Editor's note - (All photos included are copyright Paige Watchey Photography and are used with explicit permission of the photographer. Any attempt to copy, disseminate, or share any photos without the express consent of Paige Watchey Photography is prohibited.)
When I relaunched NEPAwrestling one of the areas I wanted to focus on was the hardworking talent putting in the time to build the scene to something the fans and residents of the area can take pride in calling our own.
While I had no shortage of great talent to choose from, including close friends that have been in the scene for nearly twenty years, I felt it important to kick off this monthly feature by shining a light on a talent still in the Spring of their career.
When I started my research my first priority was to catch up on as many shows as I could from the area via IWTV.LIVE and on YouTube. One name kept popping up over and over in prominent roles.
I noticed whenever they appeared, the loudest cheers of the crowd usually followed. A natural connection with the fans isn't something that can be learned or taught. So I knew this was the indicator I needed; this was my first introduction to Adena Steele.
I reached out to my circle of trusted friends in wrestling and asked them what they could tell me about Adena.
One after the other they all independently echoed the same sentiments and qualities: kindness, loyalty, a deep passion and respect for wrestling, boundless enthusiasm for the fans, and a tireless learner who was constantly improving.
I was able to arrange an interview with Adena before Smash Master Wrasslin' 3 in Throop PA thanks to the help of promoter Uncle Masty and super-referee and all-around MVP Matt Deuerlein .
I asked Adena a wide variety of questions about her career, influences, and goals in wrestling. Her earnestness and candor were refreshing; in an industry where everyone is focused on out "working" each other 24/7 I greatly appreciated the honesty.
I knew I had chosen the right focus when I started off by asking Adena who her favorite wrestler and main influences were growing up.
"I definitely always idolized Sting, he was my number one . . As far as influences I wouldn't say it was one person or even multiple people in particular . . .more so watching different time frames . . . I study styles as opposed to specific people".
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a WCW guy in my heart and soul; the 1995-1998 era of wrestling is very special to me. So listening to Adena talk so fondly of Sting was the perfect launching pad for the interview.
Her understanding of studying styles versus performers was not something I expected to hear from a four year veteran.
I love the value of open-ended questions and one for the best ones I like to ask in interviews is "what does pro wrestling mean to you".
Sometimes I get a canned answer or some tired promo line, but other times it reveals something special about the performer.
"It means so much more than just the actual wrestling, the fans are the BEST part about it for me . . . being in the ring and connecting with them."
I can see the joy on Adena's face as she continues to express her connection with the fans.
"Just the reactions (I) get you, know because for me it's an escape, I'm Adena Steele it's what I do on my weekends, and (the fans) come out and spend their weekends here . . . their energy just feeds me. It's all about connecting with different people, whether in the locker room, or with fans traveling places . . .it's all about the experience of it."
I asked Adena about her future in wrestling specifically what were her goals in wrestling for 2023.
Again I must confess I expected an answer predicated upon kicking butt and winning titles up and down the East Coast; I was not prepared for another thoughtful, introspective answer.
"I want to focus on quality over quantity, for the first years it's been go-go-go every weekend, multiple shows and you know you only get one body."
Just hearing Adena make the realization that she only gets one body was refreshing to hear; I've been around far too long in wrestling to know what happens when a young wrestler with a ton of potential and a bright future thinks they are invincible.
"So instead of doing every little thing, I think I want to focus on the less is more idea. . . And getting out to new promotions to wrestle new people and make new connections so that's what I'm focused on now".
I'm always intrigued to learn what inspired a wrestler towards that particular vocation, whether it was a singular defining incident or a lifelong obsession with the art form.
"I watched it when I was a kid of course but I never thought it was something I would do. The sense that (when) you watch a movie I'm not going to become an (actor), that's just what they do, it's their job. As I got older and into fitness in my early twenties my friend saw the ad for backbreakers on Facebook".
I see Adena get excited when she talks about her friend who helped push her towards attending the tryout.
"She was like "you're going" she's a doll, she came with me and did the whole tryout she didn't want to but she did it. I figured why not, I'll try it, if I like it cool, if I don't, I don't have to do it, and I just loved it from the start".
I didn't expect to hear an answer that didn't mention making it on television or becoming a huge star but it did prove everything that I was told about Adena Steele's humbleness and genuine personality.
The perspective informed her answer to my next question about who she would most like to face in the ring that she hadn't had the opportunity to yet.
"I would like to start facing (wrestlers) with more experience, because I like to learn that way . . . A Lot of the time I end up facing the same (wrestlers) over and over. So anyone that is going to be a challenge and a learning experience to help me grow as well".
The natural counterpoint to the previous question I asked Adena was who she most liked to share the ring with of her current partners and opponents.
"People that I have genuine connections with outside of the ring . . . Vicious Vicki we've had a lot of good matches . . .because I'm closer to her than I am to a lot of other people . . . Or whenever I'm with Kit (Raff) and we could ever tag or do anything together."
The warmest and most excited Adena got was when she was talking about other people in wrestling that she cares about.
"Once you know each other and your movesets and just (that) comfortability things flow better. So with her or my boyfriend . . . It's just a different level of comfort and trust in each other".
That particular answer in context now seems like some kind of fate as Smash Master Wrasslin' has announced this huge match for Smash Master 5 - 57Ho-Ho-Ho as Adena will team with Kit and be managed by Coach Raff as they take on NEPA mainstays The Diamond City War Machines of Eric Pinhat and Brad DeMaio!
For the last of my questions I wanted to know what Adena had to say to the fans about Pennsylvania independent pro wrestling.
"There's such a history here . . .when I meet older veterans and they hear I'm from Scranton they say stuff like "oh I used to wrestle at the CyC (Legendary wrestling venue The Scranton Catholic Youth Center)" a lot of people remember that place, it has a lot of history I think it's great what (Uncle Masty) is trying to do with Smash Master, just planting the seed and trying to grow it again because there is so much potential and I'm excited to see where it's going!".
I'm so glad I chose Adena Steele to be the first spotlight wrestler for NEPAwrestling.com. She demonstrates all the qualities of a professional wrestler that we are proud to call our own.
You can follow Adena Steele on Instagram and Twitter.
You can see Adena Steele performing live upcoming on 11/5 first at SWF Wrestling and then later that same evening for Intergender Bonanza. On 11/12 another double shot again for SWF and for Warriors of Wrestling's Intergender show. On 11/18 you can catch Adena at Three Legacies Wrestling, on 11/19 she will be at ACW. Finally you can catch her in Buffalo on 11/25 Black Friday for ESW.
If you want to check out any of the matches these photos are taken from you can sign up for iwtv.live use promo code NEPA so they know you came from us!
I wanted to once again thank Adena Steele, Uncle Masty, Matt Deuerlein, Paige Watchey Photography and all the great folks at Smash Master Wrasslin'!
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