SoCal Val recently sat down with TNA Knockouts legend ODB for the latest episode of The Velvet Ropes on WrestlingNews.co.
During the interview, ODB calls out the young TNA Knockouts for ignoring Traci Brooks’ Hall of Fame induction, reveals Dixie Carter didn’t want her representing the Knockouts division, rips the Elegance Brand, discusses the differences between today’s locker room and her era, reveals she was cut from WWF Tough Enough despite impressing Al Snow, names Jody Threat as the current Knockout who reminds her most of herself, and talks about a potential WWE appearance through the TNA partnership.
Here are some of the highlights:
ODB calls out the young TNA Knockouts for ignoring Tracy Brooks’ Hall of Fame induction: “I was really mad that not a lot of the girls were watching Tracy Brooks get inducted. And they should have been standing backstage and clapping for her. I asked her, did any of the Knockouts take pictures of you? She’s like, no. And I’m like, what? No one took a goddamn picture with you. If I was an agent back there, I’d be like, you get your f***ing asses right here.”
On Traci Brooks opening the door for the Knockouts division: “She opened the door for a lot of us. She opened the door for me. She was there in the beginning days. She took every guy’s finisher. People don’t realize that. Just because you didn’t win a Knockouts championship, just because you weren’t main eventing, doesn’t mean you didn’t do s*** in this business.”
ODB says “know your history”: “A lot of us women that came before me, like a Jazz, Lisa, Luna, Sherry Martel, those chicks opened the doors for me to be different. People just think, oh, whoever’s popular, that’s who I want to take a picture with. But I’m like, nah, know your history, bitches, let’s go.”
On the Elegance Brand: “When we come back, people are like, oh, the old timers coming back. I’m like, bitch, you want to have a ring to stand in? If it wasn’t for chicks like us that paved the way, that paid the dues, you guys, what, they found you on TikTok or something? Come on, you and all your Only Fans. None of these girls would be able to handle it back in our day. They wouldn’t have been able to hang. Hell no.”
ODB reveals Dixie Carter didn’t want her representing the Knockouts division: “There was one photo shoot I didn’t get invited to, and it pissed me off. This is what I heard, where Dixie Carter would always say, like, ODB is not, I don’t want her to represent the Knockout division. Remember when Hogan and Bischoff came in? The division was kind of turning, making it more sexy. They’re doing car washes, mud wrestling, and all this shit. Lacey Von Erich came in. And I went away for like five months. It was kind of like, oh crap, is it really turning into this? But I still got to be ODB. I came back, stayed the same, and that’s what they wanted me to do.”
On the current Knockouts locker room vs. her era: “There was a lot more personality back in my day. We didn’t have social media. These girls are constantly doing TikTok content. I haven’t heard the word content so many times. I’m like, can you guys just worry about your matches right now?”
On a potential WWE appearance through the TNA partnership: “It would be cool. That’s something I’ve brought up, and I’m gonna keep bringing it up. Hey, just one appearance or something. Even if it’s NXT. I’m pretty much probably one of the only wrestlers that’s only been in TNA. I’ve never been anywhere else.”
On her original WWF Tough Enough tryout and Al Snow: “I tried out for the original WWF Tough Enough in 2000. I was one of the top 25. Al Snow was in charge of Tough Enough. He’s like, I remember you. Out of every single person we saw that day, they saw over 250 people. He’s like, you had it. You had something. But unfortunately, MTV, I had no story behind me. I didn’t have a sad story.”
On naming Jody Threatt as her favorite current Knockout: “Jody Threatt kind of reminds me of a young ODB. She’s very different. She’s a sweetheart. She came out to our food truck, she has a YouTube channel, she promoted it. I love her look. She’s one of my favorites.”
On Tommy Dreamer calling her about the TNA return: “All of a sudden I get a call from Tommy Dreamer, and he’s saying, hey, we have this idea. We would love to give you your last run. Then when he said Taryn and Mickie were involved, I’m like, yes, absolutely.”