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Sable Interview
BB: First question: What's the difference between Sable now and the Sable who first entered the World Wrestling Federation in 1996? Sable: I think the Sable who first entered the World Wrestling Federation was very shy and intimidated by a lot of people. She had a very low...maybe not a low self-esteem, but she lacked confidence in her ability. That's all changed now. BB: Was it tough to make that change? Sable: I think once I got into the Federation I really enjoyed it. I wanted to achieve as much as I possibly could, and strive to be the best that I could be. I wanted to fight my way to the top, and I knew that it was going to take achieving confidence in myself, and everyone had to see I had the ability before I was going to have the opportunity to do it. BB: In a little over a year, you have become a role model for women everywhere. Are you comfortable in that role? Do you accept being a role model? Sable: Yes, I'm very comfortable being a role model for younger women or children. I think a woman who posseses a lot of confidence in herself and her ability and always strives to do the best that she can do and is not intimidated by other people-I think that's a great role model to have. Someone who is always confident and always does her best. BB: What do you say to people who call you a hypocrite for being a "woman of the 90's", but baring your skin almost every week? In an era when women are fighting for equal rights, do you think you're hurting the cause? Sable: No, not at all. If anything, I believe I'm helping it. Men use whatever tools they can possibly use to get to the top. Why not let women do the same thing? It's very hard for a woman, in a corporate world especially, to rise to the top of any corporation. And I think God gave us these tools and we should use them. I think a woman should be proud of everything she has, whether it be her beauty or her brains. I think that she should use whatever tools she was given to work with. BB: Does that mean a woman should use her looks or beauty to get what she wants? Sable: I don't think she should use her body in a lewd, sexual way. I think that she can make people pay attention to her or notice her because of how she looks or how her body may appear to them, I think it can only help her. BB: Is it frustrating for you that some men consider you just a sex object? Sable: You know what, it's not frustrating because it's great to be looked upon as a sex symbol. That's a wonderful feeling to know that millions of men are admiring me, and that's great. But at the same time you can't change a person's opinion about you. If they're set in their way of thinking that you're nothing but a body or a woman who goes out and exposes herself every week-regardless of how many other things you may bring to the table...if that's still the way they think about me after three years in this business, after all I've given them in terms of not only skin but I also have a brain and I'm able to speak. I can conduct interviews and I can do commentary. I'm a very smart intellectual woman. And if they can't see that, I can't change their opinion. BB: Speaking of that, it's well documented that problems existed between you and Sunny while she was in the Federation. What caused it, and what was your take on the situation? Was there jealousy involved? Sable: I don't think Sunny was just jealous of me. I think Sunny was very inscure in herself, which only adds to her jealousy of other people. I chose not to involve myself in that. I wasn't competing with Sunny. I had no relationship at all with Sunny. I tried very hard to be friends with her, but it was not something that was going to happen, so I just chose to remove myself from the situation. She was fighting a battle with herself, and I was not involved in any way. BB: During the past year, do you think that Marc Mero took a backseat to you? Was that a tough thing for him to deal with? Sable: In all reality, Marc has made me the person I am today. If it wasn't for Marc, I would not have a career in the World Wrestling Federation. I'm very grateful to him for that. I don't think Marc took a backseat to me. I just think his career went one way and mine went the other. BB: Do you think women at ringside take away from the action in the ring? Sable: No, I don't. I think the women are there to support, to help if needed and to make sure no one else interferes. I think there can be certain situations where the attention may be on the women, but for the most part I think the women have the same rights to be out there as any male manager ever has. BB: We recently did an interview with Chyna in the World Wrestling Federation Magazine where she talked about having a tough time getting the "old school" thinkers to accept her persona. Did the same happen to you? Were people reluctant to see a "valet" transform into an outspoken and strong woman? Sable: No, I don't think it was at all. I think that Chyna came into the Federation totally different from the way I came in. I came in as a valet. She was more of a bodyguard-someone to watch Hunter's back and defend him if he needed it. I was not physical in any way when I first came into the Federation. So, no, I didn't find it hard to break from being a valet to wrestling. I think all my fans accepted me very well and I've had a great time doing it. BB: How would you compare yourself to an athlete like Chyna? Sable: I don't like to compare myself to anyone. That's not why I'm in the business. I'm not competing with anyone and I'm not comparing myself to anyone. I think every individual in this business has the opportunity to become whatever the become. I think that's where we got into the trouble with Sunny, because she was competing against all of us. We're not competing against each other. If it becomes a heated situation where we do have animosity toward each other, it's because of a different reason. It's because basically we don't like each other, but not because we're jealous of each other or competing to steal the spotlight away from each other. That would not be my reason anyway. So, I just choose not to compete or compare myself with anyone. BB: After making that break from a quiet valet, have you found that some of the superstars have become jealous of your popularity? After all, some guys work close to a decade to achieve what you have in just over two years. Sable: You know what-if they are, I haven't noticed it. But I would have to say no. I can't imagine they would be jealous. The way I look upon it is that we are all working for the same company and we're all striving to be the best we can be as individuals. And when we're the best we can be as individuals, united we can only make this company bigger and better. BB: Aggression against women is becoming more prevalent in society, and has even started to cross into the Federation-a case in point was with The Rock and Chyna prior to SummerSlam. Do you think this reflection on society should be a part of sports-entertainment? Sable: I think violence against women in any form should not be tolerated. And I think that there's definitely too much violence in the world, and people need to be made aware of it. I don't think it should be made fun of or taken lightly. I think it's a very serious issue, and I definitely do not like to see men being violent against women. On the other hand, this is a wrestling business. This is a fighting business. We all know what we're getting ourselves into when we commit to work for this company. If the situation comes up where there is going to be aggression against women, women are totally aware of the position that they put themselves in when they go out there. So, that has to be an individual's choice. BB: Do you think that women should compete against men in sports? What about wrestling? Sable: I think that a woman should be able to do anything she chooses to do. If she puts herself in a position where she is competing against a man on any level, whether it be in the corporate office or the wrestling ring, she has put herself willingly into that situation and it has to be an individual's decision. BB: Do you have a favorite female athlete, and why? Sable: I would have to say Gabrielle Reese [professional volleyball player and model]. I think she is beautiful, very talented and very smart. I think she is a great role model to the young girls out there today. I think she has a lot to offer as far as her talent, being so athletic and having brains. BB: You are the first to come along who has shown that female managers can have brains as well as beauty. How does it feel to know that you broke the mold? Sable: I think it's very important for women to get an education and stimulate their minds and to be intelligent because beauty only goes so far. And once the fans see through that, there has to be some kind of substance to keep them interested. Beauty fades...your mind never goes away. BB: You talked about not comparing yourself to other women, but from an athletic standpoint how would you compare Sable to the women superstars of the 1970s and 80s like the Fabulous Moolah and Wendi Richter? Sable: I think in one way I'm different because I never got into this business wishing to become a wrestler. I'm still not a wrestler. I defend myself when necessary. But, I would never compare myself to the Fabulous Moolah or Wendi Richter because they're in a class all by themselves. As I said before, I try not to compare or compete against anyone, especially against veterans of the business who have been in it for many years, because I have never claimed to be a wrestler. BB: Could a women's division survive in today's wrestling environment? Sable: Most definitely. I think the interest in women's wrestling is becoming much greater now since we have had a few matches. I think the people are very interested in seeing it come back. I think it would have a great run. BB: Does Sable ever return to managing, or are you happy where you are right now? Sable: Sable nenver says never. But I will definitely say I am not interested in managing anyone at this time. I'm enjoying my freedom. There are a lot of opportunities that have come my way and that I wish to explore, such as an acting career and some modeling. At this time I'm very happy. If I ever feel the need to defend myself against somebody, I'll step back in the ring. But at this time I have no interest in being a wrestler or a manager. Sable is very happy, and I'm just going to continue to strive for those unattainable goals. BB: Does a ceiling still exist in this sport for you and other women? Obviously, it's still dominated by men, but that's changing somewhat. Is there a limit to how far Sable can go? Sable: I think when you set limits for yourself, that's as far as you're going to go. I think if you reach for the moon and set goals that are unattainable, and if you strive your whole life to be the best that you can be, you will never settle for less. |
