Kandi Krush: From Olympic Hopeful to WOW Wrestling Star
Kandi Krush, a formidable presence in Women of Wrestling (WOW), is carving out a significant path in the world of professional wrestling. Once a key member of the WOW World Trios Champions alongside Coach Campanelli and Gloria Glitter, forming the group known as Top Tier, Krush’s journey has been anything but straightforward. In a twist common to the unpredictable nature of pro wrestling, Krush and Campanelli eventually turned on Glitter, leading to her ousting from the faction.
A Detour from the Pool to the Ring
Krush’s athletic aspirations initially pointed toward the Olympic stage. She was once a hopeful in synchronized swimming, a discipline demanding immense grace and coordination. However, a combination of injuries and what she described as a “toxic environment” derailed her Olympic dreams. “My dreams were essentially kind of stripped from me,” Krush shared in a recent interview. “But at the same time, I took control over my own future and decided to just pivot.” This philosophy of adapting to setbacks became a cornerstone of her approach to life and career.
Recognizing the need for a change of direction, Krush pivoted towards boxing. She found that her inherent work ethic translated seamlessly, allowing her to achieve an undefeated record as a professional boxer. Yet, just as she was gaining momentum, the global COVID-19 pandemic brought the sporting world to a standstill. “COVID hit and like it hit all of us like a like a punch from Mike Tyson,” she remarked, illustrating the abrupt and powerful impact it had. The closure of boxing gyms provided Krush with an unexpected period for introspection.
The Allure of the Bright Lights
During her forced break from boxing, Krush reflected on what truly energized her. “I love being under the bright lights on the big stage,” she explained, recalling her initial motivation for turning pro in boxing. The roar of the crowd and the spectacle of performance were powerful draws. “The crowd’s energy just invigorates me, excites me, and I just want to go harder.”
A pivotal moment came when she saw a movie featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This sparked an idea: professional wrestling might offer the grand stage she craved. Despite having little prior experience watching wrestling, Krush decided to pursue this new passion with full commitment. She discovered an advertisement for a WOW tryout and resolved to dedicate her time and energy to mastering the squared circle, even if success wasn’t guaranteed.
Unwavering Dedication and a Never-Say-Die Attitude
Krush’s approach to the WOW tryouts was characterized by an unwavering determination. “Even if they call me to tell me that I’m cut, like not to show up the next day, I’m going to show up. Like, you can’t tell me no. Tell me I can’t, I’ll show you I can,” she stated. This mindset led her to be the first one at the tryouts, arriving before even WOW co-founder David McLane. “I was the first one in, last one out. And that’s my mentality. And I think that’s why I’ve made it so far and been able to like rise the ranks in WOW so quickly.”
She immersed herself in the sport, studying wrestling history and absorbing as much knowledge as possible. “I had to kind of download the whole encyclopedia into my brain and body, but I never looked back. I love it,” she affirmed. Her resilience, she attributes to a combination of her inherent refusal to quit and a desire to prove doubters wrong, values instilled in her by her mother.
“Failure is part of the journey, but in general, I don’t like to lose by quitting,” Krush told Fox News Digital. “I will never do that. You fail, you learn. No losses, only lessons. That’s what we say in boxing. And I hold that true in everything I do. So, I learn, I get better, I move on, and I move up.”
Inspiring Others Through Resilience
Now known as “The Heavy Hitter,” Krush is focused on inspiring her audience. She recounted an early career match where, despite suffering a broken arm, she was motivated to continue by a young fan in the crowd. “I remember laying on the canvas looking out into the crowd and there was a little girl that said, ‘Get up, Kandi Krush. You can do it. You can win,’” she recalled, her voice filled with emotion.
That moment solidified her purpose. “It makes me emotional thinking about it right now, honestly. And I was like, you know what? I can do it. And this is why I do it. She believes in me. I gave her a reason to believe. And if she sees me get up and keep moving forward, then she’ll remember that too, that moment, and somewhere down the line when she’s essentially laying on the canvas in life, she’ll hopefully find the strength to get up and keep fighting.”
Krush sees her platform in WOW as an opportunity to inspire others to overcome their own challenges. “I’ve always, you know, hoped for a platform where I can inspire the world to move mountains, one person at a time, even. And so, it means everything to me. This has been what I’ve worked towards. I didn’t do it in the Olympics. I’m doing it now through wrestling, through WOW. So, I’m blessed. I’m thankful.”
WOW’s Evolving Landscape
Women of Wrestling is co-owned by Los Angeles Lakers minority owner Jeanie Buss. The show’s episodes are available for streaming on Tubi and Vice TV. While previous seasons were filmed in Las Vegas, Season 5 is set to take place in Los Angeles at L.A. Live.
Jeanie Buss expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming season, stating, “Season 5 is personal for me in a new way. I’m taking on a bigger, more visible role, and fans are going to see a side of WOW they haven’t seen before. I’ve spent my career fighting for women to be seen and respected in spaces that weren’t built for us, and WOW exists to give women that platform, in the ring and beyond. Women’s sports are having a real moment, and this season delivers on everything we’ve been building toward.”
