Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
Encyclopedia
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW or G.L.O.W., was a professional wrestling
promotion for women, begun in 1986 (the pilot was filmed in December 1985) and continued in various forms after it left television
. Colorful characters, beautiful women, and over-the-top comedy sketches were integral to the series' success. Most of the performers were actresses, models, dancers, and/or stunt women hoping to get in to show business through wrestling.
as an aftermath of Jackie Stallone
's physical fitness gym for women only, Barbarella
's. Both David and Jackie created and promoted the girls for the entire running of the program. Mando Guerrero
trained all of the girls, initially.
A syndicated GLOW TV show was produced for approximately four seasons (1986–1990) from the Riviera Hotel
on the Las Vegas Strip
. During the casting for the pilot, not all of the women were taking it seriously, so Mando Guerrero put one woman in a submission hold and made her cry. They cast twelve girls for the show and trained them for six weeks prior to the shoot. They wrestled approximately eight matches per show, which eventually was sold. Some of the women moved to Las Vegas to continue working with the promotion. The show itself differed from Vince McMahon
's World Wrestling Federation
in that they had actual seasons where some wrestlers were dropped, changed, or added before the new season began. Each season consisted of 26 episodes that were each rerun once to complete the year, a total of 104 episodes were produced.
Steve Blance was the senior referee in season two before becoming GLOW's "commissioner" in seasons three and four. He was always the recipient of a GLOW Girl beatdown in season two. Johnny Cafarella (As "Johnny C.") hosted seasons 3 and 4, was the figurehead owner (buying David McLane's "interest" in a storyline) and also served as Company Manager after the departure of McLane in 1987. Jackie Stallone (Sylvester Stallone
's mother) was the figurehead owner and manager of the Good Girls, and Aunt Kitty (Kitty Burke) was the manager for the Bad Girls.
Each of the GLOW performers had her own rap song (personalized lyrics using the same backing track). It was shown on videotape
prior to that wrestler's match. Similar to other wrestling promotions' use of wrestler-specific entrance themes
, this gimmick may have been influenced by the Chicago Bears
' "Super Bowl Shuffle
".
and a brother of actress Mariska Hargitay
. Cimber started on the show playing a character called "Jungle Boy" and was led around the ring on a leash by a female wrestler named, "Jungle Woman".
David McLane also was behind three subsequent women's wrestling leagues, Powerful Women of Wrestling
(1988–1990), Ladies' Sports Club (1990–1991) and Women of Wrestling
(2000–2001). Johnny Cafarella promoted a similar show in 2003 called CRUSH along with Steve Blance. The CRUSH concept was revived in 2008 by Cafarella for the Wrestlicious
promotion. The GLOW name is currently owned by Ursula Hayden, who portrayed Babe the Farmer's Daughter during seasons 3 & 4.
Some famous Professional wrestlers did make a few guest appearances in 1989 at the Madison Square Garden
show while appearing across the street at the Penta Hotel for The Starlog Magazine Convention
WWE/NWA
Superstars
Tony Atlas
, The Hati Kid, The Nighthawk, The Polish Power Ivan Putski
, The Boss had photos taken with Glow
Superstars
Queen Kong
also known as
(Matilda the Hun) Dee Booher along with many others to promote Glow
refer to Starlog Wrestling Magazines in that year,
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
promotion for women, begun in 1986 (the pilot was filmed in December 1985) and continued in various forms after it left television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. Colorful characters, beautiful women, and over-the-top comedy sketches were integral to the series' success. Most of the performers were actresses, models, dancers, and/or stunt women hoping to get in to show business through wrestling.
Original promotion
GLOW was originally created by David B. McLaneDavid McLane
David B. McLane is a senior marketing executive with over 25 years experience in identifying and producing uniquely targeted live events and media entertainment properties through his company, David McLane Enterprises, Inc...
as an aftermath of Jackie Stallone
Jackie Stallone
Jacqueline 'Jackie' Stallone is an American astrologer and celebrity who is the mother of the actor Sylvester and singer Frank. She is also the mother of actress Toni D'Alto whom she had with ex-husband Anthony Filiti.-Early life:Stallone was born Jacqueline M...
's physical fitness gym for women only, Barbarella
Barbarella
Barbarella is a female given name, variant of Barbara. It may also refer to:* Barbarella by Jean-Claude Forest; the origin of the story** Barbarella , based on the comic book; starring Jane Fonda...
's. Both David and Jackie created and promoted the girls for the entire running of the program. Mando Guerrero
Mando Guerrero
Armando Guerrero Llanes , better known as Mando Guerrero, is a retired professional wrestler. He also was the trainer for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, an all female professional wrestling promotion.-Movie stuntman career:...
trained all of the girls, initially.
A syndicated GLOW TV show was produced for approximately four seasons (1986–1990) from the Riviera Hotel
Riviera (hotel and casino)
The Riviera is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. The hotel has over 2,100 rooms, many located in a 23-story tower. The casino has of gaming space.-History:...
on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. During the casting for the pilot, not all of the women were taking it seriously, so Mando Guerrero put one woman in a submission hold and made her cry. They cast twelve girls for the show and trained them for six weeks prior to the shoot. They wrestled approximately eight matches per show, which eventually was sold. Some of the women moved to Las Vegas to continue working with the promotion. The show itself differed from Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
's World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
in that they had actual seasons where some wrestlers were dropped, changed, or added before the new season began. Each season consisted of 26 episodes that were each rerun once to complete the year, a total of 104 episodes were produced.
Steve Blance was the senior referee in season two before becoming GLOW's "commissioner" in seasons three and four. He was always the recipient of a GLOW Girl beatdown in season two. Johnny Cafarella (As "Johnny C.") hosted seasons 3 and 4, was the figurehead owner (buying David McLane's "interest" in a storyline) and also served as Company Manager after the departure of McLane in 1987. Jackie Stallone (Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
's mother) was the figurehead owner and manager of the Good Girls, and Aunt Kitty (Kitty Burke) was the manager for the Bad Girls.
Each of the GLOW performers had her own rap song (personalized lyrics using the same backing track). It was shown on videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
prior to that wrestler's match. Similar to other wrestling promotions' use of wrestler-specific entrance themes
Music in professional wrestling
Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
, this gimmick may have been influenced by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' "Super Bowl Shuffle
Super Bowl Shuffle
"The Super Bowl Shuffle" is a rap song performed by players of the Chicago Bears football team during 1985, slightly prior to their win in Super Bowl XX.-Song and video:...
".
Revival
GLOW is still in existence, though not associated in any way with David B. McLane, the promoter who started the show. It was revived by the Riviera Hotel & Casino, where it was originally filmed, in 2001. Among its directors was Tony Cimber, the youngest child of the 1960s American sex symbol Jayne MansfieldJayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
and a brother of actress Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress...
. Cimber started on the show playing a character called "Jungle Boy" and was led around the ring on a leash by a female wrestler named, "Jungle Woman".
David McLane also was behind three subsequent women's wrestling leagues, Powerful Women of Wrestling
Powerful Women of Wrestling
Powerful Women of Wrestling is a defunct professional wrestling promotion based out of Indianapolis, Indiana founded by David McLane, founder of Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and Women of Wrestling.-History:...
(1988–1990), Ladies' Sports Club (1990–1991) and Women of Wrestling
Women of Wrestling
Women of Wrestling, aka WOW!, is a professional wrestling promotion founded in 2000 by David McLane, previously the founder of Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. It was based in Los Angeles, California...
(2000–2001). Johnny Cafarella promoted a similar show in 2003 called CRUSH along with Steve Blance. The CRUSH concept was revived in 2008 by Cafarella for the Wrestlicious
Wrestlicious
Wrestlicious is an American all-female professional wrestling promotion based in Tampa, Florida. The company was founded by Jonathan Vargas, who won a Powerball jackpot of $35.3 million in 2008...
promotion. The GLOW name is currently owned by Ursula Hayden, who portrayed Babe the Farmer's Daughter during seasons 3 & 4.
Some famous Professional wrestlers did make a few guest appearances in 1989 at the Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
show while appearing across the street at the Penta Hotel for The Starlog Magazine Convention
Convention
Convention may refer to:* Treaty, an agreement in international law* Convention , a large gathering of people who share a common interest** Political convention, a formal gathering of people for political purposes...
WWE/NWA
NWA
-Nwa:*Nwa, Kale, a village in Burma*Nwa, Cameroon, a commune in the Nord-Ouest region of Cameroon-Groups or organizations:* Northwest Airlines, a defunct U.S...
Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
Tony Atlas
Tony Atlas
Anthony White better known by his ring name "Tony Atlas" is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport. He is also known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr...
, The Hati Kid, The Nighthawk, The Polish Power Ivan Putski
Ivan Putski
Józef Bednarski , is a Polish former professional wrestler and bodybuilder. He is known by the ring name Ivan Putski and was given the nicknames "The Polish Hammer" and "Polish Power"....
, The Boss had photos taken with Glow
Glow
-Technology:* Glow , an ICT and telecommunications programme* Glow , an open-source JavaScript library created by the BBC* Gross lift off weight, the takeoff weight of a rocket-Organizations:...
Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
Queen Kong
Queen Kong
Queen Kong 1976 British comedy film spoofing King Kong. The film was never released theatrically in the UK, due to legal action by Dino De Laurentiis, producer of the 1976 King Kong remake. It got limited release in Italy and Germany. The film has since resurfaced on DVD.The film has a cult...
also known as
(Matilda the Hun) Dee Booher along with many others to promote Glow
Glow
-Technology:* Glow , an ICT and telecommunications programme* Glow , an open-source JavaScript library created by the BBC* Gross lift off weight, the takeoff weight of a rocket-Organizations:...
refer to Starlog Wrestling Magazines in that year,