In an interview put online today, wrestling veteran Jazz announced she was hanging up her boots after over two decades in the rings. She explained she had my last match this past Sunday and is now done with serious in-ring competition. However, she was open to the idea of making appearances down the road.
Jazz, 48, also revealed that she had been experiencing nagging injuries, specifically with her knees and back. Her fatigue extended beyond her physical state, however, as she was also experiencing mental and emotional difficulty. These problems prompted her to forfeit the NWA World Women’s Championship in April of 2019. Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, Jazz would have had an extended run in 2020 as she was supposed to do a whole tour this year. She will now focus on her husband, her twin daughters and her wrestling school.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jazz began her professional wrestling career in 1999. Inspired by Jacqueline Moore, she dropped college and started to train. She would debut with ECW in July 1999. As Jazzmine, she was part of The Impact Players, a stable that consisted of such stars as Justin Credible and Lance Storm. Jazz’s most notable ECW feud was against Jason Knight. In fact, she bested Knight at Heat Wave 1999 in the first singles match of the night. She appeared on a random basis, facing men and women alike, before leaving the company before ECW was shut down due to bankruptcy.
In late 2001, the World Wrestling Federation expressed interest in her. She was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling for six months to train. Under the new ring name Jazz, she signed a two-year contract with WWF. She made her debut in the company as a villain on the Survivor Series pay-per-view during a Six-Pack Challenge match for the WWF Women’s Championship, which had been vacated by Chyna after her departure from the company.
She immediately set her sights on Women’s Champion Trish Stratus. The two battled in some of the most gruelling matches the women’s division had ever witnessed, including a rarely seen Divas Hardcore Match and Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania XIX. During this time, Jazz twice defeated Trish for the Women’s Title, holding the title for a total of 162 days.
When Jazz’s husband, Rodney Mack, joined WWE in 2004, she became his manager before leaving the company that same year. Jazz would return to WWE two years later with the relaunch of ECW in 2006. As aggressive as ever, Jazz took on some of WWE’s top women, including Mickie James, but failed to reclaim the championship glory she’d experienced years prior. The powerful Diva would part ways with WWE again in 2007.
After WWE, she would work for Queen of Chaos, WSU, Shine Wrestling or CHIKARA but in September 2016, she defeated Amber Gallows for the NWA World Women’s Championship. She held the title for a tremendous 948 days, defending against such opponents as Jordynne Grace, Penelope Ford, and even current titleholder Thunder Rosa. Jazz vacated the title on April 22, 2019, due to medical and personal reasons. In 2019, she would participate in the Casino Battle Royal taking place at All Elite Wrestling’s All Out but was eliminated by ODB.
Jazz and her husband own a wrestling school and gym where the former Women’s Champion passes on her unique knowledge of the mat to the next generation of Superstars. Her longevity, talent, athleticism and toughness make of Jazz an example for every young wrestler and fan. Everything Jazz did look like it hurt and in a good way. Her no-nonsense attitude came across very well in her promos. She would be reminded as a pure wrestling badass of the highest level.
All pics and videos courtesy of WWE and NWA