Beth Phoenix was always a wrestling fan, but one match made her want to pursue it as a career.
The newest episode of WWE Icons chronicles the life of Beth Phoenix, from her childhood growing up in Elmira, New York with Polish immigrant parents to her current role as a commentator on NXT, working with and showcasing the next generation of Women's Superstars.
According to the WWE Hall of Famer, the opening match of WrestleMania X captivated her so much so that a light switch went off in her head. Beth said the following:
"My transition from being a wrestling fan to this is what I want to do, this is all I want to do is very clear to me. It was when I saw WrestleMania X, Bret Hart versus Owen Hart, the opening match. That match was just so beautifully and masterfully done, and I was so captivated by these characters and the ride they took me on, and from that moment on, I wanted to provoke that emotion from others that I got from that match. It was a light switch that went off in my head. I was like, 'somehow, someway I have to figure out how to do what Bret and Owen just did.'"
After nearly two decades in the business, Beth's career came full circle in 2019 when she performed at WrestleMania 35. At the event, she teamed with Natalya, reforming the Divas of Doom, to take on Bayley & Sasha Banks, The Iiconics, and Nia Jax & Tamina for the Women's Tag Team Titles. She had this to say about Bret "The Hitman" Hart being a part of their entrance:
"Getting to high-five Bret Hart was so meaningful because it was closing that book for me on why I started this in the first place. WrestleMania X is why I started, and it was beautiful."
Over the course of her career, Beth Phoenix won the WWE Women's Championship three times and the Divas Championship once.
WWE Icons: Beth Phoenix is available to watch now on the WWE Network.
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