That has been very evident to me and even more so as time has gone by. But to answer your actual question, yes I do think it will change the role for women in this business. A lot of people ask me, “When are you going to wrestle, Chyna?” Well, I don't want to wrestle, because number one i don’t think women’s wrestling has ever been very popular.  I don’t think it ever will be very popular. There’s such a limited number of women who can work and work well. I think generally people don’t want to see big fat women beating the crap out of each other. That’s not appealing to watch. Women should wrestle in mud or jello, and I have to say it, but if it’s a T and A thing that’s what it should be, and I'm certainly OK with that. But I don't want to go the opposite way and deliver a product that people don't want to see. Right now, what I do is very unique, and I'm at a level where I'm working with the guys on their level. I'm main event. And I feel if I were to wrestle with women it would take me down to opening match level and there would be nowhere to go with that. And that’s certainly not a dig at anybody else. That’s my own choice. And I feel that I wouldn't have half the recognition I do now if I were to wrestle regularly and I think that would totally kill me off also.

KK: Part of being main event every night is being a part of DX

CHYNA: Absolutely.

KK: Right after you started is when the whole DX revolution began–an organization that in its own way transcended the view of superstars who traditionally were booed and hated, yet do things that are cool, and the people cheer and respond positively. What’s it been like to be part of something as groundbreaking as DX, especially having only been around the wrestling business for a year and a half total?

CHYNA: That’s a hard question to answer, because many times people say to me, “Chyna, you don’t understand it didn’t used to be like that,” or “You came in during this time,” but i guess because of the type of determined person i am i believe that certain people are drawn together or drawn to certain levels and i didn’t expect to do anything less. I knew that I was drawn to those guys for a certain reason. I think the same way they were drawn to me. I could see the type of driven people they were and the talent that they have. The first time I stepped into the ring with Shawn Michaels and Undertaker and heard the big cheer from the crowd, and as it transcends more, I think, “Oh my God, is that really me?” or “Am I really part of this?” It doesn’t seem real sometimes. It’s a thrill and I never take it for granted. I just think it’s the neatest thing.

KK: I know that you’ve been called the quiet leader and the behind-the-scenes unifying force in the interviews with Hunter, X-Pac and the Outlaws. Tell us what you think your role is in DX?

CHYNA: I feel like I'm Mama Chyna. I’m the backbone of DX. I'm the serious one that when things get out of hand, there’s always the watchful eye of the whole scenario as to what’s going on and that’s Chyna. Chyna is the ultimate last resort when help is needed. She’s not there to do something every time, because DX can usually take care of themselves, but when needed she’s there. She’s kind of got the situation under control and there’s a mystery to Chyna. You never see her jumping up and down or really smiling. There’s a lot of mystery to Chyna and she hasn’t even been unleashed yet. We can do so much with my character, but I do see her as the overall backbone of DX. 

KK: Could you analyze each member of DX, starting with Hunter? Give us your opinion of him and what you think about him professionally. 

CHYNA: Professionally, one of the most talented people I've ever known athletically and up and coming. The transition that he has made professionally in a year and a half has been absolutely incredible. He’s gone from never saying anything on the microphone to picking it up and being able to save the day, which he’s done on many occasions.  Athletically, one of the very few men who can lead a match and general match and physically do the things he does as well as get a reaction from the crowd. If you’re not a fan you don't understand what that takes and what these guys are doing. People are so focused on whether it’s fake or not that they don’t understand what incredible athletes they are and what it takes to entertain. They have no idea physically and mentally what it takes to give a good match. From the moment I started with him and having learned what it takes, it amazes me in comparison to other people how he can do that because I still can't get it. I try to think in my head, “Okay, if i had to do that what would i do? Geez, I don’t know.” To be able to just do it just like that is incredible to me. And on an idea level, a creative level as well, you basically have to take care of yourself. People can help you with ideas, but you are the entertainer and you have to take care of yourself because the people can boo you in a minute. All those things combined take a lot of talent. And that’s him, and I see him. Even if he was–knock on wood–hurt tomorrow, he would still give so much to this business just because of his knowledge. 

KK: How about X-Pac?

CHYNA: X-Pac–little brother, irresponsible, can never get mad at him, pokey, very talented in the ring–like a rubber ball athletically. He’s the kind of guy who never complains about anything. He’ll be an hour late and you’ll be waiting for him, but you just can’t get mad at him when he shows up because he's got that puppy dog, little brother kind of face. He’s one of the guys I’ve recently come into contact with, i have not been very close with, but because of his relationship with the other guys, i felt like that before i ever met him. He’s got a heart of gold and he lives for this business. Health wise, he’s okay. Because of his size he’s a big talent. The way he bounces around the ring amazes me. 

KK: How about the Outlaws?

CHYNA: Funny. Road Dog is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life. Talent-wise, in all honesty, I don’t think they’re quite up to the caliber of the rest of the group. But the willingness to succeed is there, and they’re just starting as far as I’m concerned. 

KK: You know everyone is waiting to see Chyna explode. We’re waiting to see the one who belly danced. We’re waiting to see the one who twirled the sword on the stage. When are we going to see that?

CHYNA: Probably never, because that’s Joanie [Chyna’s real name]. And Chyna is so opposite from Joanie it makes me laugh when I think about it–because Joanie is probably one of the most sensitive, silly, feminine women you would ever meet, and Chyna is so opposite from that.