As I was watching last Monday WWE RAW’s 15th anniversary in a state of contented nostalgia, I couldn’t help but decide to pay homage on this blog to a favorite wrestling diva. Oddly, she was not seen on the short divas tribute video, probably because she’s active on another concurrent company, mainly TNA. Of course, I’m talking about one of the toughest gal I’ve seen on a wrestling ring, the Pride of Tennessee herself, Ms. Jackie Moore!

Jacqueline DeLois Moore was born January 6, 1966 (or is it 1964?) in Dallas, Texas. During her wrestling career, she has been known under many different aliases, mainly Jacquelyn Moore, Miss Jacqueline, Miss Tennessee, Miss Texas, Sgt. Rock (?), Sweet Georgia Brown, Queen Moesha and The Pride Of Tennessee. Confused yet? She became a wrestling fan in her youth (particularly admiring the Von Erich family) and was the only female trainee at her first wrestle school. To do so as a woman in this business is a sign of untold dedication. She wasn’t interested in being mere eye candy or a role as a grinning valet, the main stereotypes that can be still seen on wrestling events: she wanted to learn how to fight! Learn it she did, making a ring debut in 1989 for World Class Championship Wrestling. A couple of years later, she began to win titles, mainly for the United States Wrestling Association where she became their first Women’s Champion, eventually holding that belt for an impressive 14 times!

After a brief stay at Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Jackie began work for World Championship Wrestling, debuting there in January 1997, being allied with Kevin Sullivan who had just started a feud with the late Chris Benoit. Interestingly, she began fighting against men (and sometimes winning!). In the summer of 1998, Jackie joined the as then-known World Wrestling Federation, rapidly feuding with Sable alongside the latter’s estranged husband Marc Mero. This memorable rivalry included bikini contests, arm wrestling, an evening gown match and an eventual win of the WWF Women’s Championship belt (of which she’s the first African-American winner). Soon after, Jackie founded a stable including Terri Runnels and Ryan Shamrock, which was known as PMS (Pretty Means Sisters). These gals didn’t hesitate in manipulating and low-blowing men… (i.e. hitting them on the crotch). Let’s note that at some point, Jackie was even knocked over the head by Jeff Jarrett’s guitar. Also, she participated in some hardcore matches, rare feat for women wrestlers, one being against Ivory and Luna Vachon. Let’s mention also a win in a gravy bowl match. Yes, it was exactly like your imagination can picture it. Like many female wrestlers/personalities these days, she popped out of her top on some occasions, at least once during a high profile pay per view. This is officially called an “wardrobe malfunction”.

After a second title reign, she began an association with the APA or Acolytes Protection Agency (including Faarooq and Bradshaw). In 2001, Jackie became one of the trainers for the reality TV series Tough Enough, where we could finally see a new side of her, which revealed a warm and caring personality. In 2002, she became an official referee, being also present for men’s matches. But for some reasons she became less and less seen on TV, being delegated as a trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling. Her last glory for WWE was becoming the first female Cruiserweight Champion on Smackdown, this in May 2004. A month later, she announced that her contract was not being renewed. No official reason was never mentioned. Probably Vince McMahon was more concerned in finding new divas that possessed absolutely no wrestling talent but could only be marketed as visual attractions.

His loss was pure luck for us, as Jackie found work for another high-profile wrestling company, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, for which she debuted in November 2004, at the Victory pay-per-view. She’s still at the employ of TNA, recently enjoying an excellent feud with Gail Kim, for which an unbelievable steel cage match was held in April 2007, a type of contest rarely seen in North American female wrestling. The two women absolutely ruled the ring and it gave us a glimpse of what a women’s fight should be, certainly not with opponents only parading in bikinis and being dipped in sticky gravy sauce. Soon after, Jackie had her two front teeth knocked out, once again by Kim, has she had a trashcan over her head and was pummeled with a broomstick! Bikinis, indeed!

Holding a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Jackie Moore is a tough cookie, even with a frame of 5 ft 3 in and 118 lbs. She’s also a great performer, giving her all at the WWE edition of Fear Factor and impressing me to no end. She will be seen in a couple of upcoming movies, Sin-Jin Smyth (with a character memorably named V.M. “The Engine” Sexton) and Knight Fever. She combines strength and beauty in the best way, being able to deliver the goods in any ring with any opponent and also to be exciting to look at. In my view, she should be an example for other girls to follow. Real wrestlers now, not just flesh mannequins.