Thanks for coming, Melody. How are you doing? 

“Thanks for having me! And I’m doing well! Can’t complain. Been a good minute since I’ve done one of these."

I'm glad you agreed to do it, and might I add that you are looking very snazzy tonight with that suit. Speaking of which, I have to ask. What's with the knee brace?

“Ah, you know how it goes. It’s the price you eventually pay when you give your body to the ring long enough. But… it’s all worth it when you live and breathe the greatest sport in the world.”

Hmmm... Tell me about your time in the ring. How was it? 

“I think… Well… Not to get a big head about it, but I like to think that my accolades can speak of my time as a wrestler. Being able to not only become a double champion, but to close the circle of your career with those belts on your shoulder is… it’s something very special. I made lifelong friends and rivals and… Had some of the most legendary matches or my career with the lady who I now get to call my wife…? My time as a wrestler can’t be properly represented with words. 

Did your knee injury cause you to retire? 

“Oh! Er, no… That developed later in life.” 

Oh really? Care to elaborate? Why just throw in the towel when you were at your peak? 

“Sometimes… you look back at what you have done for yourself and start to think… ‘that’s enough’. I’ve made whatever points I can make. I’ve made my living. I’ve cemented my legacy here. Time to move on and start doing for others. I made… a good amount as a prize fighter and I have been lucky enough to be able to give back to this city and to everyone who rooted for me. And even those who booed me! You too! Jerks. Haha!”

And how exactly did that knee injury happen? 

“Just!! Y'know!! Wear and tear over time! Did a lot of elbow drops off the top rope and that… that doesn’t always feel good when you land! Not every injury hurts in the moment! Some take awhile to rear their head!"

So you ended your career on a high note, and then got injured afterwards from overusing and abusing that knee. What about today? Tell me about what your life has been since then? 

“Cushy? Haha… It’s weird going from having big fights on a weekly basis to… deciding what color the walls on your home should be with your significant other. Jaqueline opened a school a few years back and we have just been… living. Happily living.” 

You mentioned having a legendary match with your now wife: your former rival and then tag team partner Jaqueline Hades. How did that love story happen? 

“Oh we did NOT get along. I’m me and Jaqueline was… well… IS a badass heel of a woman. It kinda seemed that she would challenge me for my belt any chance she could. She would fight whoever, wherever, whenever just to climb the ladder for another shot. After enough attempts… she decided enough was enough and if you can’t beat ‘em… join ‘em. I think you know the rest. We captured tag gold and after I retired… She wanted to see me… Weird, right?” 

Sounds to me like she couldn’t get enough of you. You ever thought she was secretly pining over you back then? 

“Maybe?! Haha! Like I said, it felt REALLY weird that she suddenly called me up out of the blue after my retirement. But… y’know, deep down… I think what Jaqueline really respects is strength. She pushed me to my limits EVERY time we met. I became a sort of mountain for her. And when she sees a challenge, she sees ONLY the challenge. I don't know! Either way… I’m happy she called. Life wouldn’t be the same without her.”

Tell me Melody. Do you regret anything about your choice to retire? 

“Not a bit. Not a single bit. Life has hit me with some… tough moments here and there, but what I got out of it? What I have now? No belt, no championship, no amount of glory could ever amount to or replace.”