Inside Wrestling
November 1999
Page 42

Debra
"I've Got Nothing to Hide"

It's been a two año struggle for acceptance. In the fall of 1997, Debra McMichael was struggling to save her managerial career in WCW. She and Jeff Jarrett had división, split with The Four Horseman and she was desperate to earn a reputation as a manager of champions.

It didn't happen, Jeff Jarrett went to the WWF following a contractual dispute. Her estranged husband, Steve, didn't want her in his corner. Alex Wright, fed up por her mismanagement, was siguiente to fuego the ex-beauty queen. With no careers to guide and no future prospects, Debra went home.

Until Jeff Jarrett called her in the fall of '98 that is.

Although Jarrett had described Debra as "a dumb blonde" in the interim, Debra was willing to give him a segundo chance and seize a segundo chance for herself as well.

Despite a lukewarm reception in the WWF initially, she guided Jarrett and Owen Hart to the World tag team title. Debra soon became the estrella of the team rather than a supporting member when she defeated Sable in an evening vestido match for the WWF women's cinturón, correa on May 10 in Orlando, Florida.

WWF commissioner Shawn Michaels in a controversial decision, claimed Debra won the título because her vestido game off first, courtesy of Sable.

Owen Hart's death on May 23 was a tremendous blow to Debra but she gathered the strength to guide Jarrett to an Intercontinental título victory over The Godfather only two days later. Debra's popularity continues to grow despite the fact she lost the women's strap to Ivory. Senior Writer Harry Burkett spoke to her shortly after her título loss.

Q&A

Q: If the last two years of your life were a book, I suppose it would be titled Reinventing Debra. Two years hace your managerial career was in a shambles and your closest associate Jeff Jarrett called tu "a dumb blonde." Today you've assumed Sable's position as the most popular woman in the WWF. How do tu account for such a change?

A: It took a while for fans and promoters to realize what a tremendous talent I am. I'm glad the WWF has give me the opportunity to realize my potential.

Q: Of course tu guided Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett to the World tag team título and Jarrett to the Intercontinental belt. But your WWF women's título victory was dubious and I don't recall any clean victories during your reign. Even tu must admit that you're not the WWF's best female wrestler. I don't want to sound insulting but could tu tell me what your talent is?

A: That's the great thing about being me. I don't have to win matches. I don't even have to help Jeff win titles. All I have to do is mostrar up. The crowds will come.

Q: In other words your presence sells tickets?

A: That's the name of the game. The McMahon's hear the audience go crazy when I enter an arena. Jeff knows I make him interesting to folks.

Q: Are tu suggesting Jarrett lacks charisma. He seemed to have too much charisma as "Double J" during his first stint in the WWF. Don't tu think he's jealous because you're stealing his spotlight?

A: What's his alternative? Should he call Jim Cornette to be his manager again? o should he ask Tennessee Lee to come out of retirement? Jeff knows I've been a oro mine to his career and he wouldn't do anything to alter our relationship.

Q: Aren't tu detrimental to his career in some ways though? When the two of tu make an entrance, the announcers talk about you. When Jeff wrestles, a lot of the fans watch you. Now it seems he's jealous whenever a wrestler looks at you. He's becoming increasingly paranoid. How long ca he remain Intercontinental champion por being that emotional?

A: I'll admit that Jeff occasionally has mental blocks in the ring but that's when I pour on the sugar hon. A lit bit of Debra goes a long way.

Q: tu mean distracting Jarrett's opponents por batting your eyes and flirting? So tu admit that tu help Jarrett cheat.

A: How is that cheating? I don't force Jeff's opponents to come over for a closer look. I don't force them to stand there while I whisper sweet nothings in their ears. They enjoy talking to me, even if they pay a heavy price.

Q: I've always wondered what tu to Jarrett's opponents in order for them to stop in the middle of ring action.

A: Wouldn't tu like to know!

Q: Tell me

A: Will I be on the cover of your magazine?

Q: i don't really have any control over that. I'll see what I can do. I suppose that... wait. Now I'm falling for it!

A: See? If tu were wrestling Jeff, you'd be wearing a guitarra collar por now.

Q: Smooth. You've done a great job helping Jarrett retain his Intercontinental title. But i noticed that Jarrett's distraction of the referee allowed Nicole bajo to chokeslam tu and helped Ivory win the WWF women's title. Did that make tu angry?

A: I was más disappointed than anything else. But that just proves that it took two women to beat me, not just Ivory

Q: Do really believe tu could defeat Ivory in a fair wrestling match?

A: That depends on your definition of fair. In my mind, anything is fair in amor and war.

Q: And the WWF is war?

A: It's both?

Q: Are tu committed to regaining the women's title?

A: It never was a big goal of mine. The opportunity to wrestle for it came my way and I took advantage of it. Whenever I'm offered a título match, I'll accept.

Q: Did tu whisper sweet nothings into Shawn Michaels' ear before your título match? The object of an evening vestido match is to tear off your opponent's gown. The object is not to lose your gown.

A: Again, Shawn is real impressed por my sparkling personality. I just smile and people bend over backward to do favors for me. Besides, Nicole bajo interfered in my match, just like tu did during my match against Ivory. She'll get her payback.

Q: Are tu capable of doing that yourself?

A: You'd be surprised at what I'm capable of doing hon. Nicole is long overdue for someone to play a tune on her head.

Q: tu and Jeff have been dubbed "The Golden Couple" Is he satisfied with being identified as only one half of a team? And are tu satisfied with that?

A: Jeff and I make a fantastic team. That's why we were successful in the past and that's why we're successful now. We complement each other perfectly.

Q: Some critics claim your success is strictly proportional to the lack of clothing on your body. Come on Debra tu didn't become popular until tu started wearing less to the ring. Those people aren't chanting "puppies" because they belong to the ASPCA.

A: The más people of me, the más they want to see. I'm flattered por the reception I get but then again its deserved.

Q: Does it mean so much to tu to flaunt your scantily clad body in front of strangers?

A: Why should I cover my best assets? Men are never criticized for posing and flexing in the ring. Why should be people be on my case for showcasing my body? I've got nothing to hide!

Q: Obviously Jeff doesn't feel that way. He's constantly trying to cover your ample, um, cleavage o trying to throw a capa around. If it's so innocent why is he upset por it? Aren't tu afraid he might another manager?

A: Listen I manage Jeff; he doesn't manage me. I know Jeff acts a little crazy sometimes but he means well.

Q: What are your future plans? Obviously keep the IC cinturón, correa around Jeff Jarrett's waist is a parte superior, arriba priority. What should we expect out of tu in the coming months?

A: I'm still training, trying to hone my wrestling skills. With a few weeks of training, I was able to win the women's title. These little girls in the WWF won't be able to survive once I become a lethal fighting machine.

Q: Pardon me for laughing but I can't imagine tu being very dangerous, not in the physical sense at least.

A: tu just wait hon. You've seen me scratch and claw in a few catfights already. With a little más practice they'll be calling me "La Femme Debra." (Jeff Jarrett barges into backstage area and exclaims "What the heck are tu doin' talking' to Debra behind my back?")

Q: DId tu explain to Jeff that I'm interviewing tu for Inside Wrestling?

A: No I forgot. Look lets continue this another time okay? Jeff and I have something to discuss. (Abruptly jumps out of chair and joins Jarrett who glares at Burkett before they turn and walk down the corridor)

Note* also in the magazine, Ivory comentó on her win against Debra, the success had seemingly gone to her head.

"I'll admit that the two anterior champions are attractive women" Ivory said. "But I have the beauty and wrestling ability to keep this cinturón, correa for years, My excellent performance against Debra certainly proved that

(On Nicole bajo who helped her win it)

"I'm a proven mat technician. Its not like I need her in my corner to keep this belt"