Debrah Ann Micelo, also known as Madusa/Alundra Blayze, was born on February 9, 1964, in Milan, Italy. She is many things, but one of the most notable is that she is a pioneer.
Madusa trained with Eddie Sharkey in 1985 and competed in a large number of matches on the independent circuit earning around $5 each match. In 1986, she competed as a face in the AWA (American Wrestling Association), where she was involved in a rivalry with Sherri Martel. Madusa would go on to win the AWA World Women’s Champion a year later, after beating Candi Devine in the finals. Curt Hennig, the AWA World Heavyweight Champion at the time, was also under her management. During this time period, Madusa would become the first woman to ever receive the Professional Wrestling Institute’s Rookie of the Year honor.
Madusa made her professional wrestling debut in 1989 with All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling. With the signing of a three-year contract, she became the first non-Japanese wrestler to do so. She had training in Japanese-style wrestling, as well as boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing, among other disciplines.
She subsequently went on to compete in the World Championship Wrestling from 1991 to 1993. Madusa was one of the Dangerous Alliance members there at the time. Following her departure from WCW, she would go on to become a member of the WWE roster. Alundra Blayze was her given name in the community. In the WWE, she would go on to capture the Women’s Championship, which was then vacant. She competed in a six-woman competition to determine the winner.
Bull Nakano and Bertha Faye were among the people with whom she would get into fights later on. However, after being dismissed from WWE, she was stripped of her WWE title and returned to World Championship Wrestling. The WWE championship would not be reclaimed until 1998. When the championship was revived, Jacqueline would be the one to take home the victory. Madusa would remain with WCW until 2001, but she would take a break during that period.
Madusa would also go and train select ladies, such as Molly Holly, when the opportunity arose. In 2001, she announced her retirement, saying she was dissatisfied with the direction that women’s wrestling. During her interview with Women’s Wrestling Talk, she reiterated this topic as well as in her book.
Madusa also ventured into the world of monster trucks in the year 1999. Madusa is the name she gave to the vehicle she bought. She would go on to win the co-championship in the Monster Jam World Finals in 2004. She was also the first and only woman to participate in the Super Bowl of Motorsports, which was held in Las Vegas. These accomplishments were recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
In addition to her performances in the NWA, WWE, and AEW, Madusa is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, an author, and the commissioner of the Japanese women’s company World Wonder Ring Stardom, among other accomplishments. Madusa is a pioneer in every sense of the word.
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