Vanessa Harding
Encyclopedia
Leslie Culton better known by her ring name
Vanessa Harding, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and manager who has competed in North American independent promotions throughout the early 2000s including Full Impact Pro
, Future of Wrestling
, the Heartland Wrestling Association
, Ohio Valley Wrestling
and NWA Florida. She has also had short stints in Ring of Honor
, World League Wrestling and Women's Extreme Wrestling
. She is also known as Elle Cee, where she has appeared in several adult films, such as on the bangbus.com website.
on Championship Wrestling from Florida. However, it was after she began regularly watching wrestling with an ex-boyfriend that she began to consider a career in professional wrestling. Hardy received much of her initial training from independent wrestlers Black Knight and Robbie Chance, however she also received training from others on the independent circuit
including Mana (of the Samoan Island Tribe), Navy Seal, Pat Powers, Al Hardeman, Virgil
and Dory Funk, Jr.
, among others. Harding later attended the IWA wrestling school.
manager
frequently using typical outside interference such as holding a leg down or more direct attacks including using the ring ropes to choke another wrestler, kicking him while outside the ring or using a eye gouge or neckbreaker
. Among those she managed included Robbie Chance and The Heartbreak Express
in Full Impact Pro
. Later, as a wrestler, she also faced Luna Vachon on September 25, 2003. In October, Harding appeared in IPW Hardcore where she managed Mideon in his feud with Antonio Banks
, and later Danny Doring
, for almost a year before leaving to continue training. The following year, Harding managed Lexie Fyfe
in her feud against Malia Hosaka
and appeared on several PPV events for Woman's Extreme Wrestling. She also worked for Major League Wrestling
as "Ring Girl".
In mid-2004, Harding took part in the first-ever professional wrestling national tour of the People's Republic of China
. Organized by NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, the tour began with its inaugural show, The Brawl at the Wall, held in Beijing near the Great Wall of China
. Between August 15 to September 10, The Great Brawl of China tour visited Beijing, Shanghai
, Nanjing
, Shenzhen
, Hong Kong
and Guangzhou
. Wrestlers who appeared on the 4-week tour included former NWA World Heavyweight Champion
Barry Windham
, Dustin Rhodes, The Barbarian, Glacier as well as NWA MACW Junior Heavyweight Champion Rikki Nelson, Chris Hamrick
, Andrue Bane and Bruiser Bradley. Female wrestlers, the first to compete in China, included Malia Hosaka, Brandy Wine, Jenny Taylor and Amber Holly. Harding and So-Cal Val also made their NWA MACW debuts on the tour. In September 2004, Harding was introduced as Ms. Blue (or Ms. Blu) in Ohio Valley Wrestling
(OVW) as the newest member of manager Kenny Bolin
's stable Bolin Services in September 2004. Later that year, in Georgia Championship Wrestling
, she would also make a failed attempt to defeat GCW Women's International Champion Christie Ricci
on November 27, 2004.
On February 25, 2005, Harding made a one time appearance for Ring of Honor
in Dayton, Ohio
as a valet and manager for Jimmy Rave
and The Embassy
. Later, she interfered in a match between Rave and A.J. Styles
causing Styles to be pinned after Harding sprayed bug spray into his eyes. Feuding with Lady Victoria
in the World Wrestling Alliance
in late February, Harding defeated Syren by disqualification at an event for Hoosier Pro Wrestling on March 5, and in a tag team match with Fantasia
, lost to Team Blondage (Krissy Vaine and Amber O'Neal
) at a show for Carolina Championship Wrestling in Lenoir, North Carolina
a week later. After a near 15 minute match, Fantasia was pinned by O'Neal while Vaine helped hold her down. Returning to Hoosier Pro Wrestling, she would defeat Lady Victoria in a singles match and later in a mixed tag team match teaming with Beech
to defeat Lady Victoria & Robbie Chance on April 2. In one of her last appearances on OVW television on June 4, Harding fought to a no contest with Alexis Laree after Laree and Mike Mondo became involved in an altercation in which she slapped Mondo after he had kissed her. At the Independent Association of Wrestling supercard Clash at the Cove, Harding lost to Jacqueline
in a three-way match with Krystal Carmichael for the IAW Championship at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, Indiana
on June 25. Harding left OVW in August planning to take a year off from competition. On September 2, Harding appeared at the 2005 Dragon*Con against Lexie Faye at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel. The following night, Harding was eliminated by Lady Victoria in a three-way dance with Lexie Fyfe.
appearing with Nu-Wrestling Evolution
losing to Nikita on January 29, 2006. On March 25, 2007, Harding faced Hellena Heavenly at the Heartbreakers supercard. In August 2008, Harding made an appearance for Lady Victoria's Ringin' Wet & Wild show at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
. Held at the Buffalo Chip Campground, Harding faced Christie Ricci, Sybil Starr and Lady Victoria in matches held at several locations at the campground and amphitheater.
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Vanessa Harding, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and manager who has competed in North American independent promotions throughout the early 2000s including Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Florida. Their shows are taped and then sold as DVDs. Full Impact Pro was the sister promotion of Ring of Honor until 2009...
, Future of Wrestling
Future of Wrestling
Future of Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in southern Florida starting during the late 1990s. Founded by Bobby Rogers, the promotion was a predecessor of Full Impact Pro, Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida and featured several top independent wrestlers...
, the Heartland Wrestling Association
Heartland Wrestling Association
The Heartland Wrestling Association is a Midwestern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A former developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, it was listed as one of the top independent...
, Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
and NWA Florida. She has also had short stints in Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, World League Wrestling and Women's Extreme Wrestling
Women's Extreme Wrestling
Women's Extreme Wrestling , also known as Women's Erotic Wrestling, is an all woman professional wrestling promotion based in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with offices in New York City, New York. They are notable because their storylines usually are filled with erotic and sexual themes...
. She is also known as Elle Cee, where she has appeared in several adult films, such as on the bangbus.com website.
Training
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Harding frequently moved around up until adulthood. While living in Zephyr Hills, Florida, she became interested in professional wrestling after seeing Dusty RhodesDusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
on Championship Wrestling from Florida. However, it was after she began regularly watching wrestling with an ex-boyfriend that she began to consider a career in professional wrestling. Hardy received much of her initial training from independent wrestlers Black Knight and Robbie Chance, however she also received training from others on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
including Mana (of the Samoan Island Tribe), Navy Seal, Pat Powers, Al Hardeman, Virgil
Mike Jones (wrestler)
Mike Jones is an American professional wrestler, who most recently performed for World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Virgil, where he appeared on its Raw brand as Ted DiBiase, Jr.'s personal assistant...
and Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional...
, among others. Harding later attended the IWA wrestling school.
2003–2005
She moved to St Petersburg, Florida and began managing wrestlers in Southeastern promotions. Harding began to build a solid reputation as a heelHeel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
frequently using typical outside interference such as holding a leg down or more direct attacks including using the ring ropes to choke another wrestler, kicking him while outside the ring or using a eye gouge or neckbreaker
Neckbreaker
In professional wrestling a neckbreaker is any throw or slam that focuses its attack on the opponent’s neck. One type of neckbreaker involves the wrestler slamming an opponent's neck against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee, head or shoulder...
. Among those she managed included Robbie Chance and The Heartbreak Express
The Heartbreak Express
The Heartbreak Express is a Florida-based tag team that have been together since 2000 and competes regularly all over the Southeastern independent circuit and abroad. The team consists of "Superstar" Sean Davis and "Fabulous" Phil Davis...
in Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Florida. Their shows are taped and then sold as DVDs. Full Impact Pro was the sister promotion of Ring of Honor until 2009...
. Later, as a wrestler, she also faced Luna Vachon on September 25, 2003. In October, Harding appeared in IPW Hardcore where she managed Mideon in his feud with Antonio Banks
Antonio Banks
Hassan Hamin Assad , better known by his ring name Montel Vontavious Porter , is an American professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he was the inaugural IWGP Intercontinental Champion...
, and later Danny Doring
Danny Doring
Dan Morrison is an American wrestler better known as Danny Doring, most known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling, as the tag team partner of Roadkill...
, for almost a year before leaving to continue training. The following year, Harding managed Lexie Fyfe
Lexie Fyfe
Mary Beth Bentley , is an American professional wrestler. She has wrestled in various independent wrestling promotions, most notably for Shimmer Women Athletes and has had tryouts for both WWE and WCW.-Early life:...
in her feud against Malia Hosaka
Malia Hosaka
Malia Hosaka is an American professional wrestler. She is a former NWA World Women's Champion.-Career:Malia Hosaka was trained by Killer Kowalski at the wrestling training camp run by Misty Blue Simmes...
and appeared on several PPV events for Woman's Extreme Wrestling. She also worked for Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion that markets its presentation around hybrid wrestling, which encompasses and showcases many different forms of wrestling. MLW's mission is to present itself as an alternative to sports entertainment...
as "Ring Girl".
In mid-2004, Harding took part in the first-ever professional wrestling national tour of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Organized by NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, the tour began with its inaugural show, The Brawl at the Wall, held in Beijing near the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
. Between August 15 to September 10, The Great Brawl of China tour visited Beijing, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. Wrestlers who appeared on the 4-week tour included former NWA World Heavyweight Champion
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
Barry Windham
Barry Windham
Barry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
, Dustin Rhodes, The Barbarian, Glacier as well as NWA MACW Junior Heavyweight Champion Rikki Nelson, Chris Hamrick
Chris Hamrick
Chris Hamrick is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling throughout the early 2000s...
, Andrue Bane and Bruiser Bradley. Female wrestlers, the first to compete in China, included Malia Hosaka, Brandy Wine, Jenny Taylor and Amber Holly. Harding and So-Cal Val also made their NWA MACW debuts on the tour. In September 2004, Harding was introduced as Ms. Blue (or Ms. Blu) in Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
(OVW) as the newest member of manager Kenny Bolin
Kenny Bolin
Kenny Bolin is a professional wrestling manager, best known as the lead villainous manager in Ohio Valley Wrestling as the manager of Bolin Services. Hit podcast Radio show called "The Bolin Alley" he does with his son Chris...
's stable Bolin Services in September 2004. Later that year, in Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
, she would also make a failed attempt to defeat GCW Women's International Champion Christie Ricci
Christie Ricci
Christie Mathis is an American professional wrestler better known by her ring names, Christie Ricci and Glory. She is the current and inaugural Wrestlicious Champion....
on November 27, 2004.
On February 25, 2005, Harding made a one time appearance for Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
as a valet and manager for Jimmy Rave
Jimmy Rave
James Guffey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Jimmy Rave. He is best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and The Embassy
The Embassy
The Embassy may refer to:* The Embassy , a professional wrestling faction in Ring of Honor.* World Professional Darts Championship, a championship previously referred to as The Embassy.* The Embassy, a Swedish music group....
. Later, she interfered in a match between Rave and A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
causing Styles to be pinned after Harding sprayed bug spray into his eyes. Feuding with Lady Victoria
Lady Victoria
Victoria Ann Moreno , better known by her ring name Lady Victoria, is a Mexican American female professional wrestler/luchadora, manager/valet, and actress. She began training to wrestle in 1991 and made her American professional wrestling debut on January 16, 1993...
in the World Wrestling Alliance
World Wrestling Alliance
The World Wrestling Alliance is used by several regional and independent professional wrestling promotions, which include:*World Wrestling Alliance , an American independent promotion based in Springdale, Arkansas and owned by retired wrestler Dr. X.*World Wrestling Alliance , an American regional...
in late February, Harding defeated Syren by disqualification at an event for Hoosier Pro Wrestling on March 5, and in a tag team match with Fantasia
Fantasia (wrestler)
Karen Simpson , better known by her ring name Fantasia, is an American professional wrestler, trainer, promoter, and manager competing throughout North America in independent promotions, custom DVD companies, and the UK....
, lost to Team Blondage (Krissy Vaine and Amber O'Neal
Amber O'Neal
Kimberly Dawn Davis is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, Amber O'Neal.-Early career :...
) at a show for Carolina Championship Wrestling in Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
a week later. After a near 15 minute match, Fantasia was pinned by O'Neal while Vaine helped hold her down. Returning to Hoosier Pro Wrestling, she would defeat Lady Victoria in a singles match and later in a mixed tag team match teaming with Beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
to defeat Lady Victoria & Robbie Chance on April 2. In one of her last appearances on OVW television on June 4, Harding fought to a no contest with Alexis Laree after Laree and Mike Mondo became involved in an altercation in which she slapped Mondo after he had kissed her. At the Independent Association of Wrestling supercard Clash at the Cove, Harding lost to Jacqueline
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
in a three-way match with Krystal Carmichael for the IAW Championship at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
on June 25. Harding left OVW in August planning to take a year off from competition. On September 2, Harding appeared at the 2005 Dragon*Con against Lexie Faye at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel. The following night, Harding was eliminated by Lady Victoria in a three-way dance with Lexie Fyfe.
2006–2008
In January 2006, Harding began touring ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
appearing with Nu-Wrestling Evolution
Nu-Wrestling Evolution
Nu-Wrestling Evolution is an Italian professional wrestling promotion, owned by MAGNUMGROUP srl. The promotion's slogan is "Nu-Wrestling Evolution/NWE the place to be!"-History:...
losing to Nikita on January 29, 2006. On March 25, 2007, Harding faced Hellena Heavenly at the Heartbreakers supercard. In August 2008, Harding made an appearance for Lady Victoria's Ringin' Wet & Wild show at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, usually the first full week of August.-History:...
. Held at the Buffalo Chip Campground, Harding faced Christie Ricci, Sybil Starr and Lady Victoria in matches held at several locations at the campground and amphitheater.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Double D–DT (Snap DDT)
- Signature moves
- Cloverleaf
- Rope hung Boston crab
- Sitout facebuster
- Surfboard
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- David Babylon
- Lexie FyfeLexie FyfeMary Beth Bentley , is an American professional wrestler. She has wrestled in various independent wrestling promotions, most notably for Shimmer Women Athletes and has had tryouts for both WWE and WCW.-Early life:...
- Dennis KnightDennis KnightDennis Knight is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment as Phineas I. Godwinn and Mideon.-Career:...
- The Nighthawk
- Pat McGroin
- Pat Powers
- Robbie Chance
- Kevin Rhodes
- Magnum Steele
- Heartbreak Express
Championships and accomplishments
- Funking Conservatory
- FC Women's Championship (1 time)
- Total Wrestling Magazine
- TWM ranked her #41 in the Top 50 Independent Women Wrestlers in 2005
External links
- Profile at Online World of Wrestling
- Vanessa Harding at G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling