Jazz (wrestler)
| Jazz | |
|---|---|
 Jazz in April 2014 | |
| Birth name | Carlene Denise Moore |
| Born | (1973-08-27) August 27, 1973 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States[1] |
| Residence | Lafayette, Louisiana, United States[2] |
| Spouse(s) | Rodney Mack (m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jazz Jazzmine |
| Billed height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[3] |
| Billed weight | 150 lb (68 kg) |
| Billed from | New Orleans, Louisiana[3] |
| Trained by | Rod Price[4] |
| Debut | 1998 |
Carlene Denise Moore-Begnaud (born August 27, 1973)[1] is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Jazz. She is best known for her tenure in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where she was a two-time WWE Women's Champion.[5] She currently competes for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) where she is the current NWA World Women's Champion in her first reign.
Contents
1 Professional wrestling career
1.1 Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999–2000)
1.2 World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
1.2.1 Training and Debut (2001)
1.2.2 Women's Champion (2002)
1.2.3 Feud with Victoria and Trish Stratus (2003–2004)
1.3 Independent circuit (2005–2006)
1.4 Return to WWE (2006–2007)
1.5 Women Superstars Uncensored (2007–2011)
1.6 Return to the independent circuit (2011–present)
1.7 National Wrestling Alliance Women's Champion (2016–present)
2 Personal life
3 Championships and accomplishments
4 References
5 External links
Professional wrestling career
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999–2000)
After dropping out of college, Begnaud was approached about starting a career as a professional wrestler and joined a wrestling school in Louisiana.[4] She was originally inspired to be a wrestler when she saw Jacqueline Moore perform.[2] Begnaud trained with Rod Price for six to eight months,[4] and she later made her professional wrestling debut in a match against Moore.[4]
Using the name Jazzmine, she later joined Extreme Championship Wrestling as a part of an alliance called the Impact Players, which included wrestlers such as Jason Knight, Lance Storm, and Justin Credible.[6] She later began a feud with Jason and defeated him at Heat Wave in 1999.[4] She appeared on a random basis before leaving the company before ECW was shut down due to bankruptcy.[7]
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
Training and Debut (2001)
In late 2001, the World Wrestling Federation expressed interest in Begnaud, and she was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling for six months to train.[8] Under the new ring name Jazz, she signed a two-year contract with WWF. She made her debut in the company as a villain on the Survivor Series pay-per-view during a Six-Pack Challenge match for the WWF Women's Championship, which had been vacated by Chyna after her departure from the company.[9] Ultimately, Trish Stratus was the winner for the match and the championship.
Women's Champion (2002)
Following her debut in the company, Jazz began her first rivalry with then-Women's Champion Trish Stratus as on the January 14, episode of Raw, Jazz received a push as she defeated Jacqueline to become the number one contender to Stratus' Women's title.[10] Jazz received her championship match against Trish at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, where she was unsuccessful in capturing the title,[11] however, on the February 4, 2002 episode of Raw, Jazz defeated Stratus to win the Women's Championship for the first time.[12] On March 17, at WrestleMania X8, Jazz successfully defended her title against Lita and Trish Stratus in a triple–threat match.[13]
On May 6, 2002, the World Wrestling Federation was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment, subsequently renaming the title to the WWE Women's Championship, as a result, Jazz became the last woman to hold the Women's title under the WWF banner and the first to hold it under the WWE banner. On the April 29, episode of Raw, Jazz challenged Bubba Ray Dudley for the Hardcore Championship, although didn't win the championship, she successfully helped Stevie Richards to capture it.[14] On the May 6, episode of Raw, Jazz was helped by Richards to retain her title against Trish Stratus, after knocking her with an superkick, after the match, Ray attacked both Steven and Jazz to try regain his title although multiple superstars started competing for it changing simultaneously from holders like Raven, Justin Credible, Crash, Trish Stratus and finally regained to Richard after being helped by Jazz,[15] however, due to a torn ACL in her knee, Jazz dropped her title to Stratus in a hardcore-Rules match the following week on the May 13, episode of Raw. Post-match, she was attacked by both Ray and Stratus as he performed an aided superbomb through a table on her.[16]
Feud with Victoria and Trish Stratus (2003–2004)
Jazz made her return on the January 27, 2003 episode of Raw, viciously attacking Trish Stratus after a Chicago Street Fight for Victoria's Women's Championship, in which Stratus was defeated.[17] She made her return in–ring action on the February 10 episode of Raw, defeating Molly Holly in a singles match.[18]
Jazz involved herself in the feud between Stratus and Victoria upon her return. She immediately took out Stratus and dominated in matches against Molly Holly and Jacqueline. She competed in a triple threat match for the Women's Championship at WrestleMania XIX against Stratus and Victoria, but Stratus walked away with the title. During this time, she took on the managerial services of Theodore Long, which led to another Women's Championship reign after defeating Stratus at Backlash.[19] She had another successful title defence at Judgement Day in a Fatal Four-Way Match involving Stratus, Victoria and Jacqueline. However, she lost the title in a battle royal to Gail Kim on June 30.[20][21] During the match Jazz had sustained a chipped and dislocated shoulder and needed several weeks to rehabilitate. [2] She returned from injury in early 2004,[2] but was used sparingly. Later that year, she became manager and valet for her real-life husband Rodney Mack. She was released from WWE in November 2004 due to the creative department's lack of ideas for her character.[4][8]
Independent circuit (2005–2006)
From January 16, 2005 she started working on the independent circuit and appeared at the unofficial ECW reunion show, Hardcore Homecoming. In late 2005, Jazz and Rodney Mack opened Dirtysouth Championship Wrestling, an independent promotion based in Louisiana. Jazz also performed in Women's Extreme Wrestling, where she won the company's World Heavyweight Championship in May 2005 in a Fatal Four M'enage Quatro match against Angel Orsini, Mercedes Martinez, and Simply Luscious when the previous champion, Tai "Killer Weed", was forced to relinquish the title due to an injury. While still WEW champion, on June 24, 2005, Jazz defeated April Hunter to win the NWA Cyberspace Women's Championship.
In 2006, Jazz and Mack renamed DCW to Downsouth Championship Wrestling. Soon after the promotion's name change, Jazz won her promotion's Louisiana State Championship. Later that month on June 24, she participated in ChickFight V and debuted in All Pro Wrestling.[22]
Return to WWE (2006–2007)
In mid-2006, Begnaud was one of several Extreme Championship Wrestling alumni contracted to compete in WWE's new version of the promotion.[23] Jazz made her first appearance as part of the new ECW during the WWE vs. ECW Head to Head show on June 7, where she faced then-Women's Champion Mickie James in a losing effort.[24] Jazz, however, did not continue an on-screen role in the brand and only made a few appearances at ECW house shows before returning to ECW in September. She stayed under contract with WWE until January 18, 2007 when she, along with her husband and several other wrestlers, were released by WWE.[23]
Women Superstars Uncensored (2007–2011)
In May 2007, Jazz and Rodney Mack were booked by the Queens of Chaos promotion in France. In late 2009, Jazz debuted for Women Superstars Uncensored in New Jersey, defeating Angel Orsini. She is still with the company, wrestling on the Third Year Anniversary show against Amber O'Neal. She continued to compete with the company and with National Wrestling Superstars, where she teamed with former ECW star Balls Mahoney in a tournament. In 2010, Jazz won WSU's third Uncensored Rumble to earn a shot at Mercedes Martinez's WSU Championship. Mercedes defeated Jazz in the main event of WSU's inaugural internet pay-per-view, "Breaking Barriers", on November 5, 2010. Jazz was defeated by Alicia at WSU's four year anniversary show on March 5, 2011. However, later that same night, she offered herself as the mystery partner of WSU Tag Team Champion Marti Belle, whose partner, Tina San Antonio, was injured in the week prior. Marti Belle and Jazz defeated Amy Lee and Cindy Rogers and The Soul Sisters (Jana and Latasha) to become the "new" WSU Tag Team Champions, giving Jazz her first Tag Team Championships. Jazz, Belle, & Tina would be able to defend the belts under the "Freebird rule" where any two of the three could compete. Marti & Tina would lose the belts before Jazz was able to have a defense. Jazz was scheduled for a rematch but had to pull out due to personal reasons.
Return to the independent circuit (2011–present)
On September 2, 2016, Jazz made her debut for Chikara, when she entered the 2016 King of Trios tournament as part of Team Original Divas Revolution, alongside Victoria and Mickie James. They defeated Team Shimmer (Candice LeRae, Crazy Mary Dobson, and Solo Darling) in their first round match.[25] The following day, Team Original Divas Revolution was eliminated from the tournament by The Warriors Three (Oleg the Usurper, Princess KimberLee, and ThunderFrog).[26]
National Wrestling Alliance Women's Champion (2016–present)
On September 16, 2016, Jazz captured the NWA World Women's Championship from Amber Gallows at NWA Texoma.[27] On October 21st 2018, at the NWA 70th Anniversary Show, Jazz successfully defended her championship against Penelope Ford.[28]
Personal life
In high school, Carlene played basketball.[8] She also had a basketball scholarship in college until a knee injury ended her basketball career.[2][4] She later dropped out of college to work.[4]
Carlene is married to Rodney Begnaud, who also competed as Rodney Mack in WWE.[8] They live together in Lafayette, Louisiana on 25 acres (100,000 m2) of land.[2][4] The couple welcomed twin girls named Summer and Skye in November 2008.[29]
She owns a fitness gym, which according to her is to "keep the youth off the streets and keep them positive."[8] She also runs a wrestling school with her husband called The Dog Pound.[30]
In July 2016, she was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit is litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[31] The lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant in September 2018.[32]
Championships and accomplishments
Jazz (left) and Marti Belle as the WSU Tag Team Champions in March 2011
Downsouth Championship Wrestling
- DCW Louisiana State Championship (1 time)[33]
- DCW Louisiana State Championship (1 time)[33]
Heavy on Wrestling
- HOW Women's Championship (1 time, current)[34]
- HOW Women's Championship (1 time, current)[34]
NWA Cyberspace
NWA Cyberspace Women's Championship (1 time; final)[35]
National Wrestling Alliance
NWA World Women's Championship (1 time, current)[36]
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #13 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2012[37]
- PWI ranked her #13 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2012[37]
Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2012
Women Superstars Uncensored
WSU Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Marti Belle
WSU Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)
Women's Extreme Wrestling
- WEW World Championship (1 time)
World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
WWE Women's Championship (2 times)[38]
References
^ ab "Jazz". The Internet Wrestling Database..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ abcdef Speer, Phil (February 3, 2004). "Jazz's Return Adds More Steam To Women's Division". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ ab "Jazz's WWE Alumni Bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
^ abcdefghi "Interview Recap with Jazz". Gerweck.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ "Jazz's Bio". Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ Barnwell, Bill (June 13, 2008). "Friday Wrestling List: Ten Divas We Want To Return". IGN. Archived from the original on November 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ "Jazz's Official Women of Wrestling Profile". Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ abcde Steven, Andy. "Jazz interview". PW Mania. Archived from the original on 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ "Survivor Series 2001 Results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ Paul, Nemer (January 14, 2002). "WWF RAW Results (January 14, 2002)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^ Wade, Keller (January 28, 2010). "WWE ROYAL RUMBLE COUNTDOWN - 2002 PPV Report: Triple H wins the Rumble in Atlanta, Chris Jericho vs. The Rock, Ric Flair vs. Vince McMahon". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^ Paul, Nemer (February 2, 2002). "WWF RAW Results (February 4, 2002)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^ "Lita vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jazz: WrestleMania 18 - Women's Championship Match". WWE.com. March 17, 2002. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^ Adam, Martin (April 29, 2002). "WWF RAW Results (April 29, 2002)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^ Adam, Martin (May 6, 2002). "WWE RAW Results (May 6, 2002)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^ Adam, Martin (May 13, 2002). "WWE RAW Results (May 13, 2002)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^ Michael, Barrett (January 27, 2003). "Full WWE RAW Results - 1/27/03". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^ Wesley, Moore (February 11, 2003). "Full WWE RAW Results - 2/10/03 (Eric Bischoff's 30 days expire)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^ "Women's Title History: Jazz's Second Reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ "Women's Championship History: Gail Kim's First Reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ "Gail Kim wins WWE Women's belt". SLAM! Wrestling. July 1, 2003. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ "ChickFight 5 / APW at Night". SF Station. June 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ ab Waldman, Jon (January 18, 2007). "Axe drops for many WWE stars". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ "ECW results: June 7, 2006". Prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ Cardoza, Adam (September 3, 2016). "WWE cruiserweights, JWP, Sendai Girls, Joey Styles, Attitude era divas, Shimmer & more: detailed live report: 9/2 Chikara King of Trios night one". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
^ Cardoza, Adam (September 4, 2016). "9/4 Chikara King of Trios night two live report". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
^ Duncan, Joseph (September 19, 2016). "NEW NWA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT & WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONS!". www.ringside.nwaondemand.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
^ Powell, Jason. "Powell's NWA 70th Anniversary live review: Cody vs. Nick Aldis in a best of three falls match for the NWA Championship, new NWA National Champion crowned, Jazz vs. Penelope Ford for the NWA Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
^ "RassleResults: RWA Jonesboro, AR Results Wrapup 11.21.08 & 11.28.08 - NEW RWA CHAMPION!!!". rasslinriotnews.blogspot.com. 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
^ Van Tuyl, Chris (January 16, 2009). "Bad-guy wrestler holds court, quizzing potential valets". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ "WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff". FoxSports.com. Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
^ Robinson, Byron (September 22, 2018). "Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
^ "Independent Wrestling Results – June 2006". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
^ https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=3923
^ "NWA CyberSpace Women's Title History". CygyWrestling. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
^ "In case you missed it last night, 2x WWE Women's Champion & NWA MID SOUTH #HallOfChampions member Jazz defeated Amber O'Neal Gallows to win the NWA Women's World Championship at an event for NWA Texoma in #ShermanTX!". NWA Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2012". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
^ "WWE Women's Championship history". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jazz (wrestler). |
Jazz on Twitter
- Online World of Wrestling profile
- WWE Alumni profile
- Tha O Show Episode 181 Jazz Interview
