Post by Marisol Cardinale on Jun 6, 2009 18:15:34 GMT -5
As the XWA sets off for Iraq, Fabiola sat down with the unspoken member of The Sensationals, Marisol Cardinale about her future plans.
First off, thanks for taking the time out to talk with me, Mari. Compared to your two colleagues Amber and Jamie, you're clearly not as vocal, though that's not a bad thing...
Yes, I know that I'm pretty low-key compared to them. That's how I've always been. I'm more to just sit back and let them do the talking, they're pretty good at it.
But the boys just love that Latin accent of yours. You should share it more!
Ha Ha...I know, I know. They just might get what they wish for very soon. But really, I'm more to speak only when I have something important to say.
Well, something very important is about to happen. We're heading to Iraq to entertain the troops, and all the while you yourself are heading into the Boot Camp match for the second straight year. Being the only woman to do that, and the winner of the match last year, what's on your mind going in?
Fabi, I'm truthfully more excited about just being there with the soldiers than being there for a match. To give something back to them for all of the things they do for us is really special to me. I get lots of fan mail, not as much as Amber...hee hee...and a lot of it comes from soldiers stationed around the world. There's a few from Camp Independence as well, and I'm very excited to meet them in person.
So...you're not worried about the match itself? There is a spot on the line for the main event at XGAMES3, as I'm sure you're well aware of.
I wouldn't say that I'm worried about it. I'd say that it's more of a focus. It's a different strategy that you have to use when you're in a match against more than one opponent. In those situations it's not entirely about skill. You have to take things like timing and positioning into consideration, fundamental elements that a lot of wrestlers take for granted.
And...I suppose that's one of the things that one certain "Tsunami" has instilled in you?
Absolutely. I owe all of my success to her. She's shown me more about the science of this sport than I could have possibly imagined. That's why I'm always confident going into a match, no matter who my opponent is. When you have the basics in place, everything else falls into place. I don't defeat myself with errors or mental mistakes.
Well, as I recall you do extremely well in these kind of matches. Does "The Queen of the Battle Royal" ring a bell?
Yes, yes I remember that night. Who would have thought that I could have eliminated every other woman in a single match? That's something you'd expect for a bigger, stronger person to do. It just goes to show again that the basics are the most important thing you can have in your arsenal...and that was before I began training in Japan.
Let's talk about your opponents then. Obviously you're more than familiar with Jenna Slade...
Yes, and from only one match I can tell you two things about her...she's very talented and very arrogant. That's a dangerous combination.
And what then about Ashley Diamond & Helena Troy?
Well, Helena is arrogant in her own right, but I'd say a little more controlled than Jenna. She much more intense when it comes to wrestling though. In Jenna's case, she is evolving on the fly, but with Helena and Ashley, you know what to expect. This will only be the second time I'm in the ring with Ashley...
...yes, I remember the Diamond Title match in year one...
So do I. That and XG2 were the closest I've ever been to reaching the top. I'm a whole lot different from then though. You could say that Ashley is well "grounded". She paces herself extremely well and rarely wastes any energy. I'm much more "rounded". I've developed a style that caters to any other person's style...which I guess is why I fare so well against multiple opponents. Nothing catches me off guard.
Well, given your experience from years past, would you say that you're the favorite to win?
I would have to say no. There are a lot of people who would disagree, but the reason why I say what I say is because there's one element you have no control over. Luck. Sometimes in a match like this, that's all that it takes. Remember the Diamond's American Classic match last year? That's a perfect example of having luck in your corner. It's really not going to be a matter of just who's the better wrestler here. That's why that no matter what you have on paper, it's anyone's guess who will win.
Marisol...I do have to say that you sound like a grizzled veteran right now! So, what happens after Boot Camp for you then?
Honestly, I find myself in the same position that Amber was in last year. It's been a very long time since I've been a champion, and we all know the details of how that ended up. I want to add a title to my resume, be it the Diamond Title at XGAMES3 if I win Boot Camp 3, or another belt sometime down the line. I'm more focused now than I've ever been on reaching the next level of my career.
Truthfully, I don't know what the future holds for me. All I know is that I will face whatever challenge comes my way with all of the drive and focus I can. That much I hope is enough for me to reach my goals, and if not...then I know that I'm going to have to drive even harder.
Well, whatever happens, we'll be there every step of the way. Thanks so much again for taking this time out for us Mari! I know we've got a long flight ahead of us here.
It will all be worth it though. I say that not just for Mayday, for for the rest of 2009.
First off, thanks for taking the time out to talk with me, Mari. Compared to your two colleagues Amber and Jamie, you're clearly not as vocal, though that's not a bad thing...
Yes, I know that I'm pretty low-key compared to them. That's how I've always been. I'm more to just sit back and let them do the talking, they're pretty good at it.
But the boys just love that Latin accent of yours. You should share it more!
Ha Ha...I know, I know. They just might get what they wish for very soon. But really, I'm more to speak only when I have something important to say.
Well, something very important is about to happen. We're heading to Iraq to entertain the troops, and all the while you yourself are heading into the Boot Camp match for the second straight year. Being the only woman to do that, and the winner of the match last year, what's on your mind going in?
Fabi, I'm truthfully more excited about just being there with the soldiers than being there for a match. To give something back to them for all of the things they do for us is really special to me. I get lots of fan mail, not as much as Amber...hee hee...and a lot of it comes from soldiers stationed around the world. There's a few from Camp Independence as well, and I'm very excited to meet them in person.
So...you're not worried about the match itself? There is a spot on the line for the main event at XGAMES3, as I'm sure you're well aware of.
I wouldn't say that I'm worried about it. I'd say that it's more of a focus. It's a different strategy that you have to use when you're in a match against more than one opponent. In those situations it's not entirely about skill. You have to take things like timing and positioning into consideration, fundamental elements that a lot of wrestlers take for granted.
And...I suppose that's one of the things that one certain "Tsunami" has instilled in you?
Absolutely. I owe all of my success to her. She's shown me more about the science of this sport than I could have possibly imagined. That's why I'm always confident going into a match, no matter who my opponent is. When you have the basics in place, everything else falls into place. I don't defeat myself with errors or mental mistakes.
Well, as I recall you do extremely well in these kind of matches. Does "The Queen of the Battle Royal" ring a bell?
Yes, yes I remember that night. Who would have thought that I could have eliminated every other woman in a single match? That's something you'd expect for a bigger, stronger person to do. It just goes to show again that the basics are the most important thing you can have in your arsenal...and that was before I began training in Japan.
Let's talk about your opponents then. Obviously you're more than familiar with Jenna Slade...
Yes, and from only one match I can tell you two things about her...she's very talented and very arrogant. That's a dangerous combination.
And what then about Ashley Diamond & Helena Troy?
Well, Helena is arrogant in her own right, but I'd say a little more controlled than Jenna. She much more intense when it comes to wrestling though. In Jenna's case, she is evolving on the fly, but with Helena and Ashley, you know what to expect. This will only be the second time I'm in the ring with Ashley...
...yes, I remember the Diamond Title match in year one...
So do I. That and XG2 were the closest I've ever been to reaching the top. I'm a whole lot different from then though. You could say that Ashley is well "grounded". She paces herself extremely well and rarely wastes any energy. I'm much more "rounded". I've developed a style that caters to any other person's style...which I guess is why I fare so well against multiple opponents. Nothing catches me off guard.
Well, given your experience from years past, would you say that you're the favorite to win?
I would have to say no. There are a lot of people who would disagree, but the reason why I say what I say is because there's one element you have no control over. Luck. Sometimes in a match like this, that's all that it takes. Remember the Diamond's American Classic match last year? That's a perfect example of having luck in your corner. It's really not going to be a matter of just who's the better wrestler here. That's why that no matter what you have on paper, it's anyone's guess who will win.
Marisol...I do have to say that you sound like a grizzled veteran right now! So, what happens after Boot Camp for you then?
Honestly, I find myself in the same position that Amber was in last year. It's been a very long time since I've been a champion, and we all know the details of how that ended up. I want to add a title to my resume, be it the Diamond Title at XGAMES3 if I win Boot Camp 3, or another belt sometime down the line. I'm more focused now than I've ever been on reaching the next level of my career.
Truthfully, I don't know what the future holds for me. All I know is that I will face whatever challenge comes my way with all of the drive and focus I can. That much I hope is enough for me to reach my goals, and if not...then I know that I'm going to have to drive even harder.
Well, whatever happens, we'll be there every step of the way. Thanks so much again for taking this time out for us Mari! I know we've got a long flight ahead of us here.
It will all be worth it though. I say that not just for Mayday, for for the rest of 2009.
