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I recently had the opportunity
to interview the beautiful April Hunter. April discusses her involvement
in professional wrestling, how she was able to grace the pages of Playboy
magazine, and her views on the wrestling world. Here is the interview in
its entirety:
Steven: First of all, thank
you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with
me. How is life in the wrestling world?
April: Pretty good! For me, weekdays are full of training, and weekends
are spent traveling and doing Indy shows
Steven: Who or what inspires
you to be involved with professional wrestling?
April: I just fell into wrestling. But I do remember the first time I
really paid attention to it: an ECW TV show. I was flipping channels and
saw Super Crazy doing handsprings and flips and thought, “wow, that's
some pretty athletic stuff going on. That looks like fun.” I'd been a
gymnast, but had never really associated "pro-wrestling" with
gymnastics. Now, I could relate to it. Since then I've learned quite a bit
of wrestling history, especially coming from a school that Walter
"Killer" Kowalski owns.
Steven: Do you have a moment
in wrestling that you consider tops above all other moments?
April: Most recently, it was being invited to the WWF/E camp. That
felt pretty cool. Another was my first Indy show that was a
benefit held at Assumption College in MA. I'd just started wrestling and
worked as a manager for Slyk Wagner Brown. He entrusted me with a few key
spots to do, despite me not knowing jack sh*t. My first full match was
somewhere in NH. I thought I was going to toss the cookies I was so
nervous, but I made it through.
Steven: As most people know,
you were featured in Playboy magazine. What was that experience like and
how did you acquire that opportunity?
April: That was very cool. I'd been submitting photos to them for about
3-4years. Maybe more. I think I started when I turned 18.They kept sending
them back with a very nice rejection form letter. About 6 months later, I
would just send more. Finally, I got a call out of the blue and thought it
was a joke. A lady called and asked if I could come to New York for a test
shoot. Naturally, it was right after Thanksgiving, when I'd gone way off
my diet! They called back a few days later and asked me to shoot the
layout. I think they did it so I'd finally leave them alone and stop
sending them stuff.
Steven: How would you
describe the time you spent in WCW?
April: The best way I can describe that was "hurry up and wait".
I was tired a lot, but it was exciting. Always something going on. I
met a lot of cool people and it was fun.
Steven: How do you feel about
your chances of obtaining a deal with WWE?
April: Couldn't tell you.
I've never rated myself as a wrestler and find that most tend to think
they're better than they really are. Nor do I know if the WWE is looking
for someone of my type, size, etc. Even if they like you, it's about
having a slot for you to fit into.
Steven: What is the hardest part about being a professional wrestler?
April: Oh, there are a bunch
of things. The lack of honesty, the pain and soreness, and the political
games. How hard it is to keep up or explain what you do to family and
friends. For me, giving up a social life and a lucrative career modeling.
Steven: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
April: Lay around!! Sleep,
read, and watch movies. Have my back or feet to be rubbed. My other
favorite things are to write and take photos. I do the photography for a
couple different web sites and some of the wrestlers. I'm not the best,
but I'm still learning and have a lot of fun with it.
Steven: If you consider everything you have done in your life, what moment
stands out as the best?
April: It would probably be the fun times I've spent with my friends and
family. Christmas time, Boston Market after class, stuff like that. The
stuff I've done, well, it's just 'stuff' and isn't really going to change
the world anytime soon. Although, I'll admit to never getting tired of
seeing myself in a magazine, I still get a kick out of it. You'd think I'd
be jaded, but nope! The other thing I work hard on and proud of is my web
site. It's fun and hopefully the people who visit enjoy it too. I try to
make it what I'd want to check out. Video and audio clips, postcards,
message boards, wallpaper downloads, lots of stories to read. Plenty to
play with.
Steven: What do you consider the worst moment?
April: When my dad died. He was fairly young and a firefighter-pilot. He
died on duty when his plane crashed. In the centerfold business, and even
more in the wrestling business, you realize how few "real"
friends you have. I'm tight with my family and that knocked me on my ass
for a while. It sucks when you reach for the phone to call someone and
realize that they are no longer there. It kind of takes the wind out of
you. He died a few days before Father's Day and I remember being so
freaked out, I could only think, "What am I going to do with the
present I got for him?" That's when I originally put my site up. It
kept my mind busy that summer.
Steven: What goals have you set
for yourself and your career?
April: Well, I'd like to open
doors and be remembered, but who wouldn't? By that, I mean, I don't look
conventional. I never was the typical looking centerfold, nor am I with
wrestling. I like technical wrestling and it would be cool if I could help
to bring it back. Also, it would be cool if Slyk Wagner Brown and I opened
some other doors as a team. Not only as an intergender tag team who will
work with anyone but also as an interracial one. Oh, and I'd also like to
have an action figure! J
Steven: Where do you see wrestling in the distant future? Will it be
bigger than ever, will it dwindle, or will it cease to exist?
April: That's a good question. I wish I knew. I don't think the fans will
stop liking wrestling. I just think they will grow bored with the same
things, so it's important to add variety, and keep up with what the times
reflect. See how music and movies are going? More emphasis on urban,
cutting edge, reality based, hip-hop, attitude...they need to do
that with wrestling too. That's what people relate to, that's what they
want to see, and that's what sells!
Steven: Is there anything you would like to say to all of your fans that
may be reading this interview?
April: Are you still reading
this?? If you are, and you
want to find out more about me, check out a video clip or find out when
I'll be in your town, check out my site. www.AprilHunter.com.
Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter. The dirty jokes alone are
worth it.
Steven: April, I wish you all
the luck in the world and thank you again for doing this interview.
April:
Thanks for being so damn patient!! It only took me forever to get
it back to you!!
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