Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Shotzi On Life After WWE, Shaving Her Head On TV, Return From Injury, Horror Movies, Scarlett

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

Shotzi (@ShotziTCB) is a professional wrestler best known for her time in WWE. She sits down with Chris Van Vliet at West Coast Creative Studio in Los Angeles to discuss her time in WWE coming to an end and what's next, missed dream matches, how her tank entrance was created and where the tank is today, suffering an injury on NXT and the return, getting married in Las Vegas and wrestling that night in her wedding dress, her love of horror movies and more!  Quote I'm thinking about: “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John Wooden Subscribe to Scarlett and Shotzi's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScarlettandShotzi  Please support our sponsors! PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/?ref=tibcloux  SEAT GEEK: Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/CVV Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount PRIZEPICKS: Download the app today and use code INSIGHT to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!  TIMELINE: Go to https://timeline.com/insightto get 10% off your order of Mitopure!   VUORI: Get 20% off your first purchase! Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/cvv   ROCKET MONEY: Download the Rocket Money app and enter “Insight With Chris Van Vliet” in the survey   HUEL: Get 15% off plus a FREE Gift for NEW customers with the code INSIGHT at https://huel.comMIRACLE MADE: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/CVV and use the code CVV to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF   ZOCDOC: Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://zocdoc.com/insight   BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv   BLUECHEW: Get your first month of BlueChew for free with the code CVV at https://bluechew.com   PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at https://plunge.com   For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.    Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Fleet! Greetings and salutations, my friends. Welcome back to another one here on Inside. It's me, the three numbers on the back of your credit card, CVV, Chris Van Fleet. Thank you for hitting play on this episode. And as always, thank you for making Insight the number one wrestling podcast on planet Earth. Toss your phone up into the air and hit a spin. heel kick on that follow button. I looked at the numbers earlier today and I was blown away that only

like 30% of you listening actually follow the show. So if you're listening on Spotify or on Apple or wherever it is, seriously, a follow would be so appreciated. I know it sounds so insignificant to you, but you clicking that button helps the show so so much, which is why I always like to toss in a reminder about that. Same thing for ratings. reviews. Both are so, so helpful to help us lock down some big guests. A very requested guest on the show today. I'm honored to have Shotsie in the studio. I feel like she's become a whole new person since she became a free agent last month when WWE didn't renew her contract. She's been popping up everywhere on the indie scene. She's now calling herself the indie god, which you know that's

Matt Cardona's name. There's a, there's some sort of tie in there. But speaking of names, yeah, she is still going by shotsy, which is such an interesting thing. And we get into it here, but some people get to keep their name after they leave WWE. Some people don't get to keep their name. But there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to why people get it and why people don't. But I mean, if you think about it, she was shotsy before WWE. She was shotsy in WWE. So yeah, it makes sense for her to still be Shotsie now. We talk about her incredible career, her amazing story, and just so great having her on Insight for the first time ever. So snap a screenshot and tag us so you can let us know that you were listening to this episode. She's at Shotsie, WWE. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome Shotsie. So good to finally meet you. I know, like, I watch your show so much, and I have to say I'm so grateful to be here. Like, this is so cool. And you even know the word to say grateful. Oh, thank you. And you're here. You're now on the show. I'm here.

Yeah. It feels great. So good to finally have you here. Yeah. Yeah. How are you doing with everything? I'm doing awesome, honestly. Like, I am in the best mind state that I've been in, like, a really long time.

So, yeah, it just, I feel good. I feel just hopefully. for the future. How long did it take you to get in that mindset? Like after getting the call? So it was kind of instant, to be honest. But like my situation is different than others because I, you know, I had my injury for, you know, the like nine months that I was gone from that. And then I was at NXT for like a small stint. And then I wasn't on TV for a little bit. So I just was Like, I was ready for it.

Like, I feel like I had already done the grieving process. And I was already out of the locker room for a little bit. So it, it didn't come as a shock to me. Like, I was just like, okay, now I get to, like, get to work. So you were expecting to either get released or for them to not renew your contract? I don't know. Honestly, I felt like I had, like, a good run at NXT. And I, you know, I was hopeful that there would be something for me at SmackDown.

And, like, I kept getting, like, little glimpses of, like, okay, we're going to run with this storyline or this or this. And it wasn't until, like, around mania that I started to think, like, oh, maybe they're not going to resign me. because it was just like storyline getting cut week after week. And then I was just like, okay, I see where this might be going. And it was like storylines weren't continuing, right? Like you weren't really being given much of a glimpse into a future. Yeah, yeah. I mean, like, they had teased that I would start something with Chelsea.

But it just never happened. Like, they called me into Smackdown a few times, and then every time I would come in, it was cut. So, yeah. So where are you at now? You're just like, the world is your oyster. Yeah. I mean, like, I just want to wrestle again because, you know, like, I was gone so long from my ACL injury. And then, you know, I was off TV for a little bit.

So, like, I'm just, like, so excited to get back into it. Yeah, you miss it. Yes. So, so much. So, so much. So we could be seeing you back in the ring, you know, at some point soon maybe. Like very soon. Oh.

Like, I might have already made my debut back by the time this airs. Well, we need to air this immediately then to put it out as quick as I can. It just feels like you've got control again now. Yes. And it's funny because you famously cut a promo about like being in control. And now in your personal life and with your career, you're the one in control. Yeah. I mean that that promo was kind of like a little uh hey I'm here are you guys what are you guys

going to do with me like let me know please because I would like to know and what was the reaction so this for people that don't know you put this promo out on social media yeah and it was a heartfelt promo very emotional yeah you put it out there what was the immediate response you got um I had a lot of co-workers message me saying that it was like the greatest promo that they've ever seen me cut. And, you know, a lot of people thought like I was released. And that was like me saying that I was released. But I hadn't gotten the call yet.

They came a few days later. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Maybe like two days later. Maybe a day later, actually. Because of that, do you think? No, because they were making their cuts the next day. and then it just, they like bumped me in with that.

So, yeah, I don't think that that promo stir the pot. I mean, it could have. I'll never know. I'll never know. But was it like you already saw the writing on the wall and you're like, I just want to one last ditch effort. Yes, that was my last ditch effort. Like that was me just like pulling everything out that I can and just like reflecting on like the last few years and just showing them like,

look, I'm not going to let it affect me and I'm ready to go. Were there some lines in there that were tough to get out? Like, it was really emotional and really personal. Yeah. Were there some lines in there where you were like, this means a lot to me? Yeah, absolutely. Actually, like the process of recording it was very emotional. And like, I honestly, like, I did one take and then I broke down.

My husband recorded me doing it. And I was just like, I don't think I can do this. I shouldn't even like record this. This is stupid. And then he was like, no, like, this is real. Just say it. And then I just like did it in the next take. And that was it.

I was like, I'm not even going to edit this post. It was like three o'clock in the morning. Did you think before hitting post were you like, oh, what kind of effect might this have? No, I didn't even want to. How is it going to be received? I didn't even want to think about it. I was just like, because like I like to overthink things and I get analysis, paralysis all the time. So I was like, no, this is like the one time I need to do.

just do it because it's like do or die right now. So it's 3 o'clock in the morning. Yeah. You post it. Yeah. Are you able to go to sleep after that? No, not really. I'm just kind of laying in bed like, oh, okay, man, what is this going to do?

Like, what reaction is this going to get? Are they going to call me? Are they going to be like, what's going on? Like, what is going to happen? Yeah. But I knew it would make like a little bit of noise. It did. Yeah.

What's the thing you're most proud of from your time in WWE? I would say like all the friendships that I made for sure. Like that's like what's going to last forever. And I don't know, just everything that the WWE taught me. Yeah. What about the work itself? Is there a match, a promo, a storyline that you're really proud of? Well, I mean, I guess like the first thing that comes to mind is like shaving my head on TV for my sister.

You know, like that was a lot. something that just meant a lot to me. You know, I didn't get a ton of like storylines in, you know, in my time there. But that was the one that was just like personal and for like my family. How did you approach them to make that happen on TV? Um, so I, I went to Hunter. Uh, I went straight to him and I was just like, hey, like my sister's going through this. And, you know, I really want support her in like a big way and um like i just want her to see this and like know that i'm connected you know the way that it was done was it was amazing how it was worked into a storyline that then advanced your character as well right and then had this deep personal meaning for you as well yeah it did

kind of like yeah it was definitely for my sister but um i took something from it for sure like bailey cutting your hair was like, that's a statement. I know. Yeah, it is. I still have the ponytail. I haven't hung up on my wall. That entire backstage segment where she cuts your hair, it's like you come in with like real intensity. Then they're like hitting you hard. Yeah. Then you take a stiff suplex through a table that's up against a wall. Yeah. And then out of nowhere, one take, your hair gets cut off. Yeah. How did you? How did you? plan all that together? I mean, it was kind of a long time coming by the time, like, I approached Hunter about it, and we didn't get to it until, like, two months later.

Are you worried at this point? Maybe it's not going to happen? Yes. Yeah, I was. Yeah, I almost was like, okay, like, I don't want to do this anymore. I'm just going to, like, fly to California and cut my hair with my sister, you know. But like, you know, the TV process, it takes a little longer. And then you would have just showed up on TV one day.

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Shaved head. Yeah, exactly. So then the actual promo where you're shaving your head, what went into that promo? Um, it, I kind of like took stuff that my sister had said to me and vented to me and put it in the promo. Like, I kind of wanted her to watch that and, like, be empowered from it, you know?

Like, I just wanted to, like, use myself as, like, a vessel for what she was going through. So a lot of those words in there was, like, for her, you know? Yeah. Just, like, the fight that she has to go through. Yeah, yeah. When you first saw yourself after that segment, after shaving your head, what did you think when you looked in the mirror? It was shocking, but I kind of liked it. Yeah, you rocked it.

I liked Buzzhead me. I was feeling it. All your hair is back now. It is. I mean, there's some extensions in here, but yeah. Nobody needs to know about that. It's so interesting because your hair has become such a signature part of your look, but also a big part of your character as well. So, like, is there a difference between green hair shotsy and black hair shotsy?

I don't know that there's a difference, but yes, my hair has definitely become, like, my signature look. And I've, you know, when I first dyed my hair green, I didn't like it. But then it just kind of became the thing. So now I just, I keep up with it. What made you dye your hair green the first time? So my hair was red before this, like bright red, like Eva Marie red. And at the time, like, Eva Marie was there and she had the red hair. And I was like, I was going in for like tryouts. And I would run into her. And I'm like, oh, I should probably dye my hair. Like I should probably like, you know, stay away from her look. Because that's like her thing. So I was like, I'll do green. Like no one really does green. So yeah, that was kind of like the backstory behind that. And also like I like, I like, I like, I love monsters, like creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, all that stuff. And like, this is, it's such a monster color.

Is there a specific name for this green? So it's kind of my own concoction. I mix a few hair dyes together. Oh, you do it yourself? I do, yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah, DIY until I die. Mix a, you mix a few colors together to get this.

Yeah. What if it, you know, mixes differently this time versus last time? Well, I sometimes does. Sometimes it does, but it always stays pretty true to this. This episode is brought to you by Cash App. Making money moves should be easy. And that's why there's Cash App. It's fast, safe, and honestly just a lot more personalized than other apps out there.

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What do they think you do for a living? I get asked if I'm like a tattoo artist or if I'm like in a band. Those are like the two that I always get asked. Those are pretty cool things to be. Yeah, I mean, I would love to be a tattoo artist or in a band. Like I wish I was that artistic. And you still can be. Well, definitely a band I want to start like Pronto.

Like especially now that I'm not with WWE. Like that is a goal for sure. What would you do in the band? I would sing. Okay. Yeah. What kind of band? You know, I don't know.

I like so many genres of music. I mean, it would definitely be like in the punk rock realm, but. Yeah, I feel like your character pulls a lot of inspiration from like horror. Yes. And then also from like maybe punk rock or like definitely very music inspired. Yes, for sure. And those come together as like an amalgamation of what you are. But it's easy for people to see you.

especially in your entrance and be able to say, like, yes, she's into some of the things that I'm into as well. Right. Yeah, yeah. I definitely like wear it all. Like, it's out there. When did that begin for you? What? Being inspired, this entire look. When did that begin for you? I would say that, like, my dad really influenced me a lot. Like, he was the rebel of the family, for sure. like, you know, rode with the Hells Angels and was getting tattoos forever. Like, I watched my dad get a tattoo in our kitchen when I was like five years old. And that's like my connection with tattoos. And, you know, he always listened to rock and roll.

So, you know, he'd pick me up from school and he'd just be blasting ACDC in the car. So, yeah, my dad for sure. What was your first tattoo? Um, my dad took me to get my first tattoo when I was 15. And it was like the, the drama mask, the happy and sad. Yeah, yeah. Because I was super into theater. Like, that was my first love.

Like, I wanted to be on Broadway. And, um, it took my mom some convincing to let me get a tattoo that young. But my dad was like, hell yeah. If your mom says, yes, let's go. You still haven't? I do. Yeah. Yeah.

It's here on my shoulder. And then. It feels like you don't even have room for any more tattoos now. I kind of don't. Like, I have... This palm, maybe? Yeah, right? Just, that's it.

My back is actually bare besides that first tattoo. Is that intentional? No, well, I just want, like, a really big back piece. And that takes so long. And I've honestly become a little baby when it comes to getting tattooed recently. And, like, I can only do, like, three-hour sessions. Like, I can't do the nine-hour. sessions anymore. Like, I just can't do it.

No one would look at you and think that you have a hard time getting tattoos. Well, I used to be a trooper, but things have changed. What happened to being the Balsy badass? She's still there, but, you know, I think I put the work in. Clearly, yeah, I have none, so not one. That's crazy. That's crazy? Well, actually, no, it's not, but.

I think for me, it's like, I don't know, I've heard everybody's, say if you get one, then it leads to two. Yeah. And it leads to more. It's truly an infection. An infection. Yes. I've never heard of a fur do like that.

That's good. I don't know what the first thing would be. Now that I'm a father may be something to do with my kids. Oh, yeah. I love that. Yeah. I don't know. And then you're going to be covered the next time I'm seeing it.

I don't know. I don't think I could do it. But I admire you for doing that. Well, thank you. What was tattoo number two then? Oh, I don't even know. That's amazing. Amazing. Something on my arm. Maybe my dad.

That's your dad? Yeah, yeah, I got my dad tattooed on. Hold that up so we can see a little bit. Man, your dad looks like a badass. Yeah, he really was. Look at that guy. That is like one of my favorite things is that like my action figure has my dad's tattoo on it. That's really cool. Yeah, yeah. Like those details are really awesome. What's the music that really inspired your character? I don't know. Like everything, metal, punk rock, 50s rock and roll. I don't know. Like, just music in general. Yeah. How'd you come up with Shotsie? So I was in this musical when I was a junior in high school called Star Mites. And I played Shotsie, who's like this evil, banshee alien lady. And, um,

Yeah, it just kind of stuck. Everyone called me Shotsie after I played that role, and I just took it with me. And then it became your wrestling. Yeah. Yeah. So I've been Shotsie since I was 16. You had another wrestling name at first, right? Well, yes.

Yeah, because when I started wrestling, I was already Shotsie by then. Everyone was calling me Shotsie. That was just like my nickname. But I was known as Missy High as shit because my, my, my, my, my, My OG trainers, the Stoner brothers, wanted me to come out as their valet when I first started training with them. And, yeah, I was Missy High's shit. How did you find wrestling or how did wrestling find you?

So I wasn't like a huge, like wrestling fan growing up. Like I was pretty casual. Like I would watch it if like my friends were watching it, play the video games with them. But it wasn't until I. I went to AMDA in Hollywood, and I dropped out of AMDA and I moved back home and I needed like a performing outlet. I started watching wrestling and I was just like, hey, why can't I do that? Like, wrestling is so theatrical. And I immediately like Googled, how do you become a pro wrestler?

And I found a school nearby and I guess the rest of history. If you're a theater nerd, like there's a, like there are a lot of similarities. Truly. Truly. Theater and pro wrestling. Truly. Yeah, we had a class at Amdo, stage combat. And I think that was like the first bridge to wrestling.

I loved that class so much. What are you learning in stage combat? Well, it's just like, you, like, if you have like a fight scene for, you know, a movie or whatever, you would learn just like fight moves and stuff. or like being thrown around or whatever. So it was like, it was like a wrestling class kind of. Are you learning to like fall? Like roll and or like.

Not to take a bump. Not the same. Yeah, no, not the same. Not the same. We weren't like taking flat bumps on, you know, mats. So then when you went to wrestling school, were you like, okay, this is it. I'm in. Yes.

Yeah, yeah. Well, I had talked to. some indie wrestlers before I started training. And I was like, oh, I think I want to be a wrestler. And one of them was like, wow, that's ambitious. And like, it was like at that moment where I was like, oh, I need to take this seriously. So I was just all in. I like started doing acro.

I like joined an MMA gym. Like I took it very seriously. Like I just was consumed with one. wanting to be a better wrestler. Now that you have any opportunity that you want in front of you, do you think we're going to see the same version of Shotsie, wherever you go next from, you know, is it going to be the same as what we saw in WWE?

I mean, like, I've always stayed true to that. And I think, like, a layer of that will always be there. But I do want to evolve for sure. Yeah, I don't want to stay complacent. Yeah. Yeah, have you thought about what that looks like? Yeah, a little bit. But I feel like I really won't know what that'll turn into until I get back in the ring.

Yeah, and maybe it's getting the reps into. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And seeing how the crowd reacts to you in this city or that city. Exactly. Exactly. Like you really don't know how you're going to mold until you're in there.

I imagine that wherever you return at, wherever your debut is, it's going to be a big reaction. Yeah. Yeah. I hope so. Why not? Yeah. I mean, I feel like by the time this airs, I'll have already done it. No?

Well, this will air like in two weeks. Oh, okay. So it's already happened? Yeah, it's already happened. How do you feel about your return? Well, I feel great about it. I mean, it was strategic because, well, not strategic, but like, more sentimental, going back to hood slam and wrestling my trainer, my OG trainer.

and, you know, just wrestling in the first ring, I took my first bumps in. Yeah, it's like full circle. Yeah, yeah. Was there, are there nerves right now about like, this is happening in a few days, but they're nerves about like, how's this going to go? How am I going to be received? Or are they excited, like, are you excited about like, I think it happened from here? I think I'm just excited more than anything.

Like, I know the hood slam crowd is crazy. Like, it's just a wild party and it always. sells out. So I know they're going to be hyped. I don't know if they'll know who I am just because most of the hoodslam crowd is just like, like, like college kids partying. It's not truly wrestling fans. But I mean, I hope that some will remember me. It's been like five years since I've been at hood slam. So yeah. I'm sure they'll remember. Yeah, I'm sure they will. And you've freshly dyed your hair. I know, right?

How could they not? You have such a trademark look. I do, yeah. It's such a trademark thing that, like, I think once somebody sees you once, that's it. Fair, fair. Right? Yeah, I've stuck with it. What are the real horror movies that inspire you?

Like, the OG Universal Monsters, like, creature from the Black Agoon, Frankenstein. But, like, I also really love, like, 80s horror, like, all this. the like practical effects gore and just like the campiness of the 80s. I feel like Shotsie's a little campy and ridiculous. Are you watching horror now? Like is there, is there anything that's come out in the last decade or so that has really impressed you? So, well, okay, so a couple days ago I watched Bring Her Back.

Have you watched Talk to Me or do you watch horror movies? I do. Okay. I will be honest. I like them. It's tough to sleep that night. Yeah. They get in my head.

Oh, really? Yeah. Like, you'd be surprised. I'm actually big chicken. I'm very scared of the dark. And I'll watch a horror movie and it screws me up for the rest of the night. No, I like horror. Now that we have two kids at home, it's tough to put on anything that's not like kids programming.

Fair. Fair. Yeah. So there is stuff that's recently that's impressed you? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, like, bring her back just happens to be the first thing that comes to mind just because I watched it a couple days ago. but, like, I was actually laying in bed last night analyzing it because it was just so, it was a lot. It's very depressing.

Yeah, you have to be mentally prepared for it, for sure. Okay. How do you feel about the SAW franchise? So I actually liked the newest one. Oh, I did too. I loved it. I thought it was super brutal. I thought the traps were awesome.

I enjoyed it. And I kind of liked Babyface John Kramer. And I think that John Kramer, like, really getting to showcase, like, his backstory. Like, that was just like a vehicle to just show how great of an actor, Tobin Bellas. Yeah, I loved it. I'd be okay if they just kept it at that. You know they're going to make another one. I know.

They can't stop, right? I just remember going to see the very first when I was in college and I didn't know anything about the movie. I just saw the poster and that was it. Yeah. And when that movie ended, I went, what? Yeah. I've never seen anything like that before. Like that ending blew my mind.

Yeah, that was like the first of that kind of like, like, like, portrait horror, right? Right. But it's heady too. Like there's, you know, there's, that movie makes you think.

For sure. It's psychological. And I don't want to give too much away here, but in that final scene. And if you haven't seen it, come on. It's been over 20 years. I don't know.

Yeah. What are you waiting for? But I still don't want to ruin it for those people. Fair. In that final scene, you're like, how did I not see this? Yeah, yeah. All the signs were there and all, it's a good twist.

Such a good twist. Yeah. When you dressed up as pinhead for Halloween Havoc. That was my favorite. It was perfect. Thank you. How were you able to allow them to do, allow you to do that? I watched a lot of YouTube tutorials.

You did it yourself? I did it myself. Whoa. Yeah, all of my costumes and makeup for Halloween Havoc, I did myself. Can we go through them all? Sure. Look how excited you are about it. But yeah, I mean, Pinhead was definitely my favorite and most elaborate one just because making that like cowl was so difficult and tedious.

Like I used Q-tips that I spray painted silver and I added like little tops to it to make like the pins. Oh, it took a long time. How long do you think it took? hours, days. Yeah, like spray painting all of those little Q-tips and cutting them and like, it was very tedious. Well, you nailed it.

Thank you, literally. I mean to do that. What was the runner-up? If that's number one, what was the runner-up? Oh, maybe like the Frankenstein one that I did just because, like, I feel like that was so classic and that was the first look I did on Halloween having. So that one has like a sentimental value to it.

I think what's great is when people think of you, they think of Halloween. Yeah. And the fact that you were able to host Halloween Havoc, it tied it perfectly together. Yeah. It's crazy because I didn't even know that Halloween Havoc was coming back. And I like thought to myself, because I'm a huge Elvira fan. And she would show up at Halloween Havoc a bunch. And I was like, man, if I could just like,

host a Halloween havoc like Elvira like that would be that would be chef's kiss that would just like make my life that's all I need and for it to happen in my first year at WWE it was just crazy. Yeah. Yeah. How can you talk about horror with such excitement and be scared of it? I think that's why I like it so much because it like it gets me going, you know? Like it triggers something like. the emotions.

I remember I interviewed the director of actually one of the saw movies and I said, why do people want to be scared? And he's like, I think people want to feel alive. Yes, that's what it means. Yeah. Yeah.

I think that's why I like wrestling so much too because like the adrenaline. Yeah. Is the adrenaline from when your music hits? Is it from taking your first bump? What is it? I think it's as soon as my music hits. That's why like my music was always so. important to me.

Like my entrance is always so important to me. I think that's why I have like such a larger-than-life entrance. You have a tank. I know. I still can't believe I got them to do that. How'd that come together? So I found this mini tank at Walmart and I bought it for the Indies. I used it only in a couple shows because obviously I can't like travel with that tank.

Like I don't have the buses that WWE does. So for like local shows, I would come out in the tank. And there was actually some indie promotions that were like, we bought one for our show. And they would bring me in and I'd have a little tank there. But I sent Hunter a video of my little mini Walmart tank. And he was like, can you get it to full sale like tomorrow? And I was like, oh, yes. And I ordered an Uber Excel to get this.

mini tank over to full sale. What made it the TCB tank? Okay, so I'm a big Elvis fan and, you know, taking care of business. Hey, your bag over here is a big, I heart Elvis sticker on it. You got a lot of stickers on there, but I do. Yeah, I mean, I have TCB on my knuckles.

Like, that's just like one of my things. What's on the other knuckles? It's PMA, which is for positive mental attitude. But those are like my two, my two sayings, but definitely in wrestling, you got to take care of business. So it's just a tip of the hat to Elvis? Yes, yes. And also taking care of business.

Come on now. Every day. Well, and what you do in the ring, you take care of business. Absolutely. The fact that you came out on that. And it's not just the tank shooting fireworks. I know. Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, I brought in this little baby tank from Walmart and then it just evolved. And now it shoots fireworks. But I miss it. I haven't seen it in like. two years. Oh. Yeah. But you still have the baby tank?

No, I don't. I don't. So we won't see the tank? Well, okay. So I'm still trying to get that tank back because, okay, so my little tank, they actually cut in half to make the bigger tank that you see on TV. And yeah. So half of that is mine, which is the point that I made.

So you got to get half your tank back is what you're saying. Yeah, I was like, can I have like half of the tank or maybe all of it? So, I mean, I'm willing to drive to Connecticut and get it out of the warehouse if I have to. That's an expensive Uber XL. Yeah, it would be. Gotta make that happen. Yeah, but then I can just drive the tank back home. So.

Could you? No, I couldn't. It would take forever. It goes like 15 miles per hour. It's battery powered? It is. So it's actually built around. electric wheelchair.

Oh. Yeah. So how often does it need to be charged? Like, they would charge it before TV. Because there would be nothing worse than going out. Exactly. It stops in the middle of your entrance. That would be the worst.

Yeah. But you could usually tell when it's about to go. Like, it'll slow down a little bit. Oh. But yeah. Yeah, it's just a wheelchair. With the stuff you do with paranormal stuff, does it not concern you? Like, the haunted things?

Yes. The demons. You're in that world. Yeah, I am. Does it not scare you? It does. It really does. But I like facing my fears.

Like, I think that's why I'm a wrestler, because wrestling is scary. But yeah, the paranormal stuff, very scary. You have some haunted items? I do. What do you have? So probably my most well-known haunted item is Pinch. He is my little haunted clown doll. I bring him on the show with me all the time.

He's super over. People love pinch. But his name is pinch because he is known to pinch people. At least that's what the people told me that I got him from. Has he pinched you? I don't know if it was him though. I couldn't tell if it was like a bug or if it was him. But people have definitely felt pinched while we've been investigating with pinch.

When you're doing these investigations, and for people who haven't checked this out, you have a YouTube channel. We'll link to it below so everybody can go and subscribe to you and Scarlet. Are you still going to keep doing this for Scarlet? Okay, I love that. Good. Everybody go subscribe. Yeah, yeah. Are you not worried that this stuff might follow you home? I'm sure it does. Scarlet's have, Scarlet's have had something follow her before. What? Yeah, yeah. I think she, like, did, like, a seance one time, and she had something follow her back. But she didn't know until she went and saw, like, this psychic that we go to every once in a while. And she was like, you have something attached to you. Is this not concerning? Like, if you believe that this exists, then do you not believe that this stuff can affect your life?

I don't think that it can. Okay. I like to believe that I'm stronger than them. and we always like to go in and just say like, you know, we just kind of put our foot down and we're like, hey, you can't affect us. But, I mean, apparently it didn't help Scarlett too much that one time when it followed her home. What's been the scariest moment you've been faced with? You know, I have to admit, nothing too crazy has happened. Oh, wait.

Actually, Scarlett levitated one time. Okay What? Yeah, so we went to Lizzie Borden And we did the like You know the little kid game Light as a Feather Stiff as a board You put like two fingers under her

And then we all try to lift her She levitated like this far off the ground What? Yeah You filmed this? Yes Yeah, it's on the WWE YouTube page Lizzie Borden

me and Scarlett, check it out. What were you thinking? I mean, I watch it back. My reaction is priceless, but I don't know. I wasn't so, like I was a little bit scared, but I was just like, this is freaking cool. I can't believe we got that on camera. Yeah. Do you have trouble going to sleep after going on an investigation?

Yes. Well, so actually, Scarlett wanted me to spend the night at Lizzie Borden that night. And I was like, no, absolutely not. And she was like, come on. Like, I'm spending the night here. You said that you would. And I'm like, yeah, but you have Kevin. Like, after we do all these ghost hunts, like, you know, we do them like before Raw or SmackDown.

And like, she always has Kevin with her. So like, Carrie and Cross, by the way. Yes. Who's going to mess with carrying Cross? Right, right. Exactly. So, like, you know, like she gets to go and have him comfort her. And I go sleep in another room with a ghost.

by myself. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't have my husband with me most of the time. Like, sometimes he'll fly out and hang out with us, but like, you know, I'm there for work, usually. So, uh, yeah, I'm, I'm solo. It's hard to sleep. I'll, like, turn on all the lights in my hotel room, turn the TV on. Yeah, that sounds scary. It's rough. Shout out your channel for anybody who doesn't go into the description so they can go subscribe to you. So, uh, you can follow us. It's, uh, Scarlett and Shotsie on YouTube, Chamber of Hars. I hope you guys, I think just broke 50,000

subscribers, right? Yeah, yeah. I'm really excited about that. Oh, 100,000 is just right around the corner. Exactly. Yes, yeah, yeah, I hope so. We just need to be, you know, consistent with it. How much of that paranormal stuff

maybe play some sort of role in what you do in the ring or maybe are there Easter eggs there or something like that? I don't know that I ever bring in like the paranormal to my wrestling. But honestly, when we started doing it, I kind of been off TV for that while. But I don't know that I would bring the paranormal world into it. Keep those demons in the houses. Well, there are some characters that tap into that. For sure.

We've seen that with a lot of different characters. Yeah. I mean, I've always wanted to be like a spooky character in wrestling. You kind of are. I'm a little bit spooky. Yeah. But I don't think like I'm like connected to like the underworld. or anything.

You're not like the Undertaker. No. The Undertaker can shoot lightning out of his hands. Yeah, yeah. I wish I could do that, but I can't. He can turn the lights on just by raising his arms. Yeah. I don't have any superpowers, unfortunately.

Yeah, the Undertaker is a, he can do all kinds of things. Yeah, he can. How did you come up with the Balsey badass? Um, well, okay, so my friend had this song. It's called I'm Balsey, uh, Arna, core. And I just love that song so much. And I was just like, oh, Balsey's such a fun word. Like, I want to be Balzy something. And I was like, what am I ballsy, ballsy badass, I guess? So that's just kind of, yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. Exactly. So I guess that's how it kind of came to be.

What happened when you injured your knee on NXT? Like you jumped off the apron and did you just land wrong? Yeah, it was just kind of a freak accident. You know, like, it's not that far of a drop and it was a move that had done like a million times. And I just landed funky. And you looked like you instantly knew. Yeah, I heard the pop. I felt it. Yeah.

Like, it was painful to where, like, your ears ring. But I think, like, adrenaline kicked in, like, a few seconds after that. And then I thought I was good. Like, even though I heard the pop and, like, It hurt really bad. I don't know. Like, I think when adrenaline kicked in, I was just like, wait, no, I'm fine. I can go.

Please let me go. But I had already told the ref that I heard the pop. And when he heard me say that, he was like, yeah, we can't let you continue. And I was like, no, I'm really good. Please let me just wrestle. And then where does it go from there? Because like, now you have to be taken off TV. You have to have surgery.

Yeah. Do you worry about any momentum you might have had is now just killed? You know, that thought definitely comes to mind, of course. Like, I think that's just like natural anytime someone gets a major injury like that where you're going to be gone like nine months to a year. Yeah, it's hard to stay out of the like dark mindset. But I tried to think like, okay, like I just had like a really good showing at war games. And, like, you know, I've been doing really good on, like, the live events.

Maybe, like, they'll remember that in 10 months. And then when you did come back, like, you had some opportunities when you came back. Yeah, yeah. I, at the time that I came back, I kind of thought that, like, okay, I'll probably be, like, a surprise for Rumble or so. I'll probably come back at Rumble. Like, it was, like, December. So I figured, okay, they're probably going to wait for. rumble.

And I just didn't want to wait that long. I was like, man, I've already been sitting at home for, you know, 10 months. Like, I don't want to wait any longer. So that's when I, like, asked if I could do some stuff at NXT. And they were immediately like, yeah, absolutely. And I think I started, like, that week. You feel like you had some storylines that you wish you had seen through. Like, what were some that maybe stopped a little too soon?

Um, I mean, like, with Bailey, I wish that, like, I wish that was a little grander. Like, we never got, like, um, like a, a final match where we got to, like, really go toe to toe. Like, we had a few, like, matches that were like, you know, seven minutes or, you know, whatever. But we never really got to, like, go for it. And I really like, and I really like, like, you know, like, seven minutes or, you know, whatever. And I really like, love working with Bailey and like, uh, I thought with like, you know, her cutting my hair and shaving my head that it would go somewhere and it just didn't. Yeah. That's definitely one of them. I feel like you've been in the ring with some big names. Yeah. And a lot of them were just maybe one off matches here and there. Who's the person you wish you could have had more with? Um, man. Or maybe that you didn't, maybe that you didn't work with. Like, Oscoe, was always like a dream match of mine. Like I got to wrestle her on a bunch of live events, but never like one on one on TV. So I would have loved to do something with her.

Alexa Bliss I was always a huge fan of. Like I loved tagging with Charlotte. But I mean, more recently is like, you know, forming the group with Gigi and Tatum. Like I really loved working with those girls. And I thought like we would be like the new. chick dX you know like i i was really in love with us yeah there was like some like things were starting to build with that yeah and i and it wasn't even meant to be anything big but like when we got together it just like felt so right and natural and um fun that i think it came across on tv and i just thought like okay well this is working like maybe they'll run with it and when you did find out that they weren't renewing your contract.

I imagine you were just flooded with people telling you like, we love you. You're going to be all right. And we're a big fan of the work that you do. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that was like really nice. A little overwhelming. But yeah, really nice.

I want to ask you about this promo you did before war games. What was the mindset that you did going into this promo? Before war games. So it's the, what shots he said, that promo? Oh. Yeah, I was just like, I wanted to change up my character at that point. I wanted to be like complete psycho. Like Bailey cut my hair.

I shaved my head. Like, I just lost it. And they were immediately like, no. No, no more of that. Like, we want you to be real. And then I was like, oh, I thought this was going in a completely different direction. So you went out and you did it? Yeah.

And they said, that was maybe a bit too much. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, they were not into it at all. They didn't know what you were going to do before that? Well, I was doing all that stuff with Bailey beforehand, like laughing, maniacally, chasing her around with clippers.

I thought we were on the same page, you know? Like, I thought, like, my character was going into, like, a more psychotic route. And then I cut that. And then that's why you kind of, like, see me do. that and then it never comes back because they were just like, no, we don't want that for your character. We want you to just be yourself. Do you think that promo would have hit differently if it was a backstage thing? Or if like if that was you in a dark room with smoke and lights and stuff like that, maybe the vibe

would have been different? Maybe. But I was kind of doing a little bit of that before that. Like they had me like laughing maniacally and like with like smoke and lighting in like a dark room and just calling Bailey's name, like just saying Bailey's name over and over again. And so like I thought that's what they wanted. I thought that's what the vibe

we were going forward with. But yeah, I mean, I still stick with that. I think that if they just let me run with it, that people would have warmed up to it. I think that people were just shocked by it because it was such a quick change.

And I still stand by it. I don't care what people say. Like people hate on it, but I loved it. So if there was a buildup to this, it would have hit differently? I think so, yeah, for sure. When you went through the curtain after that, was it just immediately like, hey, no. It might have been like the next day. They were like, oh, no, actually it was that same day because I did a backstage with Charlotte after that. So it was like right after they were like, hey, we just want you to be more real.

and then I did like a backstage with Charlotte that was like really heartfelt. And they were like, yeah, we like that, do that. So it was like that and then a complete shift in the same show. Wow. And people don't remember that. Yeah, no. They don't. But what's funny, though, about that segment is the look on Becky's face, the look on Charlotte.

I mean, Charlotte says, yeah, what shots he said. Like it ended up making it a memorable segment for that. that reason too. Like just the way that they're like reacting to you, but also going, we got a team with her? I was for it. Yeah. I wanted Psycho Shotsie to live on. Maybe Psycho Shotsie lives on with whatever you're going to do now. Possibly. Possibly. I mean, you, again, you can do anything you want to do. I literally can. Anything. Like anything. When your hair stay green? Yes. Yeah. This is like, it's the trademark. This is, this is it. This is the look. I stand by it. I'm just saying it could be anything, anything's possible. I mean,

it really could. It's a little like Joker-esque. Yeah. Yeah. Which, which works with like the psychotic Shotsie. Yeah. Oh, that's true. Right. Yeah. I guess depends on which version of the Joker you're talking about. Right. Exactly. I mean, there's a whole spectrum of different ways to be the Joker. True. But there's something to that for sure. How much does like, style and the clothes you wear play into who you are as an individual and who you are when you're shotsy. I mean, like, what you see me, like, wrestling is kind of like what I, like, go out into. Um, yeah, like, if I go to, like, a music festival, like, it's like I'm wearing gear, you know, like, that's just, like, how I've always dressed. Like, it's very me.

Talk to me about your wedding. Like, oh, my goodness. Yeah, I mean, like, that is, like, something that I'm so grateful for, like, that WWE let me do. So I got married in Vegas. And this was, like, completely unplanned. Like, we had been engaged for a few months. And we were, like, planning, like, a big wedding. And I got booked on a Vegas live event after the holidays. And I was just, like, I turned to my husband and I was like,

what if we just eloped in Vegas? And he was like, yes, let's absolutely, let's do that. And I'm so glad we did it because it was so stress-free and so much fun. And then when we decided that we were going to do that, I hit up Road Dog. And I was like, hey, I'm getting married before the Vegas Live event. Can I wrestle in my wedding dress? And can we make it like a whole thing? And he was like, absolutely.

Like, Road Dog is so down for the fun stuff. So, yeah, he was game on. Yeah, you came out wearing your wedding dress. Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was, yeah, that's probably my favorite WWU memory now. Yeah.

You still have your wedding dress? Of course. Yeah, obviously. Yeah, I'm keeping it for life. My wife and I also elope. It's the greatest thing ever. It's so great. It's the best.

Yeah. Because I think a lot of people don't realize. that once you start to get into wedding planning, the wedding is... It's not for you. It's not for you. You're inviting this person because it would upset this person if you didn't invite them. And then you're doing this thing in the ceremony because of your great aunt and like all of these different things are not for you.

Nope. But I'm with you. We alloped. Two of our best friends were there and that was it. Yeah, we had like no one. Well, Scarlet and Cross showed up. but that was like it. Best.

That was it. Our wedding cost $89. Woo! I love that. There's so many places you can get married in Vegas. Yeah. How'd you pick the chapel? I mean, it's just so classic Vegas.

Did you have the option to have Elvis marry you? He did. Elvis married you? Come on. I had to. I had to. He sang to us afterwards. It was perfect.

Incredible. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, had Elvis marry us. As an Elvis fan, it's perfect, but you're in Vegas as well. Yeah, yeah. It was the perfect wedding. I highly suggest just flying a Vegas and a loping. Yeah, I'm a big fan of eloping.

Yes. You save yourself, I don't even know how much a wedding would cost these days. Yeah, it's expensive. Yes, many tens of thousands of dollars. Yeah, I saved so much money. Yeah, I'm with you. Yeah, and I wore my best friend's mother's wedding dress. Wow.

I just cut it up more of that. So, yeah, we just winged it. There was a thing you did backstage with Corbyn where he was, when he was sad Corbyn, and you had like this dark gun. Yeah. Were you purposely trying to hit him in the balls? Yes. It actually took like 30 takes.

Oh, no. Yeah. Yeah. Like, Corbin wanted it to be good. He was on a mission. So I was just like, aiming. It took so long to get this shot. That's a long scene, too.

Yes. So he had to, like, do that whole promo and then boom. And then if it missed, then do that whole promo again and hit him. Like, it was just off. But, like, even the last take, he was not satisfied with. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, then he just sold it really well.

He just sold it really well. But there's so much going on in that because it starts on you and then Kevin Owens comes in. Then Kevin Owens has this long promo with Corbyn about lending him money. And then he gets hit. So it's not like you could just do these takes one after another. Like you got to do the whole setup. Exactly. Yeah, it was a whole thing.

But I really appreciate that he cared so much that we got him in the balls that well. You nailed it. Yeah, well, after 30 tries, I better. Really good. I'm just so excited for what's next for you. Me too. It's always so exciting talking to people when they're at this stage of their career where it's like the shackles are off. Yeah.

You can do whatever you'd like to do. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'm just so excited to just be creative and go out there because like, I mean, when I was wrestling on the Indies, I was wrestling like, 200 matches a year. And then, you know, to go from that to like not really wrestling that much, like, I want to get back at it. Are there other things outside of wrestling that you also want to do now that you have the availability? Oh, I mean, horror movies, obviously.

You want to be in a horror movie? Oh, yeah, be in horror movies, direct horror movies. Okay. Like, I like... Put that out into the world right now. Yes, I mean, yes, please. The right person might be watching this. Please kill me in your horror movie.

That's all I want is just to die about. bunch of times, like a thousand ways to die for Shotsie. Put it out there. And, um, like, eventually direct one. Like, after wrestling, when my body cannot take it anymore, I would love to just get in the director's chair. You are definitely going to get a message from somebody or an email from somebody. I hope so. Hey, like, terrifier. Oh, if Art the Clown would just like come in and rip me to shreds, I would love that. I mean, do you know Jericho? He could, he could make this happen. I mean, I don't know him, but like that well, but you're connected in the same world. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

All the wrestlers know each other. You're only, that's true. You're only one person away. That's true. That's true. I'm sure one of your friends is great friends with him. Yeah, please. Although he's, spoiler alert, probably not going to be in the next terrifier film.

Oh, yeah. Oh. Well, he died. Yeah, he died. But, I mean, people come back to life. That's the crazy thing. It is now out into the world. Yeah, yeah.

It's manifesting it. That's the noise that it makes. Well, I'm excited for you. And again, thank you for making this happen. Yeah, thank you for having me. Of course, my pleasure. I will ask you the question I ask everybody at the end. What are three things you're grateful for?

Okay, well, one, my community, that will always be number one. You know, my family, my friends, my dogs, especially my husband. He's my rock. And my health? And I'm grateful for my creativity. And also, I want to plug one more thing. Please. I'm grateful to anyone that pre-orders my big rubber guy that just went up for pre-order

and is only available until the end of the month. It looks so good. Doesn't it? It's honestly my new favorite Shotsie figure. So it's collectmajor.com, right? Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

This is Matt Cardona's company. Yeah, he hooked it up. Like, I messaged him immediately. And I was like, I need a figure. And he was like, well, I mean, I already kind of got like my lineup for the year. And then he made it happen. Then out of nowhere, he was like, look these. And I was like, yes.

This is sick. And it's pre-order or nothing, right? Yeah, yeah, pre-order. And that's it. That's it. Yeah. Okay. So when does the pre-order close?

June 30th. Okay. This will definitely be out before then. Okay, perfect. But by June 30th, you're going to be sold out of these things. I'm sure. Yeah. that figure looks.

It looks awesome. Shotsie, you're awesome. You're awesome. You're awesome. Thank you so much for this. Thank you so much. Well, there we go.

I'm excited to see what's next for Shotsie. I mean, she's already made appearances at Hoodslam, like she mentioned in this interview. She actually left the studio and then it was a few days in L.A. and then right to Hoodslam. We also saw her in G.C.W. And she has quite a few more dates announced there. But this is the cool thing when you're out of a lot of contract when you're a free agent, you're free to go anywhere. So Shosty could pop up at any point in time

anywhere. Subscribe to our YouTube channel as well. I put a link down in the show notes. It's called Scarlett and Shotsie. They've got some really fun stuff on their little, some, some creepy stuff like we talked about in this interview. That stuff kind of gives me the hebi-jibis a little bit. And snap a screenshot. Let us know that you listen to this episode and that you listened all the way until the end here. She's at Shotsie, WVle. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and we'll wrap it up with a quote from John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach. Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. Be great and be grateful, my friends. We'll see you on the next one for some more insight. We've got Elena Black, formerly known as Cora Jade on the show on Thursday.

We'll see you right back here for that one. Hit a spinning heel kick on that follow button. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock, but there was one band that had it all. Hammer Alley. Whatever happened to Hammer Alley? How did they go from top of the rock?

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