Marina Valdivia
From the eWrestling Encyclopedia.
Marina Valdivia is a wrestler who is currently working for True Honor Wrestling. She is a former HCW World Champion. She has previously wrestled for the NIWF and HCW as well as independent promotions like the ICWA and WRW. She's been considered one of the most resilient wrestlers in recent memory. She has also accomplished many things in this business that many people did not think a woman could do in this sport.
| Marina Valdivia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Billing information | |
| Ring name(s) | Marina Marina Valdivia(current) |
| Height | 5'5" |
| Weight | 128 |
| Born | {{{born}}} |
| Hometown | {{{hometown}}} |
| Theme music | {{{music}}} |
| Affiliation(s) | {{{affiliation}}} |
| Federation(s) | THW |
| Previous federation(s) | NIWF, WRW, ICWA, HCW |
| Wrestling information | |
| Alignment | {{{alignment}}} |
| Wrestling style | {{{wrestling_style}}} |
| Will | {{{will}}} |
| Won't | {{{wont}}} |
| Trainer | Lisa Marie Varon, Jay Swift |
| Handler | |
| Professional career | |
| Debut | May 18th, 2007 (manager) June 8th, 2007 (wrestler) |
| Record | {{{record}}} |
| Accomplishments | {{{accomplishments}}} |
| Retired | |
[edit] Early life and Career
Marina Eris Valdivia was born on April 24, 1984 to her Italian father Antonio Valdivia and her Hispanic mother Elisha Rodriguez Valdivia making Marina half-Italian, half-Hispanic. She was born in San Diego, California. Marina has been a wrestling fan since the day she witnessed Sting vs. Ric Flair at Starrcade 1989. Immediately becoming a fan after seeing that match, she grew up as a fan of Sting, Flair, The Road Warriors, Randy Savage, Razor Ramon, Diesel and Dusty Rhodes. At age 7, she and her family relocated to Phoenix and she's lived there ever since, but her heart has always been in San Diego. She grew up as an aspiring actress and she took theater classes at Peoria High School for her four years there. She was even in a few plays and was seen as someone with potential to be a Hollywood star upon graduating high school in 2002. However, she wanted to be involved in the wrestling business so along with being an actress, she became a simple manager on the independent scene with her first managerial appearance on the Indy scene happening in October of 2002. After doing both careers back and forth careers for nearly four years, Marina found a career as an active wrestler more interesting and she dropped her acting career to train for the ring in June of 2006.
[edit] NIWF, In Ring Debut and career (2007)
[edit] (2007)
She would train for over a year before she met Jay Swift and she became his manager in 2007. On June 8th, 2007, Marina finally wrestled her first match in a non title contest with then-woman's Champion Lori Anderson. Marina picked up an easy victory. Marina would receive a Woman's Title match on June 24, at NIWF Global Warfare in a five woman hardcore divas battle royal also featuring Misty Blaze, Rose Maxim, Kerrie Maddox, and champion Lori Anderson. Marina would make it to the final two before being eliminated by the new Champion Kerrie Maddox (Maddox would vacate the title July 13). Despite the loss, Marina proved herself to being a legitimate threat for the Woman's Championship, which she continued to chase. Marina Valdivia defeated Misty Blaze at Wrestle-fest to finally claim the vacant Women's Championship. She and Swift have both confirmed that they were in a relationship around this time. Marina made her first title defense on the August 17th Terror when she teamed up with Canadian TV Champion Kris "Fa Sho" Destiny to take on Emmy Rhimes and Sylvaine Gringas with both Destiny's and Marina's titles on the line in a mixed tag tornado match. Marina turned on Destiny and pinned Emmy while Sylvaine pinned Destiny. Marina retained her title while Destiny lost his. Atfer the match, Marina quit the Syndicate. At Baddlands on August 26th, Marina Valdivia defeated Tornado's Red Dragon in a hard fought match. Later in the night, she was apart of a five-on-one beating on Kris Destiny also involving Swift, Epik, Bloodbath and Zero McHannon thus resulting in the formation of the Death Sentence. On NIWF Draft 2007, it was announced that Terror would be dropped and that the Women's Championship would be moving to Storm! In her first match on Storm, Marina would retain her title against Kylie Richards. At Rumble Roulette, Marina would hint a face turn when she turned on Swift and took him out of Rumble Roulette. On the October 8th edition of Storm, Marina (with the crowd supporting her despite her heel status), managed to defeat Jay Swift to advance to the finals of the Storm Heavyweight Championship tournament. Her opponent in the finals was Kerrie Maddox. Kerrie managed to win after locking in the Kiss of Death. Marina refused to tap out and she did not submit, she lost by passing out. Despite the loss, her great effort won the respect of her peers and the NIWF fans therefore completing her face turn.
[edit] Face Turn
With events in recent weeks, such as turning on, and dumping Jay Swift as well as losing to Kerrie Maddox the way she did, Marina turned face. Marina managed to pull off a convincing return to her winning ways by defeating Benito Moosolini in a ladder match with the crowd supporting her all the way through. Marina would be screwed over by management at the Terror Tactics Pay-Per-Vew and lost her Women's Championship (belt would be deactivated) She was booked to compete for the Canadian TV Championship but she abruptly quit the NIWF due to mistreatment by management and to harrassement from roster members. On January 10, 2008, Marina filed a lawsuit against NIWF Owner Jay C citing sexual harrassment, breach of contract and defamation of character. She would win the case destroying the reputation of the NIWF in the process.
[edit] World Reality Wrestling, ICWA and independent scene
Marina, for a brief time, took independent bookings. While in the NIWF, she competed in an Arizona Pro Wrestling (AZPW) event winning a 12 woman battle royal to claim the AZPW Woman's Championship. She would hold this title until September 12th, 2007 when she vacated it and moved on to focus solely on the NIWF. Marina returned to AZPW the same day she quit the NIWF and won a 6 woman Halloween Ladder match to win the AZPW Women's Championship for the 2nd time. She would successfully defend the title in what was an awesome match with the former champion Christina Vega on November 7th. She would hold the title until December 28th, when she lost the title back to Christina Vega. Marina Valdivia, at the request of former NIWF Storm General Manager Ryan Dangerous, signed with WRW on November 4th, 2007. Her first match in WRW was a Battle Royal for the WRW World Championship. Marina would finish 4th before being eliminated by the eventual winner Tempura Dashi. Her next match on November 19th, 2007 would be a five woman TLC Match for the WRW Women's Championship, which was won by Erin Reina. Shortly afterwards, WRW closed it's doors. Meanwhile, Marina has signed a contract with the International Championship Wrestling Alliance and her first match was against Danica Lane. Marina managed to get the victory in her successful debut. On December 12th, 2007, Marina Valdivia defeated Sprit Fire to become the new ICWA Women's Champion! Shortly afterwards, she suffered from insanity and lost the ICWA Women's Championship in January to Danica Lane. From there, it was all downhill for Marina as her insanity got worse and she started to get into a serious slump. By then, her popularity decreased drastically and after losing to ICWA Champion Malicia Savage in March, she walked out of the company citing backstage politics and creative differences. Despite that, she was still listed on the ICWA roster before being officially released on April 30th, 2008. All Marina had to say about the release was "About time." as she was unhappy with the way ICWA was going. She would continue to make appearances for AZPW every now and then and made more frequent appearances after her HCW departure. On March 25th, 2009, Marina defeated Clarissa Vega and reigning champion Nikki Nightmare in Douglas, Arizona to become the AZPW Women's Champion for the third time! She held it until April 28th when she lost it to Mercedes Castillo in a ladder match. To date, this is her last appearance in AZPW.
[edit] UHWF/HCW (January 2008-March 2009)
Marina Valdivia appeared at a UHWF House Show on January 3, 2008, announcing that she had signed with the company. Marina dyed her hair from brunette to red and looked healthier then she's ever been. Marina announced that she was changing her ways and would be known as the Daredevil Goddess effectively doing away with the Glamour Girl gimmick. Her first win came against Josh Woodrum on January 21st and 6 days later, she was the number one entry in the Battle match and lasting for quite a while. She would take on Tomas Montgomery for the UHWF World Championship in a losing effort at Heartbreak Hell and after losing to Thunder "Smoke" Jackson, her insanity forced her to take a sabbatical. Marina appeared on the March 10th episode announcing that she had joined with XTZ and John Freedom to form TX and on March 30th, still insane, she took on Hada Long Rhodes in a scaffold match which she won. Afterwards, Hada's sister Reina threw Marina off the scaffold and as a result she suffered a serious concussion. After this, she regained her sanity and the passion that the fans had come to know and love her for. She would drop the "Daredevil Goddess" gimmick citing it as a complete waste of time and then became known as the Goddess of Hardcore, a gimmick that went over well with the fans until her feud with Garrison Kane. She would defeat (and retire) Pat Omega with the crowd starting to cheer for her again and she was on a roll proving herself as the dominant diva of the UHWF defeating the other divas in a battle royal at IWG Resurrection. She had fully regained the support of the fans. However, she was involved in a feud with Garrison Kane after this and he would injure her at UHWF Wargames! Marina came back a month later at the Jackson Steele Invitational to try to get revenge, but Garrison left the building before she could. She returned to action once again defeating Hada Long Rhodes and continued her feud with Garrison. It was during this time that she would get boos despite being a face as the Goddess of Hardcore gimmick had grown really stale and they cheered as she lost a Television title match to Garrison Kane in a feud ending hardcore match at Honor.
[edit] Heel Turn and the return of Miss Monday Night
Marina would slander the fans and berate them for not giving her any respect thus turning heel. Shortly afterwords, she reverted back to her Miss Monday Night moniker stating that the Marina the fans saw was fake. Marina would debut a new blonde look on the 8/11 episode of Hardcore and she would complete her heel turn by attacking Thunder "Smoke" Jackson after his title defense against Lance Harris. On the August 18th episode of Hardcore, Marina defeated Muhhamed Sharaf to become the Intercontinental Champion. She is the first ever woman to win a championship in the UHWF! Marina successfully retained the Intercontinental Championship by defeating Lance Harris in a hard fought ladder match at UHWF Heatwave on August 31st, 2008. Shortly afterwords, UHWF would become Honor Championship Wrestling. Just 15 days later, Marina defeated TV Champion Anthony Tarantino to unify the Intercontinental and Television Championships. This unification resulted in her becoming the first ever HCW International Champion. After defending her newly won title successfully against Kris Calloway and Jax, she began feuding with Ryan Dangerous over not getting an HCW World title shot. This feud culminated at Hell on Earth 2008 where Marina won the match. Marina entered the Championship Chaos chase, but was unable to win an HCW World title match. Nonetheless, Marina retained her International Championship at Championship Chaos against Will Michaels to extend her winning streak to an unprecedented 15 matches in a row! Marina would get into a small feud with Austin Caine which resulted in a title match at Countdown to Destruction. Marina won the match, retained her title and extended her streak to 18
[edit] 2009
Marina went into 2009 with an 18 match winning streak. In her first match of the year, she would end the undefeated streak of U.S. Champion Neville Sinclair to become the number one contender for the HCW World Championship against the Champion Kris Calloway at the Battle. They would feud for the next few weeks which culminated in a classic match for the HCW World title. Marina would defeat Kris Calloway to become the first female World Champion in HCW history. Shortly after her historic win, she vacated the HCW International Championship. Marina then got into a feud with Lance Harris over the WOrld Championship. The feud culminated in a classic Hell in the cell match with Marina won after a 900 splash from the top of the cell. She was going to main event Wrestle Fest, but on March 7, 2009, Marina quit the HCW vacating the World title in the process. Her reason for leaving was because "Steele is a jackass." She left HCW with a 27 match win streak, which was extended to 29 before it was snapped by Miranda Rivers on THW Showcase
[edit] True Honor Wrestling (2009-Present)
Marina made her shocking debut in THW at their New Blood Rising Pay-Per-View in April of 2009. She would then form Beauty and Brains with Neville Sinclair. Marina won her first two matches to extend her winning streak, but in May of 2009, her streak ended at the hands of Miranda Rivers at 29. This alliance would be short lived as Neville turned on Marina the very next month at Heaven Sent putting Marina out of action for at least a month. Marina would cut a promo on the June 8th Showcase saying that she was going to get revenge on Neville and Kris Calloway, who both took her out of action.
[edit] Turning Face Once More (The Glamour Girl Returns)
Marina returned to THW on June 15th saving Anthony Bloodbath from a two on one beatdown from Neville Sinclair and Kris Calloway thus officially turning her face again. Marina and Bloodbath would defeat the two in tag team action in Marina's return match. At Hellbound on June 29th, Marina Valdivia defeated AJ Miller to advance to the finals of a number one contender's tournament for a THW World Championship match. Marina defeated Anthony Bloodbath in the finals and she won a title match with the current THW World Champion Miranda Rivers at Honor Role. On July 27th, at Honor Role, in perhaps the greatest women's match of all time, Marina would fall short of becoming world champion as Miranda Rivers defeated her. Marina was set to take on Neville Sinclair and Miranda Rivers at Summer Slaughter for the THW World Championship, but Neville Sinclair won after pinning Miranda Rivers. On that night, her sister Trisha Valdivia was kidnapped. Two weeks later, Marina would learn that Jack Napier was behind the kidnappings. At Addicted To Chaos, Marina defeated Jack Napier in an unsanctioned match where the stipulation was that Napier had to release Trisha if he lost. While he did that, Napier did not reveal her location and currently, Marina is still trying to find her while continuing her feud with Jack Napier.
[edit] Finishers
California Splash (450 splash)
San Diego Stinger (Similar to the Stroke)
Cali Killer (Bridging reverse chinlock)
[edit] Nicknames
Miss Monday Night
The Most Skilled, most talented and most glamorous Diva this business has ever seen.
The Glamour Girl
The Most Dominant Female in this Industry today!
America's Finest Knockout
[edit] Trivia
Marina's family has a great history of athletics. Her father played minor league baseball in the San Diego Padres organization. Her brother Marcus Valdivia is currently playing Wide Receiver for the B.C. Lions of the CFL. Her older sister Teresa Valdivia is currently an Olympic track and field star, while her younger sister, Tricia Valdivia was an All-State basketball star at Peoria High School and currently attending UCLA. Finally, Marina's uncle, Jorge Rodriguez, was a back up right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While in the NIWF, Marina was good friends with the likes of Johnny Dreamer, RCH3, Scotty Johnson, Zero McHannon and Justin McGruff and to this day are still on good terms.
Marina and Kerrie Maddox legitimately hated each other in the NIWF and they still do to this day. Marina also had hateful relationships with Hank James, the Ace and Jay C.
While in the ICWA, Marina was a heavy critic of the way management was pushing the Venomous Vixens stating that Danica Lane is a no talent bitch that had the title served to her on a silver platter because everyone backstage wanted her to be champion.
Her insanity, as well as the ICWA backstage issues nearly caused Marina to retire from wrestling
Marina's loss of the Women's Championship was a legitimate screwjob (a real life double cross) that was planned behind her back by Jay C.
Marina was thought to have once dated Garrison Kane from 2003 to 2005. This fact became redundant when Marina revealed that the relationship never happened and that it was all an act.
Marina is the first woman to ever compete in the Battle (Royal Rumble like match in UHWF). She is also the first woman in UHWF/HCW history to win a championship of any kind!
Marina also states that the "Goddess of Hardcore" gimmick was a horrible one and that she was disgusted to have played the role of 'a soap opera drama queen'. The gimmick was hated by the fans resulting in weekly boos after she came back from injury.
Marina did not lose a match from August 11, 2008 to May 18, 2009
[edit] Filmography
Marina appeared in 8 independent films that went straight to DVD before she became a full-time wrestler. She has appeared on the following films (roles in parenthesis. Asterisk denotes main role):
Yet Another High School Movie [July 2002, PG] (Bridget Lewis [brunette cheerleader])
Another Crazy Christmas [December 2002, PG] (Stephanie [waitress])
Camping In Kansas [April 2003, G] (Haley Morris* [lead female])
College Movie (sequel to "Yet Another High School Movie) [October 2003, PG] (Bridget Lewis [snobby brainiac/cheerleader])
Be My Valentine [February 2004, G] (Courtney Salazar [best friend of lead female])
Wipeout! [July 2004, PG] (Amanda Sanders [lifeguard])
Murders on Arsenic Lane [May 2005, PG-13] (Tiffany Cortez* [lead female/sole survivor])
Internet Geeks [March 2006, PG] (Mayra [secretary])
[edit] Future Roles
During her recent injury, Marina filmed her first movie since becoming a full time wrestler. "Downtown Troopers", which is a comedy police movie, stars Marina, Christina Milian, Shaquille O'Neal and Eminem. Marina plays the role of a cunning con-artist who's resisted arrest with her superior combat skills. The movie is set to be released in January 2010.
Downtown Troopers [to be released January 2010, PG-13] (Natalie Phoenix*, [con-artist with wrestling ability/lead villain]
[edit] Theme Songs
"Oh"-Ciara (used from debut until NIWF WrestleFest on July 29th 2007)
"Glamorous"-Fergie (use began after Marina won the Women's Championship at WrestleFest until the Jan. 2 edition of ICWA Overload, she began to use this theme again on the August 11th episode of Hardcore and would use it until the 11/10/08 edition of Hardcore.)
"Alive"-P.O.D (use began at a UHWF House show on January 4 and would continue until the August 4th episode of Monday Night Hardcore)
"Maneater"-Nelly Furtado (Marina's current theme, began use on 11/17/08)
[edit] Wrestlers Managed by Marina Valdivia
Jay Swift
[edit] Managers
Allison Mayberry (2009-Present)
[edit] Stables and Alliances
The Syndicate (Jay Swift, Tomas Montgomery and Kris Destiny)
Death Sentence (Jay Swift, Anthony Bloodbath and Zero McHannon)
Technicians of Xtreme (XTZ, John Freedom)
Beauty and Brains (Neville Sinclair)
[edit] Championships and Accomplishments
Managed Jay Swift to the Provincial Championship
Arizona Pro Wrestling Women's Championship (3x)
NIWF Women's Championship (1x)
ICWA Women's Championship (1x)
UHWF/HCW Intercontinental Championship (1x, unified with TV title)
UHWF/HCW Television Championship (1x, unified with IC title)
UHWF/HCW International Championship (1x,first ever, TV and IC titles were unified to create this title! Vacated it after winning the World title)
UHWF/HCW World Champion (1x, first woman ever to hold the title and last ever champion)
[edit] Awards
HCW Heart Award Winner 2008
