Kandi Krush: From Olympic Aspirations to Wrestling Stardom

Kandi Krush stands out as a formidable force in the Women of Wrestling (WOW) world. Once part of the group called Top Tier, along with Coach Campanelli and Gloria Glitter, they held the WOW World Trios Championship. However, Krush and Campanelli’s changes led to Glitter being ousted from Top Tier.

Krush’s Unsteady Journey

Krush’s path in the wrestling arena wasn’t straightforward. She was initially an Olympic hopeful in synchronized swimming, but injuries and what she described as a ‘toxic environment’ impacted her Olympic dream. The desire for a gold medal was left unmet.

“My dreams were essentially kind of stripped from me,” she revealed. Despite this, Krush decided to steer her own fate. She transitioned into boxing, viewing challenges as lessons redirecting her focus.

Boxing and Its Challenges

Using her strong work ethic, Krush found success in boxing, remaining undefeated. However, the advent of COVID-19 added another hurdle, as gym closures forced her to reevaluate her aspirations.

She recounted, “I worked my way up in boxing, turned pro, undefeated as a pro and then COVID hit.” This pause allowed her to reflect on her future, acknowledging her love for performing under the bright lights.

The Move to Wrestling

Krush found motivation from a movie featuring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, leading her to consider pro wrestling. Despite her initial unfamiliarity with wrestling, she pursued tryouts with WOW, driven by resilience and determination.

Her commitment was unwavering. She attended tryouts early, showcasing a first-in, last-out mentality. Krush immersed herself in wrestling history, detailing how she never turned back after starting.

Inspirations and Perseverance

Krush attributes her perseverance to her never-say-die attitude and her mother’s influence. She emphasized the importance of learning from failures, insisting no failure is final.

“Failure is part of the journey, but in general, I don’t like to lose by quitting,” Krush stated. This mindset has guided her continuous improvement and ascent in WOW.

During an early title shot, a moment with a young fan reinforced her resolve. Seeing a girl encouraging her lit the motivation for Krush to rise from the canvas and continue fighting.

“I had that shot, and I remember laying on the canvas with my arm essentially broken… And I remember the little girl that said, ‘Get up, Kandi Krush. You can do it. You can win,’” she recounted, noting the emotional impact and the drive it instilled in her.

She aspires to inspire others to overcome their adversities, whether or not they are in the ring. Her platform in wrestling serves as a way to contribute significantly to others’ journeys.

WOW’s Evolving Reach

Jeanie Buss, co-founder of WOW and a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, discussed WOW’s future. With upcoming episodes set to stream on Tubi and Vice TV, Season 5 is relocating to L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

“Season 5 is personal for me in a new way,” Buss shared. She highlighted WOW’s mission to create a respectful platform for women in sports, aligning with the current rise in women’s sports.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at Fox News Digital, covering this evolution in WOW.