Wikipedia

Shazza McKenzie

Chantelle McTeare[5] (née Allison;[1][6][7] born 5 August 1988) is an Australian professional wrestler better known by the ring name Shazza McKenzie. She is known for her work across the independent circuit for promotions such as Shine wrestling and SHIMMER Women Athletes.

Shazza McKenzie
McKenzie as the Heart of SHIMMER Champion in 2018
Birth nameChantelle Allison
Born (1988-08-05) 5 August 1988 (age 35)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Shazza
Shazza McKenzie
Billed fromSydney, Australia
Trained by
Debut20 September 2008

Professional wrestling career edit

McKenzie did not choose her own ring name, it was given to her by a fellow independent Australian wrestler known as TNT. TNT took the name from the 1972 film The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, in which the main character is known as "Bazza McKenzie".[3][8] According to McKenzie, the slang term "Shazza" is also the Australian equivalent of an "female Australian redneck".[3]

Independent circuit (2008–present) edit

On 20 September 2008, McKenzie made her wrestling debut at Insane Championship Wrestling at their 'ICW End Game' event held in Canberra.[1][9] McKenzie faced Alison Wonderland for the ICW women's championship which McKenzie lost.[10] On 26 September McKenzie picked up her first win at Australasian Wrestling Federation where she faced Aurora and beat her.[11] On 8 November McKenzie challenged Wonderland for the championship again at 'ICW Day Of Darkness 2008', this time beating her making her the new ICW women's champion.[12]

On 9 July 2011, McKenzie defeated Tenille Dashwood in Melbourne City Wrestling in Dashwood's final match in Australia before she departed to America to join WWE NXT.[4][13]

On 3 March 2012 McKenzie made her US (and international) independent circuit debut at East Coast Wrestling Association where she faced Kylie Pierce and defeated her.[14] On 14 June 2014 at 'PWA home run', McKenzie faced Evie for the PWWA championship which McKenzie won.[15] After 441 days of defending the PWWA championship, On 29 August 2015 at 'PWA Pin City', McKenzie lost the championship to Charli Evans and Jessica Troy.[16] On 9 April 2017, at a PWA event, McKenzie teamed up with Big Fudge and called themselves 'The Choc Blockers' and they challenged the team of InstaGraham and Unsocial Jordan for the PWA tag team championship, which The Choc Blockers won.[17] On 3 June McKenzie won the PWWA championship again after a three way match between Charli Evans and Harley Wonderland.[18] On 25 February 2018, the team of 'The Choc Blockers' lost the PWA tag team championship to SnapChad and Unsocial Jordan at a PWA event.[19] On 14 June 2019, McKenzie lost the PWWA championship to Jessica Troy at 'PWA Black Label',[20] making her second PWWA championship reign 741 days long.

Following two successful events in Australia by the American promotion House of Hardcore (in which McKenzie participated), McKenzie alongside Robbie Eagles helped Pro Wrestling Australia pivot towards promoting "18+" adult-only shows in the Sydney area.[21]

SHIMMER Women's Athletes (2012–present) edit

 
McKenzie vs Evie (later known as Dakota Kai) in SHIMMER in 2016

On 17 March 2012, McKenzie made her Shimmer debut competing in Volume 45, teaming up with Veda Scott in a tag team match facing Melanie Cruise and Mena Libra which McKenzie and Scott lost.[22] On 13 April 2013, McKenzie teamed up with Veda Scott again in Volume 55, this time facing the Canadian Ninjas (Nicole Matthews and Portia Perez) for the Shimmer Tag Team Championship, which McKenzie and Scott won by disqualification which meant to title didn't change.[23]

On 8 July 2017, in Volume 92, McKenzie had to receive 7 surgical staples to the back of her head following an incident during a match; Shazza was performing a diving Hurricanrana from the ring to the floor to Shayna Baszler when the back of her head was sliced open by a guard rail.[4] McKenzie stated she did not receive a concussion from the injury, but noted she had received one two months previously in a different incident.[4] On Volume 93 (also taped on On 8 July 2017) McKenzie challenged Nicole Savoy for the Heart of SHIMMER Championship, which McKenzie won.[24][25] On 15 April 2018, in Volume 104, McKenzie lost the Heart of SHIMMER championship to Dust.[26] On 31 March 2019, McKenzie challenged Savoy for the SHIMMER Championship, which McKenzie lost.[27]

Shine wrestling (2012–2016) edit

 
McKenzie performing a diving crossbody on Su Yung

On 19 October 2012, McKenzie made her debut at Shine Wrestling on the Shine 4 event. She teamed up with Davina Rose and faced Allysin Kay and Taylor Made in a tag match which they lost.[28] On 19 April 2013, McKenzie returned to Shine on the Shine 9 event teaming with fellow Australians Jessie Mckay and Kellie Skater facing Mia Yim, Nikki Roxx and Santana which McKenzie's team won.[29] On 17 June 2016 at Shine 35 McKenzie teamed up with Evie and faced Jayme Jameson and Marti Belle for the Shine tag team championship which McKenzie's team lost.[30]

WWE (2015, 2018) edit

On 28 October 2015, going by the ring name Shazza, made her WWE debut on NXT facing Emma whom Shazza lost to by submission.[31]

In December 2016 McKenzie took part in a public WWE try-out session held in Melbourne.[32][33]

Shazza made her NXT return on 2 May 2018, where she faced Kairi Sane and lost by pinfall.[34][35]

All Elite Wrestling (2019) edit

On 29 August 2019 it was announced that McKenzie would be taking part in the AEW Casino battle royale at All Out which she was eliminated from.[36] On 8 November McKenzie took part in a tag match on AEW Dark teaming with Shalandra Royal facing Nyla Rose and Leva Bates which McKenzie's team lost.[37][38]

Game Changer Wrestling (2019–present) edit

McKenzie first appeared for Game Changer Wrestling in 2019,[39] but her work for the company greatly increased following her March 2023 relocation to the United States.[39] On 20 May 2023 McKenzie competed in a five-way match for the GCW World Championship which saw her face champion Masha Slamovich, Allysin Kay, LuFisto and Maki Itoh.[39][40]

Ring of Honor (2023) edit

In March 2023, McKenzie made an appearance for Ring of Honor (just days after relocating from Australia[41]) in losing effort to Miyu Yamashita.[42]

Wrestling persona edit

McKenzie initially referred to herself by the moniker "HEARTcore" Shazza McKenzie, used to signify that her character was one who put her "whole heart and passion into everything [her] did in wrestling".[3][5] However, following the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges her personal life, she altered the moniker to "HEARTBREAKcore" Shazza McKenzie and took on a more sombre tone and presentation.[3][5]

As of April 2020, McKenzie considers her match against Madison Eagles on 16 June 2018 in Sydney for House of Hardcore the best match of her career, particularly as the match was witnessed and praised by Tommy Dreamer and Billy Gunn.[3]

When McKenzie was discovering professional wrestling as a teenager, her favourite wrestler was Maven Huffman. In 2022 McKenzie had the opportunity to perform on the same show as Huffman during a Game Changer Wrestling event. Huffman and McKenzie were introduced to each other, and Huffman stated afterwards he was flattered that a "drop-dead gorgeous" woman such as McKenzie ever admired him. He then praised her wrestling ability and offered the view that one of major American promotions (WWE, AEW or TNA) should consider signing her.[43][44]

McKenzie is a proponent of intergender wrestling, stating that she believes women's wrestling in Australia would never have been able to get off the ground without the opportunity for rookie female wrestlers to face established male wrestlers.[45]

Personal life edit

Allison started watching wrestling when she was 16. She was drawn in by Trish Stratus' mix of toughness and sexiness. From the first time she watched it, Allison has said she knew wrestling was what she wanted to do. As soon as she had enough money, she joined a local wrestling school at age 19.[1][5][46] Another professional wrestler whom Allison admired growing up was Brock Lesnar.[4]

On 12 October 2018,[47] Allison married fellow professional wrestler Unsocial Jordan.[48]

In c. March 2020 McTeare spent her entire life savings to finance a two-month working trip from Australia to the United States.[49][50][51][3] McTeare flew from Australia without issue, but upon landing in America she was informed of the on-set of the COVID-19 Pandemic.[50] McTeare was forced to cancel 32 matches she had been booked to wrestle in the United States (which she estimated cost her a minimum of $5,000 in gross profits) and was forced to return home.[3][49]

In August 2021 McTeare revealed that as a teenager she suffered from a binge eating disorder and bulimia, which she learnt later in life were ultimately caused by an undiagnosed case of lipedema in her legs.[52] During the pause in her career caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, McTeare was able to research lipedema and have it treated. McTeare initially feared speaking publically about her treatment, as it included liposuction. McTeare was afraid that the liposuction would be branded as a cosmetic surgery rather than a medical one. However, as her confidence grew from the results of the treatment she became comfortable enough to speak publically about the treatment, feeling that other women should be aware of the benefits.[52]

In March 2023 McTeare relocated to St. Louis in the United States full-time in order to pursue her professional wrestling career.[53][54][51] McTeare has stated that her wrestling career was previously hampered before her relocation as her visas did not allow her to legally wrestle on television.[41]

Championships and accomplishments edit

References edit

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External links edit

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