SplatterTribe: So what have you been up to this week?

SoJo: I've been working out, training hard. Right now I'm at the Arnold Classic in Columbus Ohio.     SplatterTribe: We don't know a lot about you since you are relatively new, so tell us about where your from. SoJo: Well, I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was a

huge wrestling fan as a child. I grew up watching the AWA and the WWF. I've moved around a couple of times, but wrestling came back to me in my 20's. It found me again. That was a time when women's wrestling, well not really women's wrestling.....(I mean) women's wrestling was really awesome in the 90's but like Xena Warrior Princess and shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer were on, that were really women empowering. A lot of things were going on on television and I just got back into wrestling. It just seemed like the right thing to do.....and that's how I got back into wrestling. That's how I got here.

 

SplatterTribe: So was wrestling always in your sight's, because wrestling hasn't always been very women wrestling oriented?

 

SoJo: That's true. I definitely wanted to be a wrestler, but I wanted to be a lot of things growing up. I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wanted to be an actress. I wanted to be a dancer. I wanted to do a lot of different things, but I always knew I wanted to entertain. I did go to performing arts high school for 2 years. I've had some theatre training, voice and singing. I'm the oldest of ten kids and I've always been naturally aggressive and when wrestling fell back and found me again, It was the most perfect thing for me.

 

 

SplatterTribe: So what got you back into wrestling?
 

SoJo: I was supposed to be a referee and the promoter said, "Hello?" and I said, "Hello, my name is Josie." That is my real name, Josie. He said, "Do you wrestle?" I'm like, "Well, Yeah, I wrestle, but I'm here to referee." He's like, "No, you're gonna wrestle tonight", and your in a tag match with these other girls and he threw me in. It was great. I got busted open. My chest was bleeding and I couldn't have been any happier.

 

 

SplatterTribe: So that's when you decided to go full fledged into it?

 

SoJo: Yeah, that was it right there. After my first match and I knew, this was definitely for me.

 

 

SplatterTribe: I know you spent some time in Ohio Valley Wrestling, what led you there?

SoJo: I started in Minnesota and I ended up in Ohio Valley after my 4th year. I had wrestled all over the country and it was just time for me to make a move towards making this my career and not a hobby. Ohio Valley is a place were the World Wrestling Entertainment had a developmental system and if you wasn't already under their watchful eye in the independent scene, Ohio Valley was the place to go to get under (their eye) and get looked at and to train with kids already under contract.
 

SplatterTribe: Was Ohio Valley more of a training experience, performing experience or both?
 

SoJo: Both. They're a school. They're a television show. They travel all over the tri-state area of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. They put on more shows than most wrestling companies do, so it's definitely awesome for someone looking to be trained to wrestle on television. Ohio Valley Wrestling can definitely prepare you for that.
 

It was great. I got busted open. My chest was bleeding and I couldn't have been any happier.

SplatterTribe: So what led you to the TNA contract or what led to the chance of trying out for a TNA contract?   SoJo: I was wrestling in Chicago and I met Terry Taylor, who is the head of talent relations for TNA. I wrestled in front of him and he told me they were starting a Women's division very, very soon. I just kept in contact with him and when they started their Women's Division they had a thing called the Awesome Kong Challenge, where women were challenging Kong for the belt and a TNA contract. I was contacted to do that and that's were it all began. I did that on Slammiversary 2008 and they brought me back to wrestle on (TNA) IMPACT in August. Then shortly after that, I was offered a contract.

 

SplatterTribe: So in your TNA debut, what was that like going into it?

 

SoJo: I was nervous, but this was 5 and a half years in the making to get to this moment, you know? I had been wrestling in Ohio Valley on television for about a year and a half at that point. So, I mean, this is what I was training to do. I mean, it's now or never. I went out there and did it and the crowd ate it up. I truly believe that's why I'm still with TNA right now. The crowd got behind me.

 

SplatterTribe: I know when you first appeared you turned on Christy Hemme and then you turned on Awesome Kong, So can SoJo Bolt be trusted?

SoJo: Oh no, no, no, no, no. See the thing is that, I didn't turn on Christy. We weren't ever friends....and I didn't turn on Kong. I just won the number one contendership. How is that turning on somebody? Who do they want to win? I mean, no one has ever explained that to me. Exactly who did you want to win? Wouldn't you want someone in your faction to win? So they got it all messed up, not me.

 

SplatterTribe: So you look at it as they turned on you.

SoJo: Yeah.

 

 

SplatterTribe: Well, I know Kong has defeated you a couple of time's, are you even capable of taking the title from her?

 

SoJo: Absolutely. She's defeated me a couple of times, but she hasn't seen everything I've got.
 

SplatterTribe: One thing about TNA, is there are not a lot of veteran female wrestlers, but....................

 

SoJo: Oh, No, that is not true. Miss Jacqueline is the most veteran women's wrestler today.

 

SplatterTribe: Well, that's what I was going to say is you do have Jacqueline and..........
 

SoJo: She is like a national treasure, ok. And that is one thing that is lacking in female wrestling is veterans and we are so lucky to have her on our roster.

 

SplatterTribe: and.........that there really are not any other veteran women's wrestlers........Yeah, I remember her from back in USWA when she just fought the dudes.
 

SoJo: Oh Yeah, I know and be better than them and beat'm.

 

 

SplatterTribe: Do you as the younger stars of TNA, go to her and use her knowledge?

 

SoJo: Absolutely, I mean we all want to know what we can do to make the product better and who's better to talk to than someone who's been there, done that. She's done everything. She's a total trailblazer as far as women wrestling and I've always looked up to here even as a black female in wrestling. There's not very many of us and the fact that TNA has 5 black women on their roster is amazing. So, Miss Jacqueline is definitely, I would even say, one of my heroes.

 

 

SplatterTribe: In your wrestling experience, what's been the most painful move you have experienced yet?

 

SoJo: Ewww, uhm.............I don't know. I mean, I'm a woman. We have a pretty high tolerance for pain. Uhm............one time somebody just field go kicked me in the face. That hurt pretty bad.     SplatterTribe: (laughs) Yeah, I could see that hurting. What about the match you've felt the most the next day?   SoJo: Aw......You know what, I couldn't even tell you. I don't even remember. I'm sure the first time I wrestled Kong, I was pretty sore the next day. I stretch alot.

...that is one thing that is lacking in female wrestling is veterans, and we are so lucky to have...Miss Jacqueline..... on our roster.

 

 

SplatterTribe: What are your workout habits?

 

SoJo: Oh, I'm in the gym 6 days a week. You always start the day stretching....abs of course. Then whatever day, it's back, shoulders, legs, all that good stuff. It always ends with cardio and more stretching.

 

 

SplatterTribe: So what is your most memorable moment so far in the business?

 

SoJo: There's been so many. The day I met Nora Greenwald, who's Molly Holly. That was probably one of the greatest days of my life. She is someone I've always looked up to and wanted to emulate in every way. She's just an amazing wrestler and a beautiful person as well. As far as (Most Memorable moment) in ring, every moment I've had with TNA has been the most memorable. Only because I get to replay it and watch it all over again (laughs)

 

 

SplatterTribe: Who is the most underrated TNA wrestler right now?

 

SoJo: Underrated? I wouldn't say anybody is underrated at TNA. No, if you're there, more than likely they are using you to your capacity.

 

 

SplatterTribe: As far as independents, who's someone you would like to see in TNA?

 

SoJo: That is a hard one. That is a really hard one. Someone I'd like? I'm trying to think. Sara Del Ray. She's a force. (We've had) many matches, amazing matches. She's awesome.

 

 

SplatterTribe: Why should people watch TNA?

 

SoJo: Oh, because, it's just in those letters alone. TNA, Total Nonstop Action. We're what wrestling should be......Action.

 

 

SplatterTribe: Why should we watch destination X?

 

SoJo: You're gonna see my very first title shot for the TNA Knockouts Championship. Me Vs Kong. That's why. That's reason enough alone. I do think Kurt Angle Vs Sting is gonna be entertaining as well.

 

 

SplatterTribe: Any predictions on matches?

 

SoJo: Just my impending victory, Yeah.

 

 

SplatterTribe: So tell us about the Shepherdsville show.

 

SoJo: Well, it's Friday, March 13 at the Paroquet Springs Conference Center . I think it starts at 7:30. I do believe I'm teaming with Miss Jacqueline against Taylor Wilde & Roxxi and that should be awesome!

 

 

SplatterTribe: Thanks for doing the interview. Do you have any closing comments?

 

SoJo: Thanks for having me. Watch TNA every Thursday at 9:00 and look for SoJo to be the next TNA Knockouts Champion.