Interview with Hailey Hatred

It was April 2012 and Hailey agreed on answering these questions.

Hailey Hatred is the ring name of one of the biggest rising stars in the indie wrestling circuit. She debuted in 2002 and since then has competed in several promotions across the United States, Japan and Mexico. Among these promotions we can name Cleveland All Pro Wrestling, APW Chickfight, Ohio Championship Wrestling, Jersey All.Pro Wrestling, AIW, WSU, Shimmer, Lucha Libre Femenil, CMLL, JWP in Japan, Ice Ribbon (UK). What is most important is that Hailey Hatred is practically  a synonim of Champion. She has won many titles and earned the chance to challenge for many others. She is a young lady that at 28 years old has accomplishments many more experience girls would dream to have.

Hailey was kind enough to take some time to answer some questions for the blog. She is a very nice girl, whose kindness amazed me and  really appreciate her even more for this. So if you want to know some more things about her, I suggest you to keep reading.

(for the Spanish version go here Entrevista a Hailey Hatred en espanol

JC:  How did you come up with the Hailey Hatred name?

Hailey Hatred I was in a car with some friends heading back from a show. The promoter had offered me a match at the next show, so my friends and I were throwing around ideas for a ring name. I kinda had the idea for a double-alliteration name, Hailey Hatred got mentioned, and it seemed kinda anti-establishment to me, which I liked - so I went with that.

JC: How and when did you decided to become a pro wrestler?

Hailey Hatred I decided at 15 I wanted to be a wrestler as a profession. I watched wrestling growing up, but not until I met some people my age that were wrestling did I realize it could actually be a profession. Where I live you have to be 18 years old to train, so I started lifting weights and doing martial arts while I researched wrestling schools, then I moved to the school I decided on after my 18th birthday.

JC: Who trained you?

Hailey Hatred I trained at HWA in Cincinnati, Ohio - my main trainers were Cody Hawk, Race Steele, Matt Stryker, and Jimmy Yang.

JC: You went to Japan, made a name, came back for gaining more respect. How would you describe your experience there?

Hailey Hatred Japan is everything I thought it would be, and so much more. In my opinion its the greatest place on Earth to wrestle, train, and perform.

JC: What are the differences between working in the USA, Canada, Japan or Mexico?

Hailey Hatred Its all the same but its all different, if that makes sense. What fans hope to see in a match, cultural influences, and training backgrounds of the competitors are all differences; the common denominator is that all fans want to see something unique, thats a worldwide trait.

Hailey wrestling Cheerleader Melissa at NCW Femme Fatales in March 2012

 Hailey piledriving Leon 

JC: You have become a main event player in the promotions you have wrestled for. Won many championships ( here a sample pic that describes your success) which title is (are) your main goal for 2012?

Hailey covered by all the titles she could held at once

Hailey Hatred I would like to re-gain the JWP OpenClass Championship. I think its the most prestigious Championship in Womens Wrestling. Also, Kayoko Haruyama is the new Champion. I feel we have a really nice clash of styles, with a lot of similarities. We've fought each other many times in tag-team matches, but only once in singles - it would be fitting, now that she is Champion, to fight her again.

On the subject of JWP, myself and Kaori Yoneyama were Triple Crown Tag Champions, and were unjustly stripped of the Titles when Yoneyama decided not to retire - I most definitely want those Championships back.

The Campeonato Mundial Femenil de CMLL is another prestigious Championship I would like to compete for again. Back in January I had one of the most challenging matches in my life, facing Ayumi Kurihara for the Title, but I was ultimately defeated. I've accomplished many things in my time in Mexico, but never winning a championship, so I might as well shoot for the top prize.

I also would like to capture the Ice Ribbon "Triangle Ribbon" Championship. I've competed for it once, but was unable to capture it - however I was not pinned. For fans unaware of the concept of the Championship, it is defended in only 3-way matches. I think this is an interesting concept, and I think it provides fans with a unique, unexpected match, so I would like to add this Championship to my collection.

JC: Amazing Kong and Brittany Knight are in WWE, do you think we may see a change in the direction for wwe programming realted female wrestling? Do you see yourself joining them?

Hailey Hatred I don't think we will see a change in how the WWE conducts their female division, but I also didn't expect to see so many of my peers holding World Championships in the WWE, so who knows. I don't currently have any plans to pursue a career with WWE, I'm more than happy making a living in Japan.

JC: We have seen you have hard hitting matches. I would try to buy the match against Cheerleade Melissa. Was that the most brutal opponent you have been in the ring with? Who are your toughest opponents?

Hailey Hatred Thank you, I especially enjoyed the singles match with Melissa at nCw Femmes Fatales. My toughest opponents have been Nanae Takahashi, Kyoko Kimura, and Kaori Yoneyama. Nanae is the last of the All Japan Womens Wrestling company that captivated so many fans to watch Japanese female wrestling. Kimura is as tough as they come, and is now proving that on the MMA scene as well. Yoneyama, although she is small, has a vicious knee strike that she can hit out of nowhere. I've never been able to finish a match with her and not have blood coming from my mouth.

Hailey teaming up with Kaori Yoneyama against Misaki Ohata and Hanako Nakamori

JC: You have wrestled many intergender matches. Why? Some say it is because it helps learning more

Hailey Hatred I really like intergender wrestling. I've always trained with men, so competing against them in front of people is a natural progression for me. I like the challenge of fighting someone that is possibly stronger or faster than me. Also men fight differently, so adapting to new offense is beneficial for my career.

JC: Who are you dream match opponents?

Hailey Hatred Aja Kong and Jushin Liger.

JC: What do you think it has to be done to take female wrestling to the next level. Maybe taking a promotion  to tv, like Wrestlicious, but a serious one? Or do you think it would hurt some way?

Hailey Hatred Better training, better fan support, better opponents. I don't think TV is necessary, but if it is on TV, it should be the top of the crop - best production, fighters, etc. Anything less would hurt more than help in the long run.

JC: Who would you chose as your favorite tag team partner? If memory does serve me well Jessicka Havok and you have tag teamed, right? why did you split?

Hailey Hatred Kaori Yoneyama. I learned so much from her, we were wildly successful, we are best friends, and we have fun and win. What more could one want? Yes, in the past Jessicka and myself teamed. We went down different paths with our careers which led to our split.

JC: Despite the respect, there are some fans with moronic attitudes that behave like couches at events. I have heard some scream obscene stuff to girls, sometimes even male opponents grab the breasts or private parts. Do you think is has watered down? Or there are always disrespectful fans? 

Hailey Hatred I'm sure theres always someone thinking, if not saying, something a bit off-colour during female fights regardless of where it is or what level it is. I mean, theres a big genetic difference between males and females, so it's not even always intentional. As a female fighter hearing someone yell something disrespectful or perverted is honestly the least of what I've had to go through to get to where I am.

JC: I will show you 12 names/word and you have to associate them with one or two words

- wrestling - dedication

- japan - competition

- shimmer - athletic

- wsu - alternative

- wwe - big production

- diva - makeup

- finishing move - unnecessary

- cheerleader melissa - agressive

-jessicka havok - charismatic

- MMA - open styles

- hardcore matches - unpredictable

-  What would your name in wwe would be? Maya. She's my favorite video game character.. and I'd keep it 1-name-only to be a little different.

JC: What would you like to add to your fans all over the world?

Hailey Hatred I wholeheartedly appreciate all the love and kind messages I get - I hope to perform live for you one day!

Hailey always with a smile in her face and always looking to kick some ass for her fans

Please let me thank again Hailey who took some of her time on Sunday to answer some questions. I really wish her the best and I am looking forward to watch more of her matches and meet her someday in the near future.

I leave you with some videos you would like:

Kaori Yoneyama & Hailey Hatred vs Cherrie Bomb and Sexy Star (part one)
Kaori Yoneyama & Hailey Hatred vs Cherrie Bomb and Sexy Star (part two)
Hailey Hatred vs Sara Del Rey