Misty Blue Simmes | |
|---|---|
 Misty Blue,c. 1987 | |
| Born | Diane Cotton Simmes (1959-02-08)February 8, 1959 (age 66) |
| Other names | Bunny Hatton |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1981–1997 |
| Spouse | Jon Simmes |
| Children | 2 |
| Ring name(s) | Misty Blue Misty Blue Simmes |
| Trained by | Killer Kowalski |
| Debut | 1985 |
| Retired | 1997 |
Diane Simmes (born February 8, 1959), better known by her ring nameMisty Blue Simmes, is an American formerprofessional wrestler.
Simmes got into wrestling after learning to box and being part of an all-female boxing show. From there, she was invited toKiller Kowalski's wrestling school where she trained for 18 months prior to her first match.[1]
Simmes competed for theAmerican Wrestling Association in a 10-woman battle royal atWrestleRock 86 on April 20, 1986. The match was won bySherri Martel.[2]
In 1986, Simmes joined theNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and was awarded theNWA United States Women's Championship (a replacement of the priorNWA World Women's Championship held byDebbie Combs). She once challenged Combs to a title unification match (NWA United States Women's Title and NWA World Women's Title), but was attacked by Combs' manager/motherCora Combs.[3] She frequently defended the NWA U.S. Women's Title against Linda Dallas, Kat LeRoux, Black Venus, Mad Dog Debbie Irons and a handful of other women on the NWA's TV programsWorld Wide Wrestling andWorld Championship Wrestling. Many of the matches between Dallas and Simmes ended with the two battling each other with Dallas' kendo stick. She also frequently partnered withHeidi Lee Morgan and Vula in tag-team matches.
She also briefly feuded withJim Cornette. During a televised interview on TBS, Simmes requested that Cornette help train her only to lure him into the ring and nail him with a drop kick. Whenthe Midnight Express hit the ring,Dusty Rhodes appeared to even the sides. Simmes then competed in an 8-person mixed tag team match partnering with Rhodes,Nikita Koloff, andBarry Windham against Cornette,The Midnight Express, andDick Murdoch.[4] However, the angle never reached the popularity of Cornette's similar feud withBaby Doll.
WhileMadusa Miceli was the reigningAWA World Women's Champion, Simmes challenged her to a title unification match (NWA United States Women's Title and AWA World Women's Title) at aDelta Tiger Lilies event, but the match never happened.[3]
When the NWA phased out the women's division in late 1989, Simmes wrestled on the independent circuit and eventually joined theLadies Professional Wrestling Association. She andHeidi Lee Morgan competed as Team America and won the LPWA Tag Team Titles. They lost the titles toThe Glamour Girls.[5]
Misty feuded withMonster Ripper in Puerto Rico and won a title from her. There are unverified reports that Misty may have lost some matches, but no visual or readily available written proof seems to exist.[6]
In late 1991, Simmes wrestled inWorld Championship Wrestling, which had evolved from theJim Crockett Promotions branch of the NWA. She competed in matches against Linda Dallas and Kat LeRoux.[7]
She is married to Jon Simmes.[6]
Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Simmes and her husband Jon appeared and performed in several pornographic films during the early-to-mid 1980s, with Simmes performing under the pseudonymBunny Hatton.[8] In 1983, Simmes appeared in the pornographic film "Slit Skirts" in a scene withRon Jeremy.