While many in WCW and WWF made incredible sums of money in the 1990s, it appears that Madusa wasn’t one of them.
The trailblazer began her career in 1984 and arrived in the AWA two years later. From here she headed to All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling before returning to the United States with WCW in 1991.
The star enjoyed a spell alongside Paul Heyman as part of the Dangerous Alliance but moved to the WWF in 1993. The company reintroduced the Women’s Championship after it was declared vacant in 1990, and under the name Alundra Blayze, the star was positioned as the face of the division.
However, she was released in late 1995 and returned to WCW under her former ring name Madusa. Her re-debut not only grabbed the headlines but ensured her a place in wrestling history as she dumped the WWF Women’s Title in the trash live on Nitro.
Speaking exclusively to Nick Hausman for Inside The Ropes, Madusa looked back on this period of her career and opened up about the frustration she felt at the time. The WWE Hall of Famer said that WCW promised that she would become the face of a newly rebuilt women’s division, and much like in the WWF it never happened. To make matters worse while top male stars were earning well over $500,000 per year, she was making only $75,000.
“I got the call to come over, and you know, do that whole thing — you’ll have to read my book, everybody. It’s in the book — And so it was like, ‘Wow.’ And so when I went over to WCW, I was promised, ‘Hey, let’s build this women’s division.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, I heard this. But this sounds great, really, to start doing this.’ And then it just never happened again. Yeah, it just never happened.
I’m like, What is going on? I was so livid. I just feel that Eric got so caught up into the nWo and bringing the big guys and they’re getting million dollar contracts, or $800, or three or $500,000, whatever, I was making $75,000. You know, I mean, my God, all of my stuff had to come out of that and pay taxes by the time you know, you bring home $20,000.”
Madusa Thankful For Eric Bischoff
Madusa reiterated that the most she ever made was with WCW after her pay was increased to $150,000. She added that while she loved the WWF, she is always thankful to Eric Bischoff for looking after her financially.
“I’m pretty sure that’s right. It was right around there. And then after that, I demanded more, you know, and then I had to fight for that. And I think by the time I left, the most I ever made in wrestling was $150,000.”
Despite her role not working out as promised, Madusa remained under contract with WCW until the company was purchased by the WWF/WWE in 2001, at which point she retired.
Madusa’s book The Woman Who Would Be King is out now.
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