Wrestling Interview With Penny Banner
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Today we Interview Wrestling Legend Penny Banner.
Interview Conducted By E L Farrell
Monday, October 2, 2006
First off thanks for doing this interview Penny! My first question is how did you get into the wrestling business?
I WAS WORKING AS A COCTAIL LOUNGE WAITRESS IN ST. LOUIS PART TIME WHILE BEING A GOVERNESS TO THREE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE DAY TIME, WHEN A FRIEND OF SAM MUCHNICK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE WRESTLING ALLIANCE, CAME IN. THE OWNER TOLD HIM I COULD DO 200 SIT UPS ..HE BET ME I COULDN'T...I DID THEM AND HE TOLD SAM MUCHNICK...THAT IS WHEN I BEGAN GETTING CALLS TO BE A GIRL WRESTLER . AT THAT TIME, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF NOR SEEN THEM, AS THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO WRESTLE IN ST. LOUIS..THAT IS HOW IT ALL BEGAN.
How did you come up with the name "Penny Banner"?
I LOVED CHARLESTON HESTON, AND THAT WAS HIS NAME ' BANNER' IN A MOVIE. PENNY WAS INSIGNIFICANT, AND MY BEIGN AWAY FROM ST. LOUIS ( HOME).. IN THIS BIG WRESTLING GAME I HAD NEVER HEARD OF, I FELT VERY INSIGNIFICANT....SO.......PENNY BANNER WAS WHAT I SAID I WANTED TO BE CALLED..
You wrestled both Face and Heel in your wrestling career. Which did you like wrestling as the most and why?
HEEL, BECAUSE WHEN I GOT TIRED I COULD CHEAT and JUMP OUT OF THE RING..pull hair...etc I WRESTLED FACE FOR MY FIRST 2 MONTHS...HEEL FOR THE FOLLOWING 6, THEN 17 AS A FACE.
What were your Favorite Moves/Holds?
ANYTHING I COULD GET HOLD OF
Who are were your Toughest Opponents in your wrestling career?
JUNE BYERS, KAY NOBLE. IN MY BOOK, I LIST THE GOOD GIRL WRESTLERS IN ORDER I FELT THEY ACCOMPLISHED AND DESERVE.
Favorite Wrestlers?
JOHNNY VALENTINE
What's the worst you've been hurt in the ring?
MY NOSE RIPPED UP from underneath and my ELBOW DISLOCATED as I pinned my opponent.
What was your Favorite Type of Match?
A ONE FALL
What Titles have you Held in your career?
( 1956-1960-THREE TIME- CANADIAN WOMANS TAG TEAM ..w/Bonnie Watson , Betty Jo Hawkins and Lorraine Johnson....WOMENS TEXAS CHAMPIONSHIP '63........1ST ' AWA' WOMENS CHAMPION' '61.
What is your most memorable professional moment?
WINNING THE FIRST AWA WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP.
Is it true that you met Elvis Presley?
YES, 1956 in St. Louis..again 4 more times. Last date was March 17th 1958 just before he went into the service.........
You retired from the wrestling industry in 1977. Why did you decide to retire?
THERE WERE VERY FEW WOMEN WRESTLERS TO WRESTLE AROUND the Carolinas since Moolah's girls and she were accepted by the other promoters around the country, when June Byers , who owned the NWA womens championship retired because of a car accident...THAT left NO one for me to wrestle around here.
What have you been doing since retirement?
I BECAME A REAL ESTATE BROKER AGENT...THEN WENT ON TO RODEO......THEN WENT ON TO BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL 4 H, TEACHING HORSE PROJECTS OF ALL ASPECTS..." SPEAKING-DEMONSTRATIONS-HORSE BOWL-HORSE SHOWING etc.
Do you miss the wrestling business?
AS IT WAS, ' YES'.....
What is your opinion of today's wrestling industry?
IT IS ENTERTAINMENT WITH PLANNED MOVEMENTS/SCRIPTS.
Do you watch WWE or TNA
NEVER, VINCE EXPLOITS WOMEN...AND I HATE TO SEE WHAT WAS A SPORT FOR ME DEMEANED INTO ' EYE CANDY COMPETITION'.......or TNA...SOMETIMES
Have you ever been contacted by Vince McMahon or WWE to work for them in any capacity?
MOOLAH WOULD NEVER ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
Whats your opinion on The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young?
IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE MAKING A FOOL OF THEMSELVES WHILE GETTING PAID SUCH GREAT MONEY.......THEY SHOULD HAVE A "TOTAL MAKE OVER"...all OVER AGAIN...THE ONES MOOLAH HAS HAD, IS WORN OUT.
You wrote a book titled "Banner Days". What can wrestling fans expect from your book?
THE TRUTH TO THE HISTORY AND TITLES OF WOMEN PIONEER WRESTLING..and SERENDIPITY( GOOD THINGS HAPPENING TO THOSE WHO DON'T ASK)...OH, AND DETAILS OF MY 5 DATES W/THE KING.
Where can fans buy your excellent book?
AT http://www.bannerdays.com AND I AM OFFERING A SPECIAL THIS MONTH BY GIVING A FREE GIFT OF THE 'PENNY BANNER BIO" ON DVD, JUST RELEASED IN THE UK.
Any last comments you'd like to make?
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR THIS INTERVIEW AND I WANT TO LET ALL MY FANS KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS FOR MY FULL RECOVERY FROM THIS PERITONEUM CANCER. PENNY BANNER