Whether you know her as Madusa or as Alundra Blayze, Debrah Miceli is known for being a pioneer of women's wrestling in North America. whether she was facing Bull Nakano in the Tokyo Dome or trashing the WWF Women's Championship on Monday Nitro, Madusa was making headlines as a women's wrestler decades before there was ever a women's evolution.
Now, in association with ECW Press, Madusa is working on her memoir which is due for release by Spring 2023.
From ECW Press:
ECW Press to publish Debrah “Madusa” Miceli’s memoir
September 15, 2021 — Through 40 years of entertaining fans, both in the wrestling ring and on the monster truck circuit, Debrah “Madusa” Miceli never could sit still. However, despite her constant desire to learn, to grow, and to inspire legions of followers, she also kept deep secrets.
Her upbringing was a lie from the start, and evolved into pain and torture. The forbidden truths of childhood, revealed for the first time in her untitled memoir coming this Spring 2023 from ECW Press, are the earliest examples of Miceli’s determination to overcome, listen to her voice, and never waver in her belief that things would get better.
Professional wrestling was an odd foray for a nursing student but she went all-in, setting high standards in the ring and for herself. The punishing style she learned and adopted in Japan suited someone who needed constant challenges. In WWE, she was known as Alundra Blayze and held the company’s Women’s title . . . until being fired out of the blue by a letter delivered via FedEx. The rival WCW hired her, and Madusa made waves by tossing the WWF’s Women’s title in a trash can on live TV.
It was not an easy ride in the misogynistic world of professional wrestling. The colorful villains on the screen were one thing, but the behind-the-scenes power brokers were even viler, harassing and abusing with impunity, deft in sowing distrust by pitting employees against each other, and lightning quick to cover up any scandalous behavior.
In 1999, Madusa joined the world of motorsports, thinking she was ready for the southern boys that make up the Monster truck motor sport world. The lessons learned in pro wrestling prepared her for another male-dominated profession, and this time she rolled over them — quite literally — ignoring their lack of respect for women. Instead of backing down, she began a whole new revolution for women in that revved up world.
Soon enough, she was a rarity: a driver who was more famous than the monster truck itself. At meet and greets, little girls in pink “Queen of Carnage” t-shirts would stand alongside ogling fanboys. The pinnacle for Miceli and her Madusa truck were Monster Jam world championships in 2004 and 2005.
Until now, the world of monster trucks — including her involvement in the start-up Major League of Monster Trucks as competitor to the established Monster Jam — has been a secret society, and Madusa’s memoir will be the first to explore the behind-the-scenes machinations of the high-octane, crash-banging motorsport.
Wrestling and monster trucks were hardly the only paths for the restless Miceli. At various points, she taught yoga, groomed dogs, designed custom motorcycles, was a personal trainer, practised Reiki healing, and studied natural health. Through it all, she was a public figure, trying to balance out the demands of speaking engagements and personal appearances with real life.
Yet for all her triumphs and championships, and a WWE Hall of Fame induction, one thing has eluded her: motherhood. While involved in two aggressive sports, Miceli experienced challenges with fertility and pregnancy loss. Even an adoption dramatically fell through at the last minute in a courtroom.
This is a tale you have never heard, and it will leave you wondering how one woman survived through so much chaos, heartbreak, bumps, and bruises. It is decidedly a tale about a woman wanting to be heard.
Madusa’s story is about turning tragedy into triumph, relying on hard work and determination, finding inspiration and motivation in the darkest times, and not letting your past define you.
Jon Moxley is also scheduled to be releasing an autobiography soon. Learn more here.