ByScott Fishman
Photo Credit: NWA
Velvet Sky may have retired from the ring in 2016, but she has proven wrestling isn't her only skill set. The former Knockout's champion can be heard and seen on commentary for the NWA. An unexpected opportunity came in March from the company's head Billy Corgan. The popular Beautiful People member has enjoyed herself so far.
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"It really is a breath of fresh air," Sky said. "Everybody gets along so well. From the girls' locker room to the guys to management everyone works hard together as a family. I look forward to going there. There is no catfighting or fighting among the girls. They are bringing in new girls all the time with some mainstays too. No jealousy or whispering. It's just based on mutual respect with one another with etiquette, core values. I feel like a lost art in this industry nowadays."
The popular performer likes the contemporary aspects of the business but also appreciates how the NWA keeps certain time-honored fundamentals. After her stint with Ring of Honor, Sky wasn't sure she'd be a part of another promotion again. She attributes the NWA to reigniting her love for the business.
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"I don't miss being in the ring and glad I'm on the other side of the ropes and watching all the amazing athletes do their thing," Sky said. "NWA has so many talented wrestlers on that roster of up and coming, as well as old faces. No one at the time in TNA in 2016 was happy. Though we were grateful for the opportunities we were given. At that point, I wanted my contract to run out.
"They had given me a platform and good career there. I've done everything I wanted to do for the company. It was a pleasant exit for me. Since then I fell out of the wrestling loop. In 2019, Ring of Honor presented itself to myself and Angelina [Love] and Mandy [Leon]. We debuted in Madison Square Garden. My first reintroduction to the business and to go in there and perform and be in the microphone and perform. I missed that. It is what it is. I have nothing but good things to say about Ring of Honor. Even though they have changes that need to be worked out and made decisions left you scratching your head. I dig Ring of Honor and TNA, but NWA is where it is at. I'm not saying it to kiss butt. It's just a great place to work."
Despite not having a sendoff or in-ring retirement celebration like others, Sky is happy with her career and all the accomplishments. The veteran's final match was in April 2016 where she lost against Sienna, who was becoming the focal point of the Knockouts division.
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"The way we do business in wrestling is when you leave a company you put someone over on the way out," Sky said. "I remember in TNA in 2016 it was my last match. It was against Sienna. At that point, she was relatively new to the company and they were trying to build her up. They said, 'This is who we wanted you to work with. Would you mind putting her over?' I was all business. No problem. I have no ego. I'm just the happy-go-lucky Velvet. I didn't have many expectations as far as my exit match. I already knew what was going to be asked of me. Being a wrestler and a professional at the same time, you do good business on the way out. You don't want to leave a bad taste in a company's mouth because you never know when an opportunity will present itself to return there. I was never an ass-kisser, but I am a businesswoman."
Sky didn't really have a dream opponent in mind. In retrospect, she was happy it was against a talent like Sienna. Someone who certainly paid her dues.
"I pretty much have wrestled so many girls that came and gone through TNA during my 10-year stay there," Sky said. "I didn't have anyone in mind who I wanted to wrestle with on my way out. I got to wrestle a lot of cool women. I watched Lisa, Tara, Victoria in WWE back in the day. Just to work with her when she got to TNA, it was like, 'Wow, this is surreal. I used to watch this girl and idolize her before I was even in the business yet. Here I am working with her." I had my taste of dream opponents and matches and on the indies too."
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Check out Velvet Sky on the NWA on FITE TV with new episodes of POWERR airing Tuesdays at 6:05 p.m. ET and on-demand. Listen to The Beautiful People podcast here.
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