TNA Knockouts champ Velvet Sky to wrestle in Concord

Velvet Sky has become one of the most popular “Knockouts” in Impact Wrestling history.

The 32-year-old also is the reigning Knockouts champion and a former Knockouts tag team champion, a titled she earned with partner Angelina Love.

Sky will wrestle March 22 at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center as part of TNA Impact Wrestling’s “Road to Slammiversary World Tour” event.

She was born in Connecticut as Jamie Lynn Szantyr. In high school, the all-around athlete competed in cheerleading, softball, cross country and track.

Still wanting to pursue athletics after graduation, she decided on wrestling.

Szantyr started training to become a wrestler in 2003 at Jason Knight’s House of Pain Pro Wrestling Dojo in her home state. She made her TNA Impact Wrestling debut in 2007.

Since then, she’s won the Knockouts tag team championship with Lacey Von Erich and Madison Rayne. She earned her first Knockouts individual championship in 2011.

Under the pseudonym Velvet Sky, she and Angelina Love formed TNA’s most popular women’s tag team, known as The Beautiful People.

She doesn’t have children yet, but said if any child of hers followed in her footsteps, she would be supportive but concerned about their well-being.

Cabarrus News asked Velvet Sky five questions via email about her upcoming event.

Q: On your website it says you watched a lot of wrestling with your dad. What’s your favorite wrestling memory you shared with him, and what’s your favorite wrestling memory of all time?

“I watched wrestling for the first time when I was 7 or 8 years old. I was watching TV with my dad, and I remember asking him who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. I didn’t care about anything else. I loved Macho Man Randy Savage. My favorite memory of all time is teaming up with Angelina Love to form The Beautiful People.”

Q: What’s the worst injury you’ve sustained during a live performance?”

“I’ve never sustained any serious injuries, luckily. Only bumps and bruises.”

Q: What does it feel like to get body-slammed, clotheslined or hit with a chair?

“What do you think? I’m always sore, always stiff and in pain. It’s not pretty. You have to be tough. You can’t complain, because it’s going to happen. You’re lucky if you can roll out of bed in the morning. But I’m used to the pain; it’s second nature.”

Q: Did you ever think you’d end up a pro wrestler?

“I knew I’d do something sports-related, but wrestling became my dream after watching it on TV, and I never take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Q: If some young girl is reading this and wants to be the next Velvet Sky, what advice would you give her?

“Stay dedicated. Don’t give up. You have to have thick skin. Focus. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open.”

Q: We hear you’re also an animal lover. So you’re a bad girl with a heart?

“I love animals almost more than people. I donate to as many animal charities as possible. I have rescued cats that I didn’t get from an animal shelter. I actually saved them from the streets; they were sick, hungry and needing a good home. My long-term goal is to open a no-kill animal shelter for any animal in need of a good home.”