Velvet Mykietowich
Encyclopedia
Velvet McIntyre is a retired Irish-Canadian
professional wrestler
. After beginning her career in 1980, she wrestled in North American independent promotions
, before joining the World Wrestling Federation
(WWF). She had rivalries with both The Fabulous Moolah
and Sherri Martel
and held the WWF Women's Championship
and WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
. After the WWF's women's division went on hiatus in the 1990s, McIntyre wrestled in several Canadian promotions, holding several titles. She was known for wrestling barefoot and her high flying wrestling maneuvers.
, under whom she trained with her future opponent and tag team
partner, Princess Victoria
. McIntyre made her professional wrestling debut in Idaho in 1980, but she did not begin wrestling full-time until three months later. She then joined Vancouver All Star Wrestling in 1981, where she feuded with Princess Victoria. She continued to feud with Victoria for the remainder of the year in both singles and tag team matches in Vancouver and the NWA Pacific Northwest under promoter Don Owen. In 1982, however, she joined the World Wrestling Federation
where she began teaming with Princess Victoria, and in March, the duo lost a series of matches against the team of The Fabulous Moolah
and Wendi Richter
. McIntyre, however, defeated Richter in two separate matches in Bill Watts
's Mid-South Wrestling Alliance. In November and December 1982, McIntyre worked for Stampede Wrestling
, where she teamed with Judy Martin
against Richter and Joyce Grable
; the feud between the two teams resumed in April 1983 in Verne Gagne
's American Wrestling Alliance.
In May 1983, McIntyre returned to Stampede Wrestling, where she continued her rivalry with Richter and Grable; this time, however, she teamed once again with Princess Victoria. Victoria and McIntyre won the NWA Women's Tag Team Championship on May 13 in Calgary.
, and when McIntyre and Victoria rejoined the promotion in 1984, they were immediately recognized as holding the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
. The duo defended the championship against the team of Wendi Richter and Peggy Lee
. Desiree Petersen
later replaced Victoria in the team, and the new duo lost the title in August 1985 to Judy Martin and Leilani Kai
(known as The Glamour Girls
) in Egypt.
McIntyre then began wrestling as a singles wrestler, immediately feuding with The Fabulous Moolah
. She won the WWF Women's Championship
when she defeated Moolah in Australia on July 3, 1986 but lost the title six days later. McIntyre also wrestled Moolah for the women's title at WrestleMania 2
. Moolah defeated McIntyre to regain the title. Years later, Moolah called McIntyre the best female wrestler in Canada. In 1987, McIntyre consistently lost matches to Moolah and Sherri Martel
. She also competed at the Survivor Series
, teaming with Moolah, Rockin' Robin
, and the Jumping Bomb Angels
against Martel, Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, Donna Christanello
, and Dawn Marie
. By 1990, however, the women's division in the WWF was again on hiatus.
In November 1997, as a part of the International Championship Wrestling, she won the WWWA Women's Championship from Bertha Faye. She also held the ICW Women's Championship, which she lost in July 1998.
McIntyre wore wrestling boots for the first four years of her career, but she later wrestled bare foot when someone took one of her boots as a joke, and she was forced to wrestle without them. Wrestling barefoot later became one of her trademarks, as well as her high flying wrestling maneuvers.
She retired from wrestling in 1998 after discovering she was pregnant, and she later gave birth to twins. In her spare time, McIntyre makes and sells crafts.
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. After beginning her career in 1980, she wrestled in North American independent promotions
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
, before joining the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF). She had rivalries with both The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
and Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel
Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
and held the WWF Women's Championship
WWE Women's Championship
The WWE Women's Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion. Created in 1956, it was the oldest active professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment history until its retirement in 2010 as a result from a unification...
and WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
The WWF Women's Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation. When Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria joined the WWF in 1984, they were already the reigning NWA Women's World Tag Team Champions...
. After the WWF's women's division went on hiatus in the 1990s, McIntyre wrestled in several Canadian promotions, holding several titles. She was known for wrestling barefoot and her high flying wrestling maneuvers.
Independent circuit
After finishing high school, Velvet McIntyre moved to Oregon in 1980 to train with Sandy BarrSandy Barr
Ferrin Charles Barr was an American professional wrestler, referee, promoter and trainer who spent his career mostly in the Western United States and Canada...
, under whom she trained with her future opponent and tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
partner, Princess Victoria
Vickie Otis
Vicki Otis, better known by her ring name Princess Victoria, is a retired professional wrestler.-Career:Otis was trained in Portland, Oregon by Sandy Barr. She feuded with another of Barr's trainees, Velvet McIntyre...
. McIntyre made her professional wrestling debut in Idaho in 1980, but she did not begin wrestling full-time until three months later. She then joined Vancouver All Star Wrestling in 1981, where she feuded with Princess Victoria. She continued to feud with Victoria for the remainder of the year in both singles and tag team matches in Vancouver and the NWA Pacific Northwest under promoter Don Owen. In 1982, however, she joined the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
where she began teaming with Princess Victoria, and in March, the duo lost a series of matches against the team of The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
and Wendi Richter
Wendi Richter
Wendi Richter is a retired American professional wrestler. She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance, where she teamed with Joyce Grable, with whom she held the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship twice. In the 1980s, she joined the World...
. McIntyre, however, defeated Richter in two separate matches in Bill Watts
Bill Watts
William F. "Bill" Watts is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, no-nonsense promoter in the Mid-South area of the United States, which grew to become the UWF.In 1992, he was the Executive...
's Mid-South Wrestling Alliance. In November and December 1982, McIntyre worked for Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
, where she teamed with Judy Martin
Judy Martin (wrestler)
Judy Hardee is a former female professional wrestler known as Judy Martin. Martin is a former WWF Women's Tag Team Champion. She held the title with partner Leilani Kai as The Glamour Girls...
against Richter and Joyce Grable
Joyce Grable
Betty Wade-Murphy is a American former professional wrestler better known by her ring name Joyce Grable. She was the long-term tag team partner of Wendi Richter...
; the feud between the two teams resumed in April 1983 in Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
's American Wrestling Alliance.
In May 1983, McIntyre returned to Stampede Wrestling, where she continued her rivalry with Richter and Grable; this time, however, she teamed once again with Princess Victoria. Victoria and McIntyre won the NWA Women's Tag Team Championship on May 13 in Calgary.
World Wrestling Federation
In 1983, the World Wrestling Federation withdrew from the National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, and when McIntyre and Victoria rejoined the promotion in 1984, they were immediately recognized as holding the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
The WWF Women's Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation. When Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria joined the WWF in 1984, they were already the reigning NWA Women's World Tag Team Champions...
. The duo defended the championship against the team of Wendi Richter and Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee Leather
Peggy Lee , also known by her stage names Peggy Lee Leather, Lady X, and Thug, is an American professional wrestler.-World Wrestling Federation:Peggy Lee competed in the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-1980s...
. Desiree Petersen
Desiree Petersen
Desiree Petersen is a professional wrestler. She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and once held the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship.-Wrestling career:...
later replaced Victoria in the team, and the new duo lost the title in August 1985 to Judy Martin and Leilani Kai
Leilani Kai
Patricia Schroeder , better known by her stage name Leilani Kai, is a semi-retired professional wrestler. She began training with The Fabulous Moolah right after finishing high school...
(known as The Glamour Girls
The Glamour Girls
The Glamour Girls were a female professional wrestling tag team. The members were Judy Martin and Leilani Kai-Early career and training:Leilani Kai was trained by The Fabulous Moolah in 1975 right after she finished high school at Lillian Ellison School of Professional Wrestling...
) in Egypt.
McIntyre then began wrestling as a singles wrestler, immediately feuding with The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
. She won the WWF Women's Championship
WWE Women's Championship
The WWE Women's Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion. Created in 1956, it was the oldest active professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment history until its retirement in 2010 as a result from a unification...
when she defeated Moolah in Australia on July 3, 1986 but lost the title six days later. McIntyre also wrestled Moolah for the women's title at WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania 2 was the second annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
. Moolah defeated McIntyre to regain the title. Years later, Moolah called McIntyre the best female wrestler in Canada. In 1987, McIntyre consistently lost matches to Moolah and Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel
Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
. She also competed at the Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1987)
Survivor Series was the first Survivor Series pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1987 and was held at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio....
, teaming with Moolah, Rockin' Robin
Robin Smith (wrestler)
Robin Denise Smith , better known by her ring name Rockin' Robin, is a retired American professional wrestler. As the daughter of Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith, she is a second generation wrestler. Her brother Sam Houston and half-brother Jake "The Snake" Roberts are also wrestlers. Smith worked for the...
, and the Jumping Bomb Angels
Jumping Bomb Angels
Jumping Bomb Angels were a female Japanese professional wrestling tag team. The members were Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki .-Japan:...
against Martel, Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, Donna Christanello
Donna Christanello
Mary Alfonsi , better known by her ring name Donna Christanello , was a professional wrestler trained by The Fabulous Moolah...
, and Dawn Marie
Dawn Marie Johnston
Dawn Marie Johnston is a former professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, Dawn Marie. She was active in the 1980s and early 1990s...
. By 1990, however, the women's division in the WWF was again on hiatus.
Canada
After leaving the WWF, McIntyre continued to wrestle sporadically on the independent circuit. At that time, there were not many opportunities for females in the business. She competed in the Women's Pro Wrestling organization in the early 1990s. In November 1993, she won the Canadian Wrestling Alliance's Women's Championship from Iron Maiden, but lost it to Iron Maiden again in January 1994. They continued to feud into 1996, when the two women joined Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, where the two traded the Women's Championship, which McIntyre held for two months. In September, they competed in a strap match—a match where the wrestlers must compete while connected via a leather strap—in which McIntyre was victorious.In November 1997, as a part of the International Championship Wrestling, she won the WWWA Women's Championship from Bertha Faye. She also held the ICW Women's Championship, which she lost in July 1998.
Personal life
It is a common misconception that she is the daughter of professional wrestler Stan Mykietowich. Growing up, she had three brothers with whom she wrestled.McIntyre wore wrestling boots for the first four years of her career, but she later wrestled bare foot when someone took one of her boots as a joke, and she was forced to wrestle without them. Wrestling barefoot later became one of her trademarks, as well as her high flying wrestling maneuvers.
She retired from wrestling in 1998 after discovering she was pregnant, and she later gave birth to twins. In her spare time, McIntyre makes and sells crafts.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- McIntyre Roll (Victory roll)
- Signature moves
- Running crossbody
- Single leg dropkick
- Splash
- Swinging hurricanrana
Championships and accomplishments
- International Championship Wrestling
- IWC Women's Championship (2 times)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Princess VictoriaVickie OtisVicki Otis, better known by her ring name Princess Victoria, is a retired professional wrestler.-Career:Otis was trained in Portland, Oregon by Sandy Barr. She feuded with another of Barr's trainees, Velvet McIntyre...
- NWA Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Princess Victoria
- World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF Women's Championship (1 time)
- WWF Women's Tag Team ChampionshipWWF Women's Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWF Women's Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation. When Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria joined the WWF in 1984, they were already the reigning NWA Women's World Tag Team Champions...
(2 timesWWF Women's Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWF Women's Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation. When Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria joined the WWF in 1984, they were already the reigning NWA Women's World Tag Team Champions...
) - Princess Victoria (1) and Desiree PetersenDesiree PetersenDesiree Petersen is a professional wrestler. She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and once held the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship.-Wrestling career:...
(1)
- Other titles
- Canadian Wrestling Alliance Women's Championship
- WWWA Women's Championship
External links
- McIntyre at Online World of Wrestling