What up there you DOI-maniac and welcome to another McInterview here on the Declaration of Independents. Today I was fortunate to interview April Hunter. April Hunter has worked all over indies, and even WCW, TNA and Japan as well. In this interview she talks about her career, the indies, her past and her future. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sean “The MiC”: How did you get introduced into pro wrestling? What made you want to get involved with it?

April Hunter: Originally, my friend watched it. I stayed at her place a lot when I was traveling through Las Vegas, so I did too. How I got involved was a fluke. I was in the right place at the right time. An agent gave Terry Taylor some photos of me because WCW was looking for Playboy/fitness model types as eye candy. I got hired and slotted in with the nWo.

April honing her craft in WXW

Sean “The MiC”: You have worked for a lot of promotions. Which has been your favorite?

April Hunter: Jersey All Pro is my “home” federation. They’ve been really good to me and I love working there. I like Afa’s WXW because they treat everyone well and I get to wrestle a lot of girls from different places like Canada. And I like Ring Of Honor, which has an amazing fan base and is very organized.

Sean “The MiC”: You recently made a statement in your fan newsletter, that women’s wrestling sometimes gets too much credit, because it's women wrestling. In your opinion, how can women wrestling lose that stigma?

April Hunter: It just seems if you’re female and you can do ANYTHING, you’re given credit “just because”. I also believe I’m overrated. Which can’t be good. People expect a lot after hearing about you and if you can’t deliver, there’s backlash. The way things are, people pop if a girl can lock up right, go out of the ring over the top rope, do a headlock takeover or a springboard or throw a believable punch. It’s cool for us since it’s easy to stand out, but also a shame. These are things the guys are expected to know and no big deal. When more females can do more ring work-AND DO IT WELL -then that’s when it’ll change. I look at my matches and think, “well, if I didn’t have boobs (which are essentially cheap heat), would I still have gotten that reaction?” or “maybe that was a good match FOR A GIRL, but how did it rate in comparison to the guy’s matches on the card?”

April in her early nWo days, with Big Poppa Pump

Sean “The MiC”: You were in WCW briefly, as an nWo girl. What was that experience like, and looking back at it today, what would you do different?

April Hunter: It was crazy and hectic, but cool. I probably would have stuck it out longer had I been smarter. As it turned out, I wasn’t. That’s me, though. I have to learn from my mistakes. I didn’t realize what an opportunity I’d been given as an untrained female. When they weren’t using me, I had a model’s mentality (you’re only as good as your last published shoot) and knew I could be doing something else and getting published instead of traveling all over for “nothing” (as I saw it at the time).

April Hunter in NWA TNA

Sean “The MiC”: You also worked NWA TNA briefly. What is your current status with them?

April Hunter: If I was willing to move to Nashville, I could probably work there every week. They aren’t really big on flying people in. And I’m not big on living in Nashville right now.

Sean “The MiC”: You are one of the most talented women wrestlers on the Indy scene, in many people's opinion, including mine. Have you ever had any contact with the WWE, considering that they have picked up La Felina (Gail Kim) and Alexis Laree?

April Hunter: Yes, a few different times. I had an interview with them right after leaving WCW where they referred me to Killer Kowalski’s. Later, I was invited to an invitation-only try out camp in Ohio. Last year, Jim Ross contacted me about a developmental deal, which I turned down due to some unrelated side issues. I still talk with them every so often.

Sean “The MiC”: Expanding on the last question, do you think the WWE might be sour on you because you have done some nude pictures? Do you think WWE looks at that when they make a decision on bringing a female talent in, as people like Jasmine St Claire, Gorgeous George and Chastity (who have all posed nude) have all been refused work there?

April Hunter: Originally I thought that, but they’d requested a statement of all I’d shot for and still continued to talk to me after that. Additionally, they recently signed a girl who’s done shoots along the types of what I’ve done, so I don’t think it’s that. A public company does have to answer to its stockholders somewhat, but controversy can be good or bad, depending on how you use it. MET-rx signed me in the thick of my centerfold career just BECAUSE they were looking for that type of publicity, and they stood by me with everything that came from it.

Sean “The MiC”: What's a normal day in the life of April Hunter?

April Hunter: No day is normal! Especially since Killer Kowalski’s school just closed. I lost my training this past month. Which sucks, because I’m athletic, but have a hard time picking up some wrestling moves the first time I try them. I usually have to practice a few times to get something down, and even THAT isn’t a guarantee.

Lately, I’m trying to get into the habit of doing cardio twice a day. So, (provided I stick to this, which has been 50/50 success rate so far) I get up, eat, hit the gym, work. At night, I go back and do cardio and weights. Then I’m up working online my site until way too late. Which is why I’m sending you this at 2:30 a.m. I’m a huge fan of movies and books, so that’s “my down time”. When I have it. I’m a really boring homebody. With a cat. I really wanted a dog, but had to settle for a cat instead with the traveling this job entails. He doesn’t know that, though.

Sean “The MiC”: What do you think has been your best match in your career?

April Hunter: I’ve yet to have it. I’ve had a few I’ve liked more than others, but I’m never really happy since there’s always seems to be something I could have done better.

Do you have any pre match superstitions?

April Hunter: Yes! I have asthma pretty bad, so there are a few things not to miss. Inhaler and Vicks Vapo Rub. Plus, a packet of honey right before the match for energy. That one is a Kowalski trick.

April with Slyk Wagner Brown

Sean “The MiC”: You trained at Killer Kowalski’s school. Other places have reported that it is closing down, while some have said that it will stay open, but Slyk Wagner Brown will be running it. Can you tell everyone what is going down with it?

April Hunter: It’s closed. The city is using that block so all thee businesses on it had to vacate. We couldn’t find a building with reasonable rent and high ceilings, so Walt decided to make a deal with another local school so he had a place to stick his kids and off he went. I wish Slyk were still training, he’s very good. A lot of people signed up to have him train them this past year.

Sean “The MiC”: What other women wrestlers are you a fan of? Not a fan of?

April Hunter: I think Trinity does a lot for women’s wrestling, as does Alexis Laree. I also like Ariel a lot and Sumie Sakai. I get along with most girls pretty well and don’t NOT like anyone. I was stabbed in the back pretty well by a girl I thought was my friend who I helped a lot in the business, so that was a huge learning experience for me. I did hear that someone else hates me, but I don’t even know her, so that’s a non-issue. Plus, I understand she hates everyone with a vagina.

Word Association

Rob Feinstein-
cool and professional

Afa-
big heart, gives more than he probably gets back

Frank Goodman-
I don’t know him very well, but he’s always been good to me.

Ricky O-
same as above, no problems

Fat Frank-
good guy who’s given me the opportunity to work as both a wrestler
and manager in front of a good crowd

Jeff Jarret
-southern gentleman

Vince McMahon-
Millionaire and a fan for bodybuilders

Vince Russo-
New York

Slyk Wagner Brown-
Big heart, mannerly, underrated and one of the most ripped off wrestlers today. At 6’2”/235 lbs, he’s not a heavyweight and not a cruiserweight, which probably hurts him. Passed over far too often and hasn’t gotten the shot he deserves yet. If I sound partial, it’s because I am.

Mafia-
good guy, talks to me as a person, not as a girl.

Homicide-
underrated, never seen him in a bad match

Ariel-
easy going, can take any crazy bump

Allison Danger-
fun to hang with, wakes up too early, great seller

Gail Kim-
got along good with her, talented and a total package

Alexis Laree-
professional, total package

Dawn Marie-
Sweet girl. Had one of my first matches with her and her back broke from carrying me!

Simon Diamond-
good head for wrestling and graciously allowed me my first pin ever.

Cindy Rogers-
athlete, big Bret Hart fan

Belladawna-
big, NON bitchy redhead

Trish Stratus-
works her ass off, come a long way, gorgeous

Kurt Angle-
amazing and I hope he gets his way with bringing more “wrestling” and mid sized guys into WWE.

Bastion Booger-
shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone he came from Kowalski’s

Giant Gonzales-
tall

Declaration of Independents-
Cool site, except for the MIC guy. You have to watch him cuz he’s always drunk and stealing overpriced wrestling magazines.

April Hunter-
besides overrated? Loyal, tells it like it is, means well. I’m not from a wrestling background am not the greatest with the rules and politics. Sometimes I don’t say the right thing, but…well, that’s me. And, lastly, I’m the “next big thing!” Ah, shit, someone used that one already.

Sean “The MiC”: What do you think about the current state of wrestling? Women wrestling?

April Hunter: Wrestling on this level (Indies) is competitive and good. I just wish we were able to make a living doing it. Women’s wrestling is getting better but still isn’t where it could be. We’re only as good as our opponents most of the time.


April Hunter in JAP, laying the law on Mafia

Sean “The MiC”: You are set to battle the DRS at the next JAP show. Many think you are better than most women wrestlers on the Indies, and this can be a chance to show off your talent against male wrestlers. Do you consider this a big match and what can we expect?

April Hunter: I’m really psyched about this and hope it’ll be a good showing. I’m also happy that JAPW would take a risk like this with me, and that DRS and Slyk would entertain the idea as well. I love fighting the guys and plan to have as much fun as I can with this. If we win, we’d be the very first Inter-gender tag team champions.

Sean “The MiC”: What career goals have you attained, and what career goals are left for you to accomplish?

April Hunter: I’m glad to work Japan. Went 3 times and am going back in October. I also love Europe. It’s totally cool that I can see the world doing this-nothing else has afforded me that. I want to be the best female wrestler around. Signed or unsigned.

Sean “The MiC”: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?

April Hunter: Thanks, and sorry if it was boring. Oh, I’m a broke-ass Indy wrestler, so join my site:
www.aprilhunter.com

Sean “The MiC”: Thanks for doing this interview and I hope everyone who reads this joins your site!

All pictures courtesy of www.aprilhunter.com, and April Hunter.