Taryn Terrell Talks About WWE Release, Joining TNA, Stunt Work, More

TNA Knockout Taryn Terrell was recently interviewed by Glen Harrington of Fantatix.com. Below are the highlights:

On starting with TNA as a referee to wrestling Gail Kim in such a short amount of time:

“I came in as a referee, and I didn’t want to be a referee or a general manager, I wanted to be a wrestler. So every time I’ve been put in a position where I’m not wrestling I’m doing everything I can to say: ‘please let me wrestle, that’s what I want to do, that’s where my passion is at.

My focus was so much on doing everything I could to prove to them that I was a wrestler. Then all of a sudden, without even being aware of what was happening, I was feuding with Gail Kim who, let’s face it, is the Knockouts Division, she’s the reason that we exist.”

On Gail Kim:

“Gail is an incredible wrestler, no matter who she is working with she has incredible matches, and I was blessed with the opportunity to be able to have that with her.

I think there are things about Gail and I that are very similar – we do whatever, we’re not scared, we’re going to take risks, and we were able to do that together. I’m forever grateful to her for giving me the best matches of my career. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

On taking time off and having her first child, Emerson:

“It’s scary coming back – thinking is my body going to be able to handle this, am I mentally going to able to handle being back out on the road – because my mind is on my baby all the time, she’s my world.”

“Don’t get me wrong there is ring rust there of course, I’m not 100% yet. It takes a bit of time to get accustomed to it all again. But I feel like I’ve got such amazing support from TNA, and to be able to come back and do what I’m passionate about is an amazing opportunity.

“I feel very excited about what the future holds, I’ve never been Knockouts champions, and that’s something that is a humongous goal for me. And I feel that every day I get to work in the ring I’m working towards that goal.”

On her Stunt-work and acting career:

“I really wanted to work with TNA and it wasn’t happening yet, so I decided to start a film career. Somehow my agent started getting me auditions, I started landing acting roles, and I’ve met the right people.

“Wrestling was my focus, and it was my focus until I was released by WWE. Then I wanted to go with TNA and they didn’t have a place for me at the time, so I went to do stunts.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this but I like to beat myself up a little bit. I like to be rough, and do crazy stuff and set myself on fire, get hit by cars – that for me is fun. So that was my goal and acting just kind of happened alongside it.”