Vanessa Harding

Infobox Wrestler
name=Vanessa Harding
names=Vanessa Harding
Ms. Blue / Blu
Ring Girl
The American Hard Body
height= height|ft=5|in=7
weight= convert|128|lb
birth_date = birth date and age|1974|10|11
death_date =
birth_place =Atlanta, Georgia, United States
death_place =
resides=Louisville, Kentucky
St Petersburg, Florida
billed=Everyone's Imagination
trainer=Dory Funk, Jr.
Black Knight
Robbie Chance
debut=August 2002
retired=
website= [http://www.vanessaharding.com/ VanessaHarding.com]
myspace|queenofallnerds|Vanessa Harding|

Vanessa Harding (born October 11, 1974) is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and manager who has competed in North American independent promotions throughout the early 2000s including Full Impact Pro, Future of Wrestling, the Heartland Wrestling Association, Ohio Valley Wrestling and NWA Florida. [ cite web |url=http://www.nwafloridatv.com/nwa%20global%20stars.htm |title=NWA Global Pro-Wrestling Stars |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=NWAFloridaTV.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] She has also had short stints in Ring of Honor, World League Wrestling and Women's Extreme Wrestling. [ cite web |url=http://www.wextremew.com/talent.asp |title=Talent: Vanessa Harding |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WExtremeW.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Career

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Harding frequently moved around up until adulthood. While living in Zephyr Hills, Florida, she became interested in professional wrestling after seeing Dusty Rhodes on "Championship Wrestling from Florida". However, it was after she began regularly watching wrestling with an ex-boyfriend that she began to consider a career in professional wrestling. Hardy received much of her initial training from independent wrestlers Black Knight and Robbie Chance, however she also received training from others on the independent circuit including Mana (of the Samoan Island Tribe), Navy Seal, Pat Powers, Al Hardeman, Virgil and, most notably, Dory Funk, Jr. among others. Harding later attended the IWA wrestling school. cite web |url=http://www.glorywrestling.com/WomensWrestlingNews/20040324_1037.asp |title=Interview with Vanessa Harding |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2004-03-24 |year= |month= |format= |work=Squared Circle News |publisher=GloryWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

She moved to St Petersburg, Florida and began managing wrestlers in Southeasten promotions. Harding began to build a solid reputation as a "heel" manager frequently using typical outside interference such as holding a leg down or more direct attacks including using the ring ropes to choke another wrestler, kicking him while outside the ring or using a eye gouge or neckbreaker. Among those she managed included Robbie Chance and The Heartbreak Express in Full Impact Pro. Later, as a wrestler, she also faced Luna Vachon on September 25, 2003. [ cite web |url=http://fullimpactpro.com/results/results2003.htm |title=Full Impact Pro: 2003 Results |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=FullImpactPro.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In October, Harding appeared in IPW Hardcore where she managed Mideon in his feud with Antonio Banks, and later Danny Doring, for almost a year before leaving to continue training. The following year, Harding managed Lexie Fyfe in her feud against Malia Hosaka and appeared on several PPV events for Woman's Extreme Wrestling. She would also work for Major League Wrestling as Ring Girl.

In mid-2004, Harding took part in the first-ever professional wrestling national tour of the People's Republic of China. Organized by NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, the tour began with its inaugural show, "The Brawl at the Wall", held in Beijing near the Great Wall of China. Between August 15 to September 10, "The Great Brawl of China" tour visited Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Wrestlers who appeared on the 4-week tour included former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, The Barbarian, Glacier as well as NWA MACW Junior Heavyweight Champion Rikki Nelson, Chris Hamrick, Andrue Bane and Bruiser Bradley. Female wrestlers, the first to compete in China, included Malia Hosaka, Brandy Wine, Jenny Taylor and Amber Holly. Harding and So-Cal Val also made their NWA MACW debuts on the tour. [ cite web |url=http://www.nwaukhammerlockwrestling.co.uk/hl-archive.html |title=NWA Mid-Atlantic all set for the Great Brawl of China |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2004 |month= |format= |work=NWA-UK Hammerlock News Archive |publisher=NWAUKHammerlockWrestling.co.uk |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In September 2004, Harding was introduced as Ms. Blue (or Ms. Blu) on OVW Television as the newest member of manager Kenny Bolin's stable "Bolin Services" in September 2004. Later that year, in Georgia Championship Wrestling, she would also make a failed attempt to defeat GCW Women's International Champion Christie Ricci on November 27, 2004. [ cite web |url=http://www.oldschool-wrestling.com/geeklog/article.php/20071218173133420/print |title=Georgia Wrestling News, Notes, and Nostalgia: 11/27/2007 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-12-18 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=OldSchool-Wrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On February 25, 2005, Harding made a one time appearance for Ring of Honor in Dayton, Ohio as a valet and manager for Jimmy Rave and The Embassy. She later interfered in a match between Rave and AJ Styles causing Styles to be pinned after Harding sprayed bug spray into his eyes. Feuding with Lady Victoria in the World Wrestling Alliance in late February, Harding defeated Syren by disqualification at an event for Hoosier Pro Wrestling on March 5 [ cite web |url=http://www.syren-wrestling.com/results.shtml |title=Match Results |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Syren-Wrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and, in a tag team match with Fantasia, lost to Team Blondage (Krissy Vaine & Amber O'Neal) at a show for Carolina Championship Wrestling in Lenoir, North Carolina a week later. After a near 15 minute match, Fantasia was pinned by O'Neal while Vaine helped hold her down. [ cite web |url=http://www.amberoneal.net/Results.html |title=Amber O'Neal Results |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-10-16 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=AmberOneal.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Returning to Hoosier Pro Wrestling, she would defeat Lady Victoria in a singles match and later in a mixed tag team match teaming with Beech to defeat Lady Victoria & Robbie Chance on April 2. In one of her last appearances on OVW television on June 4, Harding fought to a no contest with Alexis Laree after Laree and Mike Mondo became involved in an altercation in which she slapped Mondo after he had kissed her. At the Independent Association of Wrestling supercard "Clash at the Cove", Harding lost to Jacqueline [ cite web |url=http://www.lethalwow.com/history/article6.htm |title=Jacqueline, former Miss Texas, ready to take on the competition at Cove |accessdate= |author=Conway, Tom |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-06-24 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=South Bend Tribune |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] in a three-way match with Krystal Carmichael for the IAW Championship at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, Indiana on June 25, [ cite web |url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/wtiaw.html |title=IAW Heavyweight Title History |accessdate= |author=Westcott, Brian |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Solie's Title Histories |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Harding left Ohio Valley Wrestling in August planning to take a year off from competition.

On September 2, Harding appeared at the 2005 Dragon*Con against Lexie Faye at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel. [ cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/25148 |title=411 Indy Report |accessdate= |author=Stein, Nate |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-08-30 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=411mania.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] The following night, Harding was eliminated by Lady Victoria in a three-way dance with Lexie Fyfe. [ cite web |url=http://www.lexiefyfe.com/results.htm |title=Lexie Fyfe's Match Results
accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-05-29 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=LexieFyfe.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] She was also ranked #41 in the 3rd annual Top 50 Independent Women Wrestlers, a listing featured by Bill Apter's "Total Wrestling Magazine" in 2003, by WrestlingClothesline.com in 2005. [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/Top50Women2005.htm |title=Top 50 Independent Women Wrestlers 2005 |accessdate= |author=Schwan, Brett |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingClothesline.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] In January 2006, Harding began touring Italy appearing with Nu-Wrestling Evolution loosing to Nikita on January 29, 2006. On March 25, 2007, Harding faced Hellena Heavenly at the "Heartbreakers" supercard. [ cite web |url=http://www.battlingbeauties.com/news.html |title=News: March 25, 2007 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month=March |format= |work= |publisher=BattlingBeauties.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In March 2008, Harding made an appearance for Lady Victoria's "Ringin' Wet & Wild" show at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Held at the Buffalo Chip Campground, Harding faced Bobcat, Sybil Anne Starr and Lady Victoria in matches held at several locations at the campground and ampitheater. [ cite web |url=http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/entertainment/news_viewer.php?category=18&id=654 |title=Ringin’ Wet & Wild Professional wrestlers coming to the Buffalo Chip |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-03-03 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Rapid City Journal |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Double D–DT" (Snap DDT):*Cloverleaf:*Sitout facebuster:*Rope hung Boston crab:*Surfboard

*Wrestlers managed

Championships and accomplishments

*Funking Conservatory:*FC Women's Championship (1 time)

References

External links

* [http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/v/vanessa-harding.php Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/vharding.html Other Superstars - Vanessa Harding]
* [http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/harding.html Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster: Ms. Blue]
* [http://www.glorywrestling.com/gg/VanessaHarding/VH.asp Vanessa Harding of G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling]
* [http://www.slamminladies.com/vanessa.html Slammin' Ladies Index: Vanessa Harding]
* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=2390&worker=Vanessa+Harding CageMatch.de - Vanessa Harding] ger