5. Lita
When WWE Hall Of Famer Amy Dumas decided to become a professional wrestler, it was after watching Rey Mysterio Jnr. killing it on an episode of Nitro in 1998. She didnt contact WCW right then, to find out how to become a Nitro Girl. No, Dumas is punk rock through and through, and half measures and second best isnt how punk rock raised her. Rey Mysterio inspired her to become a professional wrestler, so she went to Mexico to do it how hed done it. She didnt have an invitation, just a couple of addresses and six weeks with nothing to do while her other halfs band was on tour. It took her the entire six weeks to convince people at CMLL that she was serious, but when she came back again she began training for real. Back in the States, shed wrestle for NWA Mid-Atlantic and ECW before the WWF came calling, and a couple of years later, Lita was widely considered to be one of the greatest female wrestlers ever to work for the company, her work with the Hardy Boyz groundbreaking as she insisted on being treated as they were treated, resulting in a memorable in-ring feud with super-worker Dean Malenko before she continued to work in the womens division. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pTGi2q8DNc Punk rock is Dumas school and her church, and punk records were her education. She was playing in bands long before her career in pro wrestling, and continued to play after she retired, forming the Luchagors in 2006. The band released on album, touring extensively with NOFX and Bad Religion, and were signed to Rancid singer Tim Armstrongs Hellcat Records. Their second album was due to be produced by Rancid guitarist Lars Frederiksen, but the band imploded before that could take place. Amy Dumas attitude has always been inspired by and built on a punk rock ethic: if youre not willing to go out on a limb and fight for whats important to you, then its not important to you. That attitude, and the stellar career that she built on it, have made her one of the most inspirational women in the history of the business.
Jack Morrell
Contributor
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
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