WWE hall of famer Madusa (Alundra Blayze) reveals much of personal and professional life in “The Woman Who Would Be King.” She explains why she calls the woman that gave birth to her Betty and not mother and exposes that the man she thought was her father sexually abused her as a child. The wrestling trailblazer doesn’t hold back and shares her many personal tragedies and triumphs.
She trained with Eddie Sharkey, who also trained Jesse “The Body” Ventura and the Road Warriors. Madusa explains how she was able to train for free, before becoming AWA Women’s champion. In 1988, she won Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Rookie of the Year award. Despite Verne Gagne offering exposure airing his shows on ESPN, Madusa departed the fledgling promotion for greener pastures with All Japan Women.
After a successful run in Japan, she returned to the states and joined Paul E. Dangerously’s Dangerous Alliance in WCW, where she feuded with Missy Hyatt. She confesses having a crush on the newcomer, Stunning Steve Austin, but it appeared the future Stone Cold was distracted by busty blondes. Madusa met with Vince McMahon, and she jumped to the WWF. As she notes in the book, she was wise to trademark the Madusa name.
The WWF was a man’s club, although she did capture the WWF Women’s championship, and feuded with another hall of famer, Bull Nakano, Bertha Faye (Rhonda Sing), and the bipolar Luna Vachon. WWF decided against renewing her contract while she was still their champion, thus, she jumped back to WCW and put the WWF Women’s title belt in the trash can on a memorable episode of Monday Nitro.
When her WCW run was over, she enjoyed success riding her Monster truck. Madusa explains how she was pushed out of wrestling and being propositioned by a WCW executive. She talks about her wrestling relationships, which included an unsuccessful marriage with Eddie Gilbert, and living with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. She answers the questions she hears a lot from fans, will she do one more match?
In the book, Madusa also discusses being stalked, divorcing twice and become a military wife, and finding her true family roots. She talks about her acting opportunities, losing twins babies, a failed attempt to adopt, health issues, tattoos and piercings, boob jobs, and much more. Madusa also revealed that she discussed opening a wrestling school with wrestling legend Randy “Macho Man” Savage before his death.
“The Woman Who Would Be King” is a must for wrestling and monster truck fans!
By: Debrah Miceli, Greg Oliver, Paul Heyman – foreword
Narrated by: Debrah Miceli
Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
Release date: 08-27-24
