The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW or G.L.O.W., was a professional wrestling association for women, and was the first (if not only) all-female wrestling show on television. The show aired for four seasons (1986–1990) and continued in various forms after it left television. Bizarre characters, beautiful and scantily clad women and cheesy comedy sketches all worked to make the series a success. Most of the performers were actresses, models, dancers, and/or stunt women hoping to get into show business.
Each of the GLOW performers had her own rap song (personalized lyrics using the same backing track). It was shown on videotape prior to that wrestler's match.
G.L.O.W. Opening Rap
Shot from the Riviera Hotel on the Las Vegas strip, the women were trained to wrestle by Mando Guerrero, a member of the famed Guerrero family and a star in the American Wrestling Association and other NWA-affiliated territories.
In the pilot episode, the main event included the first GLOW champion being crowned when Tammy Jones defeated Matilda the Hun. Tina & Ashley battled Hollywood and Vine in a battle for that would set the tone for the show.
It was a great match.
T & A vs. Hollywood and Vine
The show became known for its campy but highly entertaining gimmick matches including the Russian Roulette match (six-woman tag team elimination match), and the infamous Lingerie Street Fight (AKA the Bra and Panties match) which involved two teams of four women in street clothes. The first team to have all its members stripped down to their underwear was the loser.
With 100% of the fights being choreographed, these women were and became real wrestlers. In some instances, they were really kicking each others asses..
Of course, provocative positions during fights didn't exactly hurt the shows ratings..
GLOW Ass Kicking Compilation
In 1991 after its cancellation, GLOW alumnus Ursula Hayden (who competed as Babe the Farmer's Daughter) purchased the franchise with the intention of reviving it. DVDs of episodes of the original GLOW series, along with other related merchandise, are currently sold on the promotion website.
Brett Whitcomb’s new documentary, GLOW, The story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling profiles the series through its rise and fall, which peaks in 1989 with an abrupt cancellation. According to the trailer there looks to be a plethora of original footage from the series as well as more recent interviews with its former stars. It’s a pretty cool and nostalgic look at a forgotten corner of the wrestling universe.
Some notable characters on the show were:
Amy the Farmer's Daughter (Trudy Adams)
Babe the Farmer's Daughter (Ursula Hayden—now owns the revived GLOW)
Col. Ninotchka (Lori Weathers) - (BADASS)
Godiva (Dawn Rice)
Hollywood (Jeanne Basone)
Lightning (Cheryl Rusa)
Matilda the Hun (Dee Booher)
Mt. Fiji (Emily Dole)
Palestina (Janeen Jewett)
Sally the Farmer's Daughter (Becky Mullen)
Tina Ferrari (Lisa Moretti)
Vine (Janet Bowers)
Babe the Farmer's Daughter (Ursula Hayden—now owns the revived GLOW)
Col. Ninotchka (Lori Weathers) - (BADASS)
Godiva (Dawn Rice)
Hollywood (Jeanne Basone)
Lightning (Cheryl Rusa)
Matilda the Hun (Dee Booher)
Mt. Fiji (Emily Dole)
Palestina (Janeen Jewett)
Sally the Farmer's Daughter (Becky Mullen)
Tina Ferrari (Lisa Moretti)
Vine (Janet Bowers)
May of the ladies went on to become professional wrestlers, minus the campy skits and outfits. Although very politically incorrect, the show was fun and colorful. The women wore revealing outfits that blatantly used sex to sell, but the show still managed to be entertaining and not offensive.
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, we love you!
WTS.
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