Ex-WWE Star Debra Reveals Interesting Life After Wrestling (WWE News)
What happened to ex-WWE star Debra? The former WWF Women's Champion answers herself...
Former WWE star Debra entered the legal field after leaving professional wrestling and now works at a District Attorney's Office.
Debra revealed as much during her appearance at the For the Love of Wrestling convention in the United Kingdom this week, recalling her "interesting journey" since departing WWE in 2002.
"I ended up going to University of Alabama and I received a Bachelor [degree] and then I received a master's of science in criminal justice," said Debra (h/t SEScoops). "From the University of Alabama, now I currently work for the District Attorney’s Office in New Orleans Louisiana so it’s been an interesting journey from wrestling to what I do now.”
While studying for her master's of science degree, Debra was awarded an award for "outstanding work in community studies" by the University of Alabama's College of Arts and Science.
Debra, now 64, entered wrestling through WCW in late 1995, when she appeared as an audience plant, then later amongst a group of valets for Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. By 1996 she had started managing then-husband Steve 'Mongo' McMichael onscreen, adopting a beauty pageant queen character as 'The Queen of WCW'. The following years in WCW saw her turn on McMichael, briefly align with Goldberg, then manage Alex Wright, who "fired" her in November 1997.
Leaving WCW following her 1998 divorce from McMichael, Debra joined WWE alongside old WCW roster mate Jeff Jarrett. As with WCW, she was primarily a valet, though she sometimes competed between the ropes during an era not exactly known for its respectful promotion of women's wrestling. On 10 May 1999, Debra defeated Sable to become WWF Women's Champion in an Evening Gown match, holding it for 14 days before Ivory defeated her.
Debra's WWE appearances became increasingly sporadic as the years passed. In 2000 and 2001, she was used as Mick Foley's Lieutenant Commissioner before accompanying then-husband 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, including through his heel turn on WWE to join the WCW/ECW Alliance during the Invasion storyline.
June 2002 brought Debra's last WWE appearance in the wake of her marital split from Austin. That month, police were called to the couple's San Antonio, Texas home where Debra was found with bruises and a bloody nose. Austin was arrested on 14 August and charged with misdemeanour assault, later pleading no contest and receiving a year's probation, $1,000 fine, and an 80-hour community service order.