WW: Your wrestling outfits are probably what you owe most of your fame and popularity to. They’re simply awesome. Who came up with the idea of these outfits and when?

Nikki:  My husband deserves most of the credit for my costuming.  He was attracted by the suits worn by many of the GLOW girls in the 80s.  He and I picked out the first few outfits together.  Since then, he has picked out and/or designed most of the costumes that I wear.  They are very popular and I get compliments on them all the time.

WW: As far as leotards/bathing suits go, do you like shiny nylon-lycra ones, matte (cotton lycra) ones, vinyl ones or foil ones? Why?

Nikki:  I prefer the shiny looking Danskin tights.  Generally my suits are shiny and often have a wet-look to them.  So the shiny tights match that look.

WW: We all love the tights/pantyhose you wear. What led to this preference of yours?
Have you ever considered wearing patterned (yet shiny) pantyhose with your thong leotards (I’m quite sure it’d have a huge visual impact)?

Nikki: Early in my career I wrestled some matches without tights and my legs got a lot of mat burns and scrapes and scratches.   Besides that, I always felt more comfortable and more like a wrestler when I wore the tights.  After a while, I would get compliments on the tights/costumes and I guess it just became a signature look for me.  I am open to trying different tights and costumes.  But ultimately, I have to feel like I look good before I agree to get in front of a camera wearing the outfit.

WW: We know many of your videos feature pre-determined endings, but we’re also aware that you’ve had your share of real matches as well. As far as real wrestling goes, who was your toughest opponent and how did you fare in that match?

Nikki: Well, I have had my share of tough opponents.  Sybil Starr might be the opponent I respect most.  She is technically superior and mentally fearless in the ring.  I don’t know for sure if she is the best, but I know that she is extremely professional in every way.  Vanessa Harding and I wrestled one match competitively. I also took on Hurricane Havana, Stephanie Fox, and several others including many regular (non-professional) ladies.  I can say this, against less experienced ladies I win about 80%.  Against the other pro’s I win about 20%.

Most of my matches are vs. professionals, so I lose more often than I win.  But in some ways I take pride in that.  I get more compliments and sell more videos of the matches were I am the loser.  There is an art to losing the right way.  I am considered by some to be a jobber.  I go in and try to look sexy, act cocky and if I win, I taunt my opponent, etc.  And if I lose, I look vulnerable and helpless and they get to taunt me and try to embarrass me.  Either way, we try to put on a great show.

WW: Do you prefer pin or submission endings? Please argument your preference if possible.

Nikki: My company name Pin-Down Girls so I’m sure you would be able to guess, J. I prefer pins matches even though many of my most recent matches for fun have been submissions.  I have always had the mindset that if someone bends your arm or stretches your ankle forcing a submission, it isn’t as devastating or decisive compared to someone totally wearing you out so that a 3 count pin easily finishes you off.  I give this example.  If someone forces a submission on the opponent, the loser can usually get up right away after the match.  But if they wear you out and knock the wind from you and then pin you, usually the loser lays flat on her back for a while.  So to me a legit pin after a long match is harder to earn.   I know I am more embarrassed if I am exhausted and pinned flat on my back than I am if I had to submit to an arm bar.

WW: What type of wrestling match do you prefer?

Nikki:  Tough to answer.  It really depends on my opponent and other factors.  I enjoy both matches for different reasons.  Pro Style matches allow you to be creative and assume a character/attitude and that can be really fun.  But a truly competitive match allows you to challenge yourself and push yourself to the limits as an athlete.  Both styles can be physically demanding.  It is easier to suffer a bad injury in a pro-style match.  But a competitive match always leaves me really sore and totally worn out.

WW: Which is your favorite wrestling hold and why?

Nikki: My 2 fav’s are the full nelson scissor combo and a crucifix hold.  When I have my opponent in either hold, I am in total control and they know it.  I know they look vulnerable and helpless and I am able to wear them down a bit and inflict some punishment.

WW: Do you consider that submission wins (or losses) weigh heavier in the balance than pin victories (or losses)? If so/not why?

Nikki: Pins…see the answer above.

WW: What goes through your mind before you declare your surrender in a submission hold? What’s it like when you’re being dominated on the mat/in the ring?

Nikki: I pride myself in holding out as long as I can.  I know that the fans like to watch 2 ladies go at it until 1 is totally defeated.  So when I am on the losing end, I usually don’t disappoint.  I am usually totally wiped out because I will hold out as long as I can.

WW: When you climb into the ring, what thoughts run through your mind before the bell rings?

Nikki: I am always very nervous.  In my match against Vanessa Harding, I actually had to cut the camera’s about 2 minutes into the match because I had to throw up…gross!  But I was really nervous and excited about the match.

WW: As far as we know, you wrestled Crystal Carmichael once. How do you assess her wrestling abilities (was she a tough opponent)?

Nikki:  Chrystal was very talented and seemed very nice.  She was also about 6 hours late for the matches, so I’m not sure I’d ever agree to wrestle her again.

WW: How do you set up your matches and how do you pick your opponents?

Nikki: When we were just getting the business going I would surf the net for wrestlers.  For me, they needed to look like they were friendly.  For Mike, they had to look sexy.  If they were both, I would send them an email and go from there.  Now that I have been around a while and established a good reputation as a reliable professional and so on, many of my opponents actually contact me.  I consider that a great compliment.

WW: If you can sum it up briefly: what is your favorite thing in women’s wrestling?

Nikki: I tried wrestling the first time because Mike, my husband asked me to try it out. So I wrestled a couple times and it was really fun!  I thought that if I was going to continue to wrestle like this, why not videotape the matches and try to sell them and make a few bucks?  I initially started the business because I wanted to earn enough money to be a stay at home Mom.  I am fortunate that I have been able to do that.  Now that the kids are in school and Mike has advanced with his company, money isn’t a driving factor anymore.  But I really do enjoy wrestling.  Sometimes we’ll just schedule a match to wrestle for fun, and no video cameras around.   I’m not sure how many more videos I might produce, but I will continue to wrestle matches for fun long after the cameras quit rolling.