Stacy Keibler: Grappling with Success

Whether you’ve spied the former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader dancing as a Nitro Girl; on the mat, working her patented wrestling holds (ah, to be stuck in her Foot Choke while her long legs nestle the turnbuckle); or on camera, playing the character of Miss Hancock to the delight of Monday Night Raw viewers, you’ve no doubt noticed that Keibler has a talent for eating the camera. In fact,
since her start, Keibler has become professional wrestling’s best and blondest asset since Hulk Hogan. (And without Hulk’s fake tan!)

Yet, Keibler isn’t just a statuesque slab of eye candy. An actress and model since childhood, the 2005 WWE Babe of the Year has been seen not only on MTV’s Cribs and Fox Sports Network’s The Best Damn Sports Show Period, but also in movies like Bubble Boy (typecast as a mud wrestler; damn!) and Pecker (gentlemen, please; just add your own joke). OK, so Bubble Boy wasn’t Million Dollar Baby. But Keibler’s twice as sexy as Hilary Swank, and three times the ass-kicker.

How did you get into this crazy wrestling business – grand design or happy accident?

STACY KEIBLER: I’ve been doing this for six years, after just falling into it. So I don’t know what I want. I mean, I entered a dance contest with the WCW Nitro Girls to win $10,000 when I was in college. I danced since I was 3 [years old]. The Nitro Girls were like The Fly Girls on In Living Color. But I kept winning. I thought, maybe, I’d be like a Fly Girl and dance before the commercials. But the fans kept voting for me. A month later, I signed a contract and was asked to become an on-air character, to play like I was a wrestler’s girlfriend. I was doing this for 10 grand – not necessarily for a career. I’ve done all I can. Now I have to see what [else] I can do.

At the time, you were a cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens, and then along comes 10 grand and a whole new career. Were you looking to get away from Baltimore? From cheering?

SK: No. I loved cheerleading. Would have done it forever. But it was really just the money. I was under contract, so I had to ask for permission to get in the [WCW] contest. They were so enthused, they said yes immediately. Then, when I won and started traveling with the WCW, I came back and did one last game where I cheered. And the prize money? I bought season tickets to the Ravens. I still have the seats.

Are you a sports freak, then?

SK: No. I really just like it – sports – as entertainment. I mean, I’ve never been the athletic dancer. Even now, with the wrestling, there are only a handful of times where I’m actually wrestling. I’m not a wrestler. I’m an actress, a personality. Wrestling – being that kind of physical – is not my strong suit.

But when you’re out there, you’re fighting: taking the hits, giving the hits.

SK: Oh, yeah. If I have to be in a match, it’s on. I’ve had my nose broken twice, my ribs broken once and my hip muscle torn, amongst other muscles, to prove it. And I don’t wrestle that often.

So you’re a masochist. I know you have some moves – a Foot Lock, a killer kick. Ever do any damage?

STACY KEIBLER: People understand the risks. But I am very lucky that I haven’t hurt anybody yet. That’s my biggest fear. It would kill me to think I did anyone any harm.

You’re destroying my fantasy. You don’t love a good headlock? Never just grabbed a clump of hair and yanked? Could you learn to like pulling out clumps of hair?

SK: (laughs). I might have ripped out a couple of clumps of hair. That’s not too horrible.

When Vince McMahon took control of the WCW, what was your first impression of him?

SK: I was extremely excited. And intimidated. He’s a very intimidating man.

Is it the physique, the demeanor or the hair?

SK: (laughs) No. He’s a great guy. But he’s … Vince. Though after our first meeting, he said, “We’re going to make a lot of money together.” I liked him immediately.

I’d like him and his hair for that money. So is there a rivalry between Stephanie McMahon and you? I mean – you won WWE Babe of the Year. You’re on the cover of Men’s Edge.

SK: Not at all. I hope not. She’s my boss.

Are the characters pretty tightly scripted, or do you have the opportunity to improvise?

STACY KEIBLER: Vince does tons of improv. Vince just has great storylines for me. They really show off what I can do. All of us do improv. Even the wrestlers. Once you get your character settled, you can be comfortable flying solo.

I have this Lee Strasberg image of McMahon now. So how did your original character, Miss Hancock, develop?

SK: My bosses pulled me out of a line, sent me to a mall, and told me to find a sensible suit and glasses to play a business lady. No sooner than I came back from the store, I was on TV that night. What the men in the audience probably don’t realize is that I was only 18 when I was doing her (laughs). It’s a little creepy, no?

Absolutely, utterly perverted; excuse me while I adjust myself. Let’s talk about the fans. I’m sure some of it’s flattering, some of it’s lewd. What’s been most horrifying?

SK: I really never had any bad experiences. I mean, all the guys want to hug me – which is OK. But sometimes there’s so many. Sometimes they want to hug me tighter than usual. But our fans are amazing. Totally supportive. The fans are everything. Their reactions – to good guys, to bad guys – drive the show.

What about female fans? How do they react to you?

SK: Well, for the majority of our signings, the ladies come out for the hot young guys – the Randy Ortons. They’re like the Beatles to these girls. But when they come for me, they tell me I’m their idol. I can’t believe that.

I was looking for something lewder, but OK. Do you like the sort of guys you’re working with when it comes to dating? The meaty, muscled guys? Or could you find love in your heart for the tiny, skinny, scrawny guys?

SK: I just want a guy who works out enough to take care of himself. You know, I dated wrestlers before – back then, I guess I was into that sort of body and look.

You mean the mullet? Not to mention all that oil?

SK: (laughs) Those guys put so much effort into their look. But now, personally, there’s so much more I’d want in a man.

Which brings me to John Waters, who directed you in Pecker. Any wacky stories from the set?

SK: He was great. I was only on the set one day. But, being from Baltimore, he’s a legend. He was just so fun.

More fun than Bubble Boy? That seems impossible. I know you want to move more into films, but as what?

SK: With our fans and my characters, any transition I make – and I’m never leaving wrestling, so it’s not like I’m transitioning out – is possible. I mean, I’m doing a part in Big Momma’s House 2 with Martin Lawrence on my off-days. When the movie comes out, WWE will promote it. That’s the sort of thing I want to do.

Do you think you could’ve kicked Hilary Swank’s ass in Million Dollar Baby? I mean, for someone who doesn’t wrestle, you’ve got chops.

SK: (laughs) But I had to learn those chops in school. My body is not made for that. I’m small-structured. Six months in Atlanta was like boot camp. Falling on those mats; they’re not soft. They’re like hitting concrete. Think wrestling is fake? Guys are hitting each other with chairs for real. I was thrown through a table once and there were no breaks in the table before I landed. I’ve had more migraines after being thrown around the arena than I can tell you. I take Aleve before I start.

But you have a mean Foot Choke.

SK: I’m a girlie-girl, but I pack a wallop.

Which leads me to the legs – all 42 inches of each one. They’re priceless. What do you do to keep them soft, shiny and toned?

SK: Nothing that any other girl wouldn’t do, surprisingly enough. I work out when I can, but not too much. I shave my legs regularly, but mostly I use Nair because you have to do it less. And I use cocoa butter to moisturize. I use that butter all over my body.

What part of your body would you like to see people talking about more than your legs?

STACY KEIBLER: My butt. It’s good. I don’t want people to talk about either, but that seems to be what comes up in conversation. My legs and butt are all I’ve got. But then again, my motto is, “Don’t wish for it; work for it,” so anything can happen.

Nice try, but you can’t stop us from wishing.