Monday, March 15, 2021 (6 days before Spring is official)
It’s hard to resist an allure of traveling biographically into the world of women’s wrestling. Especially in these concerning days of common focus on #metoo and violence against women. I’m ready to be introduced to a woman who’s 6’2″ tall, topping-off herself with a blonde Mohawk, and wrestling professionally. The author, Jeannine Mjoseth, went by two monikers depending on whether she’d win or lose a match. “Lady Maxine” was the good guy, and alternately, “Mad Maxine”, the heel.
She learned the ropes and secrets of professional wrestling at a special school for women. It was run by Moolah, one of the first big-time female wrestlers of the ’40s and ’50s. Mjoseth says she despised Moolah, who skimmed money from her students, ignored their injuries and pimped them out to her friends.
Besides Mjoseth’s story of her wrestling training and subsequent career, she confirms that wrestling is a staged performance. Its moves completely are choreographed to avoid bodily hurts beyond bruising.
A year or so ago, I watched Netflix’s series, GLOW (Glamorous Ladies of Wrestling). That fun and well-done series got me interested in women’s wrestling. Mjoseth’s book got my attention because it suggests her dimensions way beyond her athleticism during her 20s. After her wrestling career ended, she spent thirty years working professionally as a reporter and researcher who became a science writer for the federal government.
So, she’s an ex-athlete and also a writer. Her book is on its way here.
Dear Friends: Like Wonder Woman, one capable of resisting physical violence. Diana
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