Terri Runnels

Professional wrestling career

World Championship Wrestling (1988–1991)

Main article: The York Foundation

Runnels was originally a make-up artist for CNN from 1985 to 1991, where she worked on Larry King's make-up. When the company was purchased by Ted Turner in 1988 and renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW), she moved to Atlanta and continued doing make-up for some of the wrestlers. Booker Ole Anderson asked her to become part of the roster as a manager and Runnels debuted in 1990 as Alexandra York, a laptop-carrying accountant who led an alliance known as the York Foundation, a group of wrestlers with finance-themed gimmicks. The York character was created over a lunch with Tony Schiavone, one of WCW's announcers. She worked at WCW for two years.

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (1996–2004)

Marlena gimmick and managing Goldust (1996–1998)

Runnels debuted in the World Wrestling Federation at the Royal Rumble in 1996 as Marlena, a wrestler modeled after Marlene Dietrich. Later, Brian Pillman feuded with Goldust over Marlena. As part of the angle, Pillman won Marlena in a match and sent Goldust a picture of her handcuffed in a bed. Pillman, however, died in the middle of the storyline. Originally, the plan was to have the rivalry culminate in an on-air wedding where Marlena would leave Goldust for Pillman. After the Marlena-Goldust alliance dissolved, Goldust revealed Luna Vachon as his new manager.

Pretty Mean Sisters (1998–1999)

Main article: Pretty Mean Sisters

Runnels later re-emerged in 1998, under her real name, as the on-screen girlfriend of Val Venis. She later joined forces with Jacqueline Moore, who had just ended her alliance with Marc Mero, to form the Pretty Mean Sisters (P.M.S.). In January, Runnels claimed to have suffered a miscarriage after she was knocked off the ring apron by Brown. P.M.S. gained a "love slave" named Meat in May, whom Runnels controlled using sex. As a part of the storyline, P.M.S. used Meat for his body, forcing him to have sex with them. The alliance, however, broke up by July, when Jacqueline Moore became frustrated with Runnels' infatuation with Meat.

Various storylines (1999–2001)

In late 1999, Runnels arranged the Terri Invitational Tournament, a best-of-five series, between Edge and Christian and The Hardy Boyz, with the winner receiving her managerial services and the sum of $100,000. The Hardy Boyz won the tournament, which culminated in a ladder match at No Mercy (with the prize money suspended above the ring in a bag). Runnels spent the next few months as their manager, notably getting involved in a Steel Cage match between Jeff Hardy and Al Snow on an episode of RAW. She continued interfering in matches until she was injured when Bubba Ray Dudley powerbombed her through a table. She then became the manager of Edge and Christian, and the storyline originally called for her to come between the duo, resulting in them becoming singles wrestlers with Runnels managing Christian. The storyline, however, was rewritten, and on an episode of SmackDown!, Edge and Christian—who would now continue wrestling as a tag team—revealed they no longer wanted Runnels' services. She, therefore, slapped Edge, who responded by spearing her.

Runnels began a rivalry with The Kat, and at WrestleMania 2000, Runnels (accompanied by The Fabulous Moolah) defeated The Kat (with Mae Young) in a catfight. Val Venis was the Special Guest Referee, but was distracted when Young kissed him in response to Venis making out with both Runnels and The Kat. They later participated in a "Stink Face match" at SummerSlam, which The Kat won by first performing the move on Runnels.

On June 8, 2000, she competed in the first ever women's battle royal to determine the #1 contender to the WWF Women's Championship, but was eliminated by Lita. Runnels subsequently became the onscreen girlfriend and manager of Perry Saturn, who was a member of The Radicalz alliance. She accompanied Saturn to the ring at Fully Loaded in July 2000, where Saturn defeated Eddie Guerrero for the European Championship. Saturn, Runnels, and Radicalz member Dean Malenko also had a series of matches with Team Xtreme (The Hardy Boyz and Lita). The on-screen partnership lasted until Saturn, who had hit his head during a match, opted to continue seeing "Moppy" (a mop he believed was alive) instead of Runnels. As a result, she then became the manager of Raven, a member of The Alliance, who stole Saturn's mop and fed it into a woodchipper.

WWE host and departure (2001–2004)

In late 2001, Terri replaced Trish Stratus as the host of the WWF recap program Excess. During this time, she also became the backstage interviewer on Raw and began to wrestle occasionally against the likes of Molly Holly, Victoria and Stratus. She also became the subject of Kane's affections and they regularly flirted during backstage segments. On May 27, 2002, she briefly held the perpetually contested Hardcore Championship when she pinned Steven Richards, though he immediately pinned her to regain the title. On the August 19 episode of RAW, Eric Bischoff placed her a battle royal featuring former Hardcore champions such as Tommy Dreamer, Bradshaw and Jeff Hardy. She eliminated herself immediately when the match began. On the September 2 edition of RAW she defeated Stacy Keibler in a "Lingerie pillow fight", but was hit with a clock by Keibler and humiliated after the match, thus igniting a brief feud between the two. Her final match was a losing effort alongside the returning Lita against divas Molly Holly and Gail Kim on the November 10 edition of Raw.

After eight years with the company, in March 2004, Runnels was released from WWE prior to a massive firing spree. After leaving the company, Runnels spent time traveling the world.

Return to WWE (2018)

On January 22, 2018, in the Raw 25 Years special episode, Runnels was honored as part of a segment involving women considered legends that contributed to the company's success, including Maryse, Kelly Kelly, Lilian Garcia, Michelle McCool, Maria Kanellis and the Hall of Famers Torrie Wilson, the Bella Twins, Jacqueline and Trish Stratus.

In 2021, Runnels was listed by WWE.com as one of the women who made an impact outside the ring.

Other Media

During her tenure in the WWF, Runnels appeared on the show The Weakest Link in 2002 as part of a charity show where all the contestants were WWF personalities. On the show, she played for the Ronald McDonald House charity, which houses parents of hospitalized children for reduced or no cost. Runnels was the fourth contestant voted out of the game.

Video Games

Video Releases

Television

Personal life

Boatright grew up in Florida. She grew up as a Southern Baptist, but later became non-denominational. Runnels has worked with various charities, including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children's Miracle Network, and Hermie & Elliott Sadler Foundation and Fit Kids Marathon.

She dated Brian Pillman in 1990 while they were both in WCW. In 2003, she began a relationship with Tyree Clowe, a US soldier 15 years her junior. The couple remained together for over five years.

Terri began dating former professional wrestler New Jack in 2009. Jack professed his love for her in an interview with host Fat Man After Dark on the Future Endeavors wrestling radio show and described some of the pitfalls, even today, of a mixed-race relationship. As of July 2011, the couple was no longer together.

In August 2011, a Florida judge ordered Jack to stop selling nude and bloody photographs of Runnels. Runnels filed suit, accusing Jack of making libelous comments about her and requested that a court ban him from distributing sexually-explicit photographs of her. Jack said that he took the photos, that they belonged to him and that he should be free to pass them on to whoever he pleases. A judge in Sanford, Florida, temporarily banned Jack from distributing photographs of Runnels ahead of a hearing.

On May 29, 2019, Runnels was arrested in Hillsborough County, Florida, and charged with felony possession of a firearm after bringing a loaded gun into the Tampa International Airport. She was later released on $2,000 bond and posted a video to her Twitter page, explaining her side of the incident. In June 2019, the charges against Runnels were dropped.

Championships and accomplishments

• World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Hardcore Championship (1 time)
  • Slammy Award (1 time)
    • Best Couple (1997) – with Goldust

References

References

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2. Varsallone, Jim. (September 24, 2008). "Terri overcame assault, robbery to star in WCW, WWE". [[The Miami Herald]]}} A transcript of the article can be found at [http://www.lethalwow.com/wrestlingnews/2008/09/new-terri-runnels-miami-herald-articlefeatureassault-robbery/] {{Webarchive.
3. Mooneyham, Mike. (November 30, 2008). "Wrestling diva a woman for all seasons". [[The Post and Courier]].
4. Dean Johnson, Steven. (November 16, 2008). "Terri Runnels reveals brain, not body, in shoot DVD". SLAM! Wrestling.
5. Milner, John M. and Richard Kamchen. (June 4, 2006). "Goldust bio". SLAM! Wrestling.
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31. (May 23, 2011). "Over The Limit - Review / Results & NewJack". Blogtalkradio.com.
32. (July 13, 2011). "Former WWE Diva Terri Runnels Steamed Over Vicious Allegations". hackd.org.
33. (August 17, 2011). "Ex-wrestling couple fighting over photos". hackd.org.
34. (May 29, 2019). "Ex-WWE Superstar Terri Runnels Charged with Carrying Concealed Weapon at Airport". BleacherReport.com.
35. (May 29, 2019). "Terri Runnels Comments On Concealed Weapon Arrest (Video)". WrestlingInc.com.
36. (June 24, 2019). "Terri Runnels Escapes Jail Time After Being Arrested for Bringing a Loaded Gun to Tampa Airport". comicbook.com.
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