This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:07] Iyvon Edebiri: Hello everyone, welcome to The Parsnip Ship, and I'm Iyvon Edebiri. Tonight is the fifth episode of our fifth season, and we are excited to be featuring only female playwrights this season.

[0:21] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes! Remember I said react how you feel? It's a great thing. Female stories. So this season's only female playwrights, and we're bringing their dynamic stories to you in your ears.

[0:36] Iyvon Edebiri: And tonight we are recording at the Mark O'Donnell Theater in the Actors Fund Art Center here in downtown Brooklyn. Thank you again for hosting us tonight.

[0:46] Iyvon Edebiri: Woo! Wow, these wrestling fans. Well, I wasn't warned adequately enough. I mean, come on, y'all.

[0:55] Iyvon Edebiri: Tonight we are hearing The Last Ring by Ashley Lauren Rogers, directed by Sagan Chen, and we have the very talented Psyche Corporation as our musician this evening.

[1:07] Iyvon Edebiri: Woo. And this is just a content warning that this episode has some anti-trans language and slurs, so just be forewarned.

[1:20] Iyvon Edebiri: Um, and before we get started tonight, we love to ask our playwrights the question at the top of our episode: what would the world be missing if it didn't have this play?

[1:32] Ashley Lauren Rogers: The past few years we've seen so many more opportunities for trans people in the arts, especially for trans women, but most of our stories are rooted solely in our pain and our trauma. Without this play, the world would be missing an action-packed piece that unabashedly features trans femme blood poetry.

[1:56] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes. Woo. I love how Ashley just walked away after saying that.

[2:03] Iyvon Edebiri: Usually, no, no, no, it's okay. It's okay. Cause usually playwrights stand there, but you were just like, I said that. I'm gonna walk away. I love it.

[2:12] Iyvon Edebiri: Um, and so we're gonna get started tonight with our first song by Psyche Corporation.

[2:22] Psyche Chimère: Hi everyone. This song is called "Oh." It is a very dark song.

[2:37] ♪ Musical number: "Oh" — performed by Psyche Chimère ♪

[7:31] Samy Nour Younes: Hi, I'm Samy Nour Younes, and I play a bunch of transphobic wrestlers and also Dad.

[7:36] Leanna Renee Hieber: Hello, I am Leanna Renee Hieber, and I was Alexa.

[7:36] Mark Levy: Uh, I'm Mark Levy, and I play the misogynistic and probably anti-transphobic real Jimmy Seagull.

[7:43] Delong Le: Hi, my name is Delong Le, and I play as Mari.

[7:49] Lauren Elizabeth: My name is Lauren Elizabeth, and I play the announcer.

[7:53] John DeSilvestri: Hi, my name is John DeSilvestri, and I play Glenn.

[7:57] John DeSilvestri: The Last Ring by Ashley Lauren Rogers with Japanese translations by Utsuki Otsuka.

[8:04] John DeSilvestri: Ladies and gentlemen, the next match is a ladder match for the World Entertainment Wrestling Prima Donna Championship. There are no pinfalls, no submissions.

[8:14] John DeSilvestri: The only way to win is to climb to the top of the ladder and remove the title belt suspended from the ceiling. Commentating on this first ever historic Prima Donna's ladder match, WEW Glen owner Glenn Shane, and WEW Hall of Famer Ringle Jimmy Segal.

[8:35] Glenn Shane: Hey, boss, good to see you back in the announcer's chair.

[8:38] Jimmy Segal: You think I'd miss such a historic event as the first Prima Donna's ladder match? This is one for the history books.

[8:45] Glenn Shane: The classic WEW commentary team is back together.

[8:50] Jimmy Segal: And ready to call the fight.

[8:51] Glenn Shane: That's right. The evolution of a revolution has changed the constitution of this institution.

[8:57] Jimmy Segal: What? Are you ready to get this match started, Jimmy?

[9:00] Jimmy Segal: Well, Glenn, I'm conflicted. On the one hand, I'm always excited to see the Hooties.

[9:06] Glenn Shane: It's still the same regal Jimmy Siegel.

[9:08] Jimmy Segal: Well, what about on the other hand?

[9:10] Jimmy Segal: Well, on the other hand, I've only been in two ladder matches throughout my whole career. They're dangerous, violent, hardly the thing I want to see a woman go through, especially not Tatiana Marriott.

[9:23] Glenn Shane: Well, we are now bathed in that terrifying red and purple light signaling Mir Tumara is here to slay.

[9:31] John DeSilvestri: Introducing first, the challenger from Tokyo, Japan. She is the keeper of the books of death, Mirtu Mara.

[9:40] Jimmy Segal: Ooh, keeper of the books of death. You wouldn't think a librarian like that would get such a reaction from the WEW Multiverse.

[9:47] Glenn Shane: Well, she's not a librarian. She's a demon.

[9:49] Jimmy Segal: A demon with a grudge.

[9:51] Glenn Shane: That's right, Glenn. Ever since Miru Tomara and Tatiana's mask versus title match at Hardcore Mageddon last month, the WEW Multiverse has turned their back on Tatiana and embraced Mara for some reason.

[10:03] Jimmy Segal: Well, just one month ago, you loved Mir Tumara.

[10:06] Glenn Shane: Says she was the biggest, baddest, most ruthless.

[10:09] Jimmy Segal: That's still true, Glenn, but ever since she unmasked, I mean, I've heard of faces that could stop clocks.

[10:16] Glenn Shane: Well, Miru Tomorrow can stop all of Switzerland.

[10:18] Jimmy Segal: Alright, that's enough.

[10:19] Jimmy Segal: The statistics have shown that somewhere in Japan, a woman gives birth to a baby every four seconds. I'm gonna go over there, find that woman and put a stop to it.

[10:29] Glenn Shane: Alright, I apologize for my broadcast partner. Uh, jokes are fine, but you've been warned about the racism.

[10:35] Jimmy Segal: Yeah, yeah.

[10:38] Glenn Shane: Well, here we go. Now, this is a champion, Glen.

[10:41] John DeSilvestri: And her opponent from Greenwich, Connecticut. She is the trustfan princess, the idol of Instagram, and the WEW Prima Donna’s Championship, Tatiana Marion!

[10:54] Jimmy Segal: Yeah, well, Tatiana's attitude certainly isn't befitting of a champion.

[10:58] Glenn Shane: Tatiana won't even get off her phone.

[11:00] Jimmy Segal: I love when she does that.

[11:01] Glenn Shane: Oh, that's nice. Taking a selfie with the WEW Multiverse.

[11:05] Jimmy Segal: You know, maybe Tatiana isn't as mean and spoiled as your...

[11:09] Glenn Shane: Oh, like I would have her selfie with you, Brooklyn love life.

[11:13] Jimmy Segal: No, pulled the phone away at the last second.

[11:15] Glenn Shane: Oh, that is despicable.

[11:17] Jimmy Segal: The WEW Multiverse were Tatiana's biggest fans.

[11:21] Glenn Shane: Until a month ago.

[11:22] Jimmy Segal: Tatiana is too important to be taking selfies with anybody.

[11:27] Glenn Shane: I'm just glad that she realized it.

[11:29] Glenn Shane: It's gonna be with somebody.

[11:31] Glenn Shane: It's gotta be someone important, not these yahoos.

[11:33] Glenn Shane: You once said she had a million dollar body, but a ten cent personality.

[11:37] Glenn Shane: Tatiana invested.

[11:38] Glenn Shane: That's what smart, successful people do, Glen.

[11:41] Glenn Shane: Tatiana's got drive, passion now.

[11:43] Glenn Shane: Passion she never had before.

[11:45] Glenn Shane: And it turns out I'm good friends with her father, God millionaire.

[11:49] Glenn Shane: Now why wouldn't she take her father's last name?

[11:51] Glenn Shane: She was a little pretentious.

[11:52] Glenn Shane: She wanted to be known by her own merits, not lived in her own father's shadow.

[11:57] Glenn Shane: Now she's realized she doesn't need these idiots for their approval.

[12:00] Jimmy Segal: If she's got this money, she can do anything.

[12:03] Glenn Shane: Alright, looks like we're about to begin. Mara handing her mask over to the official, but that dastardly Tatiana struck Mir Chumara in the back of the head.

[12:17] Mari: My name. My real name, my keyfabe name is Mari. I've had many names, many faces, and worn multiple masks.

[12:27] Mari: I am now completely unmasked. Mostly. I was on the cover of all the famous wrestling magazines here in America, in Mexico, and in Japan.

[12:37] Mari: I lost my mask, my shield, my protection. When you are vulnerable, that is when they strike.

[12:44] Mari: I received a package. In it was my old yearbook from school and a letter.

[12:50] Mari: I followed the instructions on the front of the book and found a picture. My picture.

[12:55] John DeSilvestri: Now entering the ring, the mysterious sender.

[13:00] Mari: There was a hand-written note which read, "Hello, Mirtumara. I thought you looked familiar. You're a real hot shot now. Must be making a lot of money, too. It would be a shame if people knew who you really were, that you were really a guy. To keep your secret safe, I will require 100,000. Instructions are below. Please comply, or we'll tell the world you're a boy."

[13:29] Mari: And as a final insult, they finished with the word "Ocama," which does not translate into English.

[13:37] Mari: Tranny faggot.

[13:38] John DeSilvestri: Close enough.

[13:40] Mari: Ironic, my unmasking made me prey to so many masked strangers.

[13:47] Mari: Hey! Jackass!

[13:51] John DeSilvestri: The mysterious sender has left the building.

[13:55] John DeSilvestri: You know her as the million dollar princess Tatiana Marriott, but that's not her name.

[14:01] John DeSilvestri: She's Alexa. Alexa Sharp. In Kfabe, and she's not really from Greenwich or evil. It's just a gimmick, a character.

[14:10] Mari: It's not like her just set accepts such a cliché, vapid, stupid character.

[14:15] John DeSilvestri: Let's not forget when I met you, you were in a Mothra costume.

[14:20] Mari: Kamora, I was portraying Gamora.

[14:22] John DeSilvestri: I'll clarify it then. When I met you, you were dressing up as a monster in a foam rubber costume, and you were a joke.

[14:30] Mari: Better?

[14:30] John DeSilvestri: Much.

[14:32] Mari: People think this industry is fake, and yet it's sorted is. But it's more like acting or a reality TV show.

[14:41] John DeSilvestri: Ew.

[14:41] Mari: Who you see us as is not who we are in reality. It's a show. It's a show where we create the winners and losers, the good and the bad guys. We fake pain for a living, but the truth is we get hurt. That's why we use the word Kfabe to talk about who we are outside of our costumes. But there's nothing fake about broken bones, torn muscles, paralysis, concussions.

[15:06] John DeSilvestri: Yawn.

[15:07] Mari: You know, you're becoming a lot like your character Alexa. The people came here for a ladder match, not for you to get lost in your own head.

[15:15] John DeSilvestri: I'm trying to give context.

[15:17] Mari: Mari, I trust you with my life. So believe me when I say some people don't care about context. Some people want to see me hit you in the face with a ladder.

[15:29] John DeSilvestri: Fine.

[15:31] Mari: Oh, what a cheap shot.

[15:33] John DeSilvestri: The match hasn't even started.

[15:34] Glenn Shane: Well, what should they do, Glenn?

[15:35] John DeSilvestri: Disqualify her.

[15:36] Glenn Shane: There are no disqualifications in this match.

[15:39] John DeSilvestri: Alright, looks like the match is finally getting underway. It would seem that strike did little to FaZe that keeper of the books of death.

[15:46] Glenn Shane: Tatiana might look like she's cowering in the corner now, but she's just making sure the ropes are strong and sturdy.

[15:53] John DeSilvestri: I hope they are. It looks like Tatiana's angered the demon.

[15:56] Glenn Shane: Oh, I'll have to play golf with her father, guy millionaire tomorrow.

[15:59] John DeSilvestri: But what does Tatiana's father have to do with that?

[16:01] Glenn Shane: I can't show up on the green if uh if her his precious little princess has been injured.

[16:05] John DeSilvestri: Alright, looks like Tatiana's making a run for the ladder. Oh, and a girl, climb the ladder, grab the title, and then the quick and get out. But Mir Tumara has other plans.

[16:13] Glenn Shane: Kicking the ladder to the ground. Miruchumara better not wag her finger at Tatiana. Do you know how much Tatiana Mariana is worth?

[16:19] John DeSilvestri: Mirtu Mara not letting Tatiana win so easily. You know, she wants to fight.

[16:23] Glenn Shane: Okay, I know it looks like Tatiana's on her knees begging for mercy. She's just making sure the ring is stable.

[16:29] John DeSilvestri: Stop it.

[16:31] Glenn Shane: Ugh. Ooh, fingers raked across the eyes of Mir Tumara.

[16:36] John DeSilvestri: Ooh, ring safety is very important, Glenn. Mir Chumara needs to learn that.

[16:40] Glenn Shane: Uh, you know that to her tana Tatiana is helping her out. If she were still wearing her mask, Tatiana wouldn't be able to rake the eyes like that, and we wouldn't be able to be subjected to it.

[16:49] John DeSilvestri: All right, look, not another word. Okay? Mirchumara is a gorgeous female.

[16:54] Glenn Shane: Oh, the trust fund princess with a spin kick to Marister Sterna. Mara couldn't possibly understand what it's like to be Tatiana if she didn't uh maintain her looks. A paparazzi could snap a photo and make a lot of money.

[17:06] John DeSilvestri: Yo, excellent headlock applied to Mara. I used to want Mir Tumara to win because of her attitude. Now I won't now I wish she had just one so she would keep her mask on.

[17:15] Glenn Shane: Stop it. Oh, Mara with a punch to the gut.

[17:20] John DeSilvestri: Jimmy, you were the one who called Tatiana a spoiled brat. Ooh, another gut punch to the princess.

[17:26] Glenn Shane: Anyone ever tell you that you're too wrapped up in the past, Glenn? Mara tosses Tatiana into the ropes and oh, hell of a Larry at clothesline right there.

[17:36] John DeSilvestri: Oh god, millionaire is not gonna be happy about that. I bet Tatiana's not happy about that.

[17:41] Glenn Shane: Darn near turned her inside out. Tatiana wanted to get this match over with quickly, but Mirtu Mara has knocked the silver spoon right out of her mouth with a clothesline.

[17:50] John DeSilvestri: That's not funny. Tatiana's getting to her knees. Although her father, guy Millionaire, told me that you don't have silver spoons. Silver is dirty metal. All the cutlery is platinum.

[18:02] Glenn Shane: Oh, that clothesline was a dirty move. Tatiana's hand was so rich. They never had clotheslines, so Tatiana couldn't know how to defend herself.

[18:09] John DeSilvestri: Oh, another stiff kick to Tatiana's. Focus on the match, all right? Enough with the hooti.

[18:14] Glenn Shane: Tatiana getting to her feet. Killer spinning fists. Oh, that's gotta hurt.

[18:22] John DeSilvestri: Mara is now picking up Tatiana. Oh, by the hair.

[18:25] Glenn Shane: Oh, how is that? Hey, anything goes. No holes barred, Jimmy!

[18:30] John DeSilvestri: Oh! Mara tossing Tatiana by the hair onto the map!

[18:36] Glenn Shane: Oh, if Mirchumara knew how much Tatiana pays to keep her hair perfect. She won't be so disrespectful.

[18:42] John DeSilvestri: Well, that's probably why Mirtu Mara is targeting her hair. Alright, Mara again pulling Tatiana by her hair.

[18:50] Glenn Shane: The trust fun princess with a gut punch to the gut of Mara. No.

[18:54] John DeSilvestri: Yeah, another one for good measure. Mara still has a chunk of Tatiana's hair.

[18:59] Glenn Shane: Mara with a swift kick of her own to the trust fun princess. No!

[19:03] John DeSilvestri: Tatiana's shoulder charging Mara and the keeper of the books of the dead relinquishing her hold on the trust fun princess's below.

[19:11] Glenn Shane: Tatiana's gaining momentum now. Come on. Two punches to the head of the keeper of the books of the dead.

[19:16] John DeSilvestri: Oh, bouncing off the ropes. Leeps in the air. Silver girl punch!

[19:21] Glenn Shane: Mara's underfeet! Oh, what a bunch! She's he's dazed, but he's still on his feet.

[19:25] John DeSilvestri: Her feet, Jimmy. Tatiana bounces off the ropes again. What about her feet?

[19:30] Glenn Shane: Leaps in the air. How is Mara still on her feet?

[19:35] John DeSilvestri: You said his feet. Oh, well, uh, I'm looking for one more. Just a good measure.

[19:45] Glenn Shane: I thought she was going for a trifecta of Superwoman punches, but Tatiana leaped into the air, wrapped her legs around Mara's head, and flipped her onto her.

[19:56] John DeSilvestri: Yeah, we've already seen a hurricane rana, Glanth! Oh, the force from the trust fund princesses Hurakarana sent Mara to the outside!

[20:04] Glenn Shane: If he knew what was good for him, he'd stay out of the ring. Oh, this is why I don't like announcers using pronouns. Just say her name if you have to.

[20:11] John DeSilvestri: Ah! Ooh, Mara's days are confused outside the ring after Tatiana connected with a baseball slide kick, knocking her to the floor.

[20:20] Glenn Shane: Tatiana jumped outside, connected with a running kick to the head of Miruchumara. Jimmy met me as a woman. He scouted me as a woman. But now that he knows I am transgender, I'm not ashamed who I am or where I'm from, but I also didn't want it to become a big deal.

[20:37] Mari: I didn't want anyone to know. Transgender people have a lot of issues that cisgender people don't even think about.

[20:43] Glenn Shane: The following is a gauntlet match. Introducing first verbal harassment.

[20:50] Mari: You're an abomination. You're a mutilated man. You're not a woman.

[20:54] Glenn Shane: Arm drag takedown unverbal harassment. Transitioning into a cross face on verbal harassment.

[20:59] Mari: You're faggot! Tranny! Oh, come on! Don't ever call me that.

[21:04] Glenn Shane: Yeah! Verbal harassment has tapped out!

[21:08] Mari: Introducing job discrimination! I found out you were born a dude. You don't have the right to work.

[21:15] Glenn Shane: Mari misses with the clothesline. Clear out your desk by five o'clock.

[21:18] Mari: Drop toe hole to job discrimination. Mari transitioning into an ankle lock!

[21:24] Glenn Shane: Job discrimination has been eliminated. Introducing extreme poverty!

[21:32] Mari: In the US alone, one out of every four trans people makes under ten thousand dollars a year. Mari punches extreme poverty, but her fist is caught and twisted into an arm ringer.

[21:41] Glenn Shane: Mari somersaults forward and reverses the arm ringer. Extreme poverty grabs the ropes with her free hand, does a front flip and reverses the hold again?

[21:51] Mari: Yeah! Mari has stepped on the foot of extreme poverty! Extreme poverty has released the holds!

[21:56] Glenn Shane: Seriously? Making their way to the ring? The crippling costs of medical and psychological health bills!

[22:03] Mari: I haven't even beaten extreme poverty. We tend to go together. Have you seen how much hormones cost? And a legal name change and a mental health check. Some states and countries still require a trans person to go through for valuation and surgeries and makeup and basic grooming.

[22:20] Glenn Shane: How much does this all cost? More than you make in a lifetime.

[22:24] Mari: Mari ducks a double clothesline, they go for another one. Mari catches them by the throat. Double choke slam!

[22:31] Glenn Shane: Mari has grabbed one leg from each and is applying a devastating double single leg crab. Extreme poverty and the crippling cost of medical and psychological health bills have been eliminated.

[22:46] Mari: Someone's gotta lose. Sometimes that's you. No matter how much I win, I can't win them all. Making their way to the ring. Family issues.

[22:55] Mari: Father, your technique is weak. You should be in the girls' tournament. My father used to compare me to girls as motivation, trying to anger me.

[23:05] Glenn Shane: Mari makes the first move, but family issue steps to the side. You're good, but you're slow. He's ex-Japanese military and now Nikido Sensei. In his mind, there is a way things are to be done. He's trying to protect me.

[23:17] Mari: Mari attempts to punch Father's sidesteps again, but grabs Mari's arm. It's like he's using her own momentum against her. He has Mari in a wrist lock.

[23:25] Glenn Shane: Don't you quit?

[23:26] Mari: No.

[23:27] Glenn Shane: Be a man and fight back.

[23:29] Mari: Stop, Dad.

[23:29] Glenn Shane: Are you quitting?

[23:31] Mari: I'm winner, and still champion.

[23:38] Glenn Shane: Family issues.

[23:40] Mari: I'm sorry I have to be so hard on you.

[23:43] Glenn Shane: I want you to grow up to be strong.

[23:45] Mari: You have to be. You're a man. If you listen to me, you will be a great Hey!

[23:51] Glenn Shane: Jabroni!

[23:53] Mari: Ow!

[23:53] Glenn Shane: Who are me?

[23:57] Mari: I guess I'm community.

[23:59] Glenn Shane: What the hell?

[24:00] Mari: I will never accept you as a woman.

[24:02] Glenn Shane: You know he never actually said that.

[24:06] Mari: And you never hit him.

[24:07] Glenn Shane: You've never met him.

[24:08] Mari: Well, I'm a manifestation of your unconscious mind at this exact moment, so unconsciously, you know he never said that.

[24:17] Glenn Shane: No, but he implied it.

[24:19] Mari: When did you tell him?

[24:21] Glenn Shane: He wouldn't have understood.

[24:23] Mari: I think.

[24:24] Glenn Shane: Sounds like you never gave him a chance.

[24:26] Mari: I couldn't risk it. And besides, you weren't there.

[24:29] Glenn Shane: I I are we getting back to this or what?

[24:32] Mari: I am getting bored hearing about your daddy drama.

[24:35] Glenn Shane: You know, the floor is a very dangerous place to grapple.

[24:39] John DeSilvestri: It's like Tatiana's ready to inflict some more punishment of the prone.

[24:42] Glenn Shane: Ooh, Mara with a devastating knife edge drop to Tatiana.

[24:45] John DeSilvestri: She's reeling from that.

[24:48] Glenn Shane: Another one!

[24:49] John DeSilvestri: Mara getting a handful of hair.

[24:51] Glenn Shane: Yeah!

[24:53] John DeSilvestri: First on hitting the announcement! Right in front of us!

[24:55] Glenn Shane: Keep the action in the ring!

[24:57] John DeSilvestri: Smart move on Mirchumara's part. Getting out of the ring.

[25:03] Glenn Shane: What did you hear that?

[25:05] John DeSilvestri: Well, Muir Tomara sent Tatiana head first to the steel ring post.

[25:09] Glenn Shane: Her daddy is gonna be too happy now.

[25:11] John DeSilvestri: Oh, the keeper of the books of the dead is looking under the ring. What what could she possibly be looking for?

[25:16] Glenn Shane: Oh, it's a steel chair!

[25:17] John DeSilvestri: She's winding up! Get out of the way!

[25:21] Glenn Shane: Princess is out of the way in the nick of time!

[25:24] John DeSilvestri: That's attempted murder!

[25:26] Glenn Shane: Oh, Mir Chumara almost crushed Tatiana's head between the chair and the ring post.

[25:31] John DeSilvestri: Tatiana was in some serious trouble for a moment there.

[25:34] Glenn Shane: Not quite out of the woods yet.

[25:36] John DeSilvestri: No, Tatiana's got the chair. She took Amara and chair shot across Mirchumara's back.

[25:43] Glenn Shane: Oh, it's like they say, Glen, chair and chair alike.

[25:48] John DeSilvestri: Stop it.

[25:48] Glenn Shane: Oh, oh, oh, she's doing it again.

[25:50] John DeSilvestri: Get her! Get her! Get her!

[25:52] Glenn Shane: Once more across the back!

[25:54] John DeSilvestri: Take a seat, bitch!

[25:56] Glenn Shane: Oh, Tatiana staggered Mir Chumara before now, but now she's down!

[26:01] John DeSilvestri: This is just brutal to watch.

[26:03] Glenn Shane: Oh, I normally love hearing about two women going at each other.

[26:06] John DeSilvestri: I mean, I am of the mind that women should be obscene and not heard.

[26:11] Glenn Shane: But this isn't what we were talking about.

[26:13] John DeSilvestri: Yeah, you were talking about their hooties.

[26:14] Glenn Shane: I was talking about their hooties.

[26:17] John DeSilvestri: Uh, you know, I heard that Tatiana was so good in history, but she was always good on dates.

[26:25] Glenn Shane: Tatiana has thrown the chair on the floor. Got a handful of hair.

[26:29] John DeSilvestri: Oh, turnabout is a fair play, Clan.

[26:32] Glenn Shane: Jimmy, Jimmy, what is Tatiana doing?

[26:35] John DeSilvestri: That's it! Tatiana's going for her sit out facebuster!

[26:39] Glenn Shane: Tatiana is going to slam Mara's face into the chair!

[26:44] John DeSilvestri: Oh!

[26:46] Glenn Shane: Oh man, Mara with a kick to the gut.

[26:49] John DeSilvestri: She she's out of the hold.

[26:51] Glenn Shane: Mara's putting Tatiana in a front face locker.

[26:54] John DeSilvestri: Oh no, no, no, no, don't do that.

[26:55] Glenn Shane: Mara is going to DDT her onto the steel chair.

[26:59] John DeSilvestri: Tatiana's not taking it though.

[27:03] Glenn Shane: Mara's back connected with the edge of the table.

[27:06] John DeSilvestri: Oh sit out face buster.

[27:09] Glenn Shane: Mara went face first into the chair.

[27:14] Mari: I loved my family. I loved my father, but he was too hard on me. He thought he knew what was best for me because he loved me in this way. I was gonna go into the military like him. I was going to be tough like him. I was going to be the best man I could. I tried. I didn't know exactly who I was or what my gender was, but I knew this was not right. When I was very young, my friend's dad took us to a professional wrestling match. I saw Ultimo Dragon take on Lionheart Chris Jericho. And that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a wrestler. My father did not like this. It's fake, he would say. But he was wrong. We know the outcome, sure, but wrestling, especially in Japan, can be brutal. There's a style pioneer more recently called Strong style, where you don't hit as often, but when you do, you hit hard.

Honestly, it's kind of what we do in Joshi Puroresu. Women's wrestling in Japan, but there are differences. Actually, a lot of differences. No matter the style, it's about honor and performance and physical proudness.

[28:21] Mari: If you're going to fight, make it worth something. It was a women's match that hooked me. I worship women like Bull Nakano and Aja Kong. Later I fell in love with Kana and Kairi Hojo and even Gaijin like Sara Dorey and Toni Storm. The women's matches spoke to me more. If you want to be weak, be weak then. If you want to be a man, be a man. I mentioned Joshi's style. Joshi puroresu. Joshi is an all-out brawl and is not fake. Well, it's not about being flashy except when it is. It's hard to describe. It is a delicate balance between flash, femininity, and aggression. Joshi wrestlers use stiff punches, and it's so intense they have rest stops every two minutes in the old school. I was still just a kid, and I saw a video of Akira Hokuto take on Shinobu Kandori at Dream Slam, watching them trade blows, run into the stands, drop one another onto tables, blood flowing everywhere.

It was like poetry. I didn't just want to be a wrestler. I didn't just want to be a woman. I wanted to be a woman who wrestled. I want you to be happy. I wasn't. And I never would be. One night took all the money from my father's wallet and left. No note, no warning. Just left. If I was to attain my dream, speak my poetry, I can only do so on my own. I just want you to be happy. I didn't want to steal. I swore I would pay him back. I just wanted to be happy.

[30:02] Jimmy Segal: Mir Tumara hasn't moved since taking that face buster onto the steel chair. You've taken a chair shot to the head, haven't you, Jimmy?

[30:09] Jimmy Segal: Oh, multiple times. Never gets easy.

[30:12] Glenn Shane: I can only imagine. Tatiana's back in the ring and setting up the ladder. Climb, climb, make your daddy proud. She's climbing up the rungs, but moving slowly. What's the rush? It's not like she needs to hurry. What? Oh, Mir Chumara's up. She's on her feet. She's back in the ring. Oh, Tatiana's petrified. Tati with a kick to the face. Mir Chumara's reeling. You're gonna regret getting back up. Tatiana just jumped off the side of the ladder and hit a beautiful drop kick. That hit the mark, but it took so much out of Tatiana as well. She should have kept climbing. She could have made it up with time to spare if she didn't posture to the crowd. She's still on top, Glen. She knows how to spend her energy. She's strict, smart with her money. She wouldn't even tip a canoe.

[31:01] Jimmy Segal: No, she's just being cruel. Mir Chumara's on her knees. Tatiana up on her feet. She's applying an abdominal stretch. Perfect abdominal stretch, Glen. Mara's in pain, all right. Tatiana is now taking her elbow into Mara's rib. Oh, Mara must be in agony. Do you want to be champ? Who the hell even are you? Mara is mounting a comeback. No! And just like that, Mara's free from the abdominal. Shut up! Get up! Mir Chumara's making her way up the ladder! Tatiana is up again! No! Drop kicks! See Mir Chumara crashing to the floor. Tatiana's pulling Mir Tumara out by the hair. You are nothing, you will be nothing.

[31:40] Glenn Shane: Ooh, harsh words. Tatiana bounces off the ropes. Oh, CD drop kick, that's my girl! Oh, now Tatiana's rubbing her shoes on Mara's head. Mara's beginning to stir. Tatiana with the running boot! Right to the head. I wanted to wrestle. I am not and was not a man, but because of how I was born, I would have to wrestle men. I'd be forced into a men's locker room. I looked very feminine, but as beauty began to rob my face of its smoothness and hormones were hard to afford, I would have to hide. I thought back to the Ultimo Dragon, I would need a mask. In Mexico, the luchadores wore masks and have for over a hundred years. Japanese wrestlers started wearing them in the 70s, but it is the Mexican luchadoras who show the utmost respect for the mask.

The ultimate honor for a Mexican wrestler was not to win a championship, but to win someone else's mask. In Japan, some masked wrestlers would compete in a mask one night, but a mask in the next. For me, when I put on that Mir Tumara mask, I was hiding. But I was okay with that.

[32:55] Mari: When I finally found a wrestling league interested in me, I was so excited. That league was a joke. It was a comedic wrestling league. Their world champion was a ladder. Only once the ladder fell on top of the world champion. The referee counted one, two, three, and yeah, the ladder was a world champion. They made fun of WEW and the over-the-top nature. Throughout its existence, they appointed world champions to a ladder, a steel chair, three different sex dolls, a monkey, and a duck. He won the title fair and square. He pinned the ladder. No, he pinned the steel chair. The ladder retired. Go out on top, I guess. I was put into the tournament for the vacant title. You were dressed in a foam rubber costume.

[33:44] Jimmy Segal: Gamora, I was Gamora.

[33:46] Mari: And you lost in the final round of the tournament to Ultraman. But I did attract the attention of another promotion. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Giant monster. Call it whatever you like. I quickly rose to the ranks of champion. Tell them who you portrayed.

[34:01] Jimmy Segal: I was a fearsome fighting champ. Tell them who you were.

[34:04] Mari: The promotion itself was based around giant monsters who came to life to battle in.

[34:08] Jimmy Segal: Uh, quit stalling. Tell them.

[34:09] Mari: I was Sakurapsu, the Cyclops. Dai Ichikona Sy Krupsu.

[34:16] Jimmy Segal: Get to the good part.

[34:18] Mari: I was a one-eyed tentacle monster.

[34:20] Jimmy Segal: Woo!

[34:21] Mari: Who chased school girls through the ring? And don't forget about your arch nemesis.

[34:28] Jimmy Segal: Ham sandwich!

[34:29] Mari: He was a ham sandwich! A giant ham sandwich named Ham Sandwich!

[34:36] Jimmy Segal: I think that's enough. They get the A ham sandwich! Like a mutant sandwich! You know, I'm not the only one working a stupid gimmick.

[34:44] Mari: Hey, Trust Fun Princess. You know why I took on that gimmick.

[34:50] Jimmy Segal: You told me.

[34:50] Mari: Yeah, if it weren't for Trust Fun Princess, we'd never have Mir Tumara.

[34:55] Jimmy Segal: Mir Tumara would have existed.

[34:57] Mari: She would have. She would have been wearing a foam rubber costume, smashing fake buildings. I would have gotten out. I had to, or else we never would have met.

[35:06] Jimmy Segal: You wouldn't have lasted five seconds outside the foam rubber costumes. You didn't know if you wanted to be a brawler or a shooter or what. You were boring before we met. You needed me. I needed you. No one would fight you. You were too hard for Josie's strongest, though. But in America, they wanted models. Models who would look good but couldn't take a punch. If it wasn't for me, they'd have put your ass in a bikini and would have found out in an instant.

[35:30] Glenn Shane: You're crossing a line.

[35:31] Jimmy Segal: Why?

[35:31] Glenn Shane: Because I'm right.

[35:32] Jimmy Segal: No, because a display. What athleticism? You know what, Glen. Looks like Tatiana's not quite done either.

[35:39] Glenn Shane: Oh, you said it, Jimmy. Tatiana has Mara lying flat on the middle rope. Planking on the ropes. Natsi jumps up. We've seen this before. Oh, driving her knees into Mara's sternum. A million-dollar knee drop. What a devastating variation of the meteora. Tati sure knows how to dole out punishment. Last time I felt something that painful, she took half my assets.

[36:03] Glenn Shane: What is Tatiana doing here? She has placed the ladder on Mara's face. Whatever it is, it looks dangerous. She's pained the ladder into Mir Chumara's face. Tatiana just casually walking to the other side. You don't think she could destroy Mara's clavicle. She's going to use the ladder. She's going to jump onto the ladder and she could end Mara's career. If she's going to do what I think she's gonna do, she could kill her! Do it! No, no, no, no, no. Tatiana wouldn't be that brutal. She was on the ladder at Amara. Oh, Tatiana just slapped Mara's face. She didn't even use the ladder. Now she's bound to a chorus of boos. Oh, that cocky so-and-so. She's got the chair now. Place it across Samara's chest. She's setting Mara up for something very dangerous. Again. She has evil intentions. She gets a good running start and Mara threw the chair at the running Tatiana.

[37:01] Glenn Shane: Tatiana's poor head. Oh shit. Tati's dazed, but very passionate. Looks like she's going to try again. Ramming speed. Mara rolled out of the way. Oh, Tatiana was going for a running knee strike, but she hit the turnbuckle.

[37:17] Jimmy Segal: Jimmy, you can attest. They may be padded, but oh, absolutely, Glen. It's a giant metal piece of hardware there. It makes it safer, but it sure as hell feels like ramming into steel.

[37:31] Glenn Shane: Oh, she's woozy. Mara may have gone out of the way, but she's still hurt. It looks like Mir Chumara's rolling Tatiana in a winning position. We would have a new champ. Oh, if this were a normal match, but she can't win like that. She has to climb on top and claim the title.

[37:51] Jimmy Segal: Sorry, instinct. What a moron. We gave Mir Chumara an IQ test before she signed with WEW, and the results came back negative. The Trust Fun Princess is out of the pin. Mara still slow to get up. Oh, like that hurt. Tatiana with a swift kick to the chest of Mir Chumara. Oh, one more kick. Running knee strike to the head of Mir Chumara. The knees are the hardest part of the body. Well, not for me, at least. You think Tatiana knows she could have lost the title, Jimmy? Judging by the intensity of those kicks and the running knee strike, I shouldn't say so. Tatiana's trying to finish this now. Looks like that's it. She's signaling for the spinning back elbow.

[38:35] Glenn Shane: Platinum spoon elbow, Glen.

[38:37] Jimmy Segal: Right, she changed the name.

[38:39] Glenn Shane: Change the more than that, Glen. Grabbing Mara by the arm. She has more power. Whipping her into the rope. More intensity. She spins, but Mara does. What? Tatiana with a leapfrog. Hip toss attempt. Interrupts. No, no! That is a face of genuine fear and terror. She tries to toss the keeper of the books of the dead again, but no leverage. Mir Chumara with an overhead chop to the chest of the Trust Fun Princess. Kick to the head. Stomp on the hand, kick to the chest! Oh, Tatiana's in trouble. Set up for a running hip attack. Uh, Tati's getting up. Mir Chumara's already moving, but Tatiana caught her. Standing side suplex. Tatiana used Mir Chumara's own momentum against her. Luckily, Tatiana was way too smart for her there. Urr, there. Whatever. Just call the match, Glen.

[39:33] Glenn Shane: Both of these competitors are out. They are really proving that they are some of the most powerful, intense, and athletic females we have on the roster. Seems like Mir Chumara is the first one to her feet. Oh no! Mara is looking at her hands. Oh, evil intentions as Tatiana staggers to her feet. The smile on Mara's face, much more prominent without the mask. Raising her hand to the sky. We've seen that. Mir Chumara's got Tatiana by the throat. The wide-eyed smile we've become accustomed to by the keeper of the books of the dead. This move has put away a lot of incredible Prima Donnas before. It's not just a slam, but the way she grips the throat.

[40:24] Jimmy Segal: Come on, Tati!

[40:30] Glenn Shane: With a stiff forearm, Mara. Oh, and another! Mara has released the hold and is now staggering. She got out of it! She escaped the dead end choke slam! Platinum spoon, back elbow. Strike!

[40:51] Mari: I fight with her a lot. I know she can seem mean.

[40:55] Jimmy Segal: I am mean.

[40:56] Mari: It's a gimmick.

[40:57] Jimmy Segal: Shut up! She's highly dedicated to the craft. The first day we met. Introducing a Tokyo locker room years ago.

[41:06] Glenn Shane: Oh.

[41:07] Mari: Yes.

[41:09] Jimmy Segal: Oh, Hayu Gosi Yamasu.

[41:13] Mari: Dear God, please tell me you speak English.

[41:15] Mari: Enough to get by.

[41:16] Jimmy Segal: Good morning to you too.

[41:19] Mari: At it's seven o'clock at night.

[41:20] Jimmy Segal: Good morning mean uh Sasmitsu means good morning. Kumbanwa is good evening. Are you my opponent?

[41:27] Mari: You're in a locker room.

[41:29] Jimmy Segal: That is true. So are you.

[41:31] Mari: My pants are purple. Does that mean something in Japanese that I don't know or something?

[41:36] Jimmy Segal: I thought we were saying facts. I am in a locker room. My pants are purple. Both facts.

[41:42] Mari: You are in our locker room, so why are you getting changed in the restroom?

[41:46] Jimmy Segal: You shouldn't have to get changed in the restroom.

[41:48] Mari: I'm very shy.

[41:50] Jimmy Segal: Shy?

[41:51] Mari: Okay. Well, this is a mistake. I'm canceling our match.

[41:55] Jimmy Segal: You don't want to fight me? If you're shy, I will kill you. I've seen your matches.

[41:59] Mari: Uh then you know I don't play around. I took on Aja Kong. I made her bleed. She said she was scared of taking me on. It was in private, but she said it. I don't step in the ring with people who are weak, no offense. I might not get to choose who wins, but I can choose who I fight. I need this match. I'm sorry. I can't eat, I'm sorry. I'm sorry doesn't give me a place to sleep. But I'm sorry, we'll keep you safe. I really don't mean to offend you, but sometimes people don't walk away from my matches. I said I've seen your work.

[42:31] Mari: And I've seen yours. Spent most of your career in a foam suit, pretending to be a monster. You've had two matches here. You puff your chest, throw people around, then use a submission hold. You wanna stay interesting? Get a new finishing move. Maybe learn to strike. You want to keep wrestling? Walk away. Go home today. Wrestle tomorrow. I'm gonna talk to the booker to see who else is arrested. You want a match. Okay. You sure you want to stand between me and I want a match? Not so shy anymore, huh? My father was ex-military. I have slept in the street, eaten out of dumpsters. I am strong. Anything you give, I can take. You're not anything new. You're a wrestler. We've all slept in our cars on the street, whatever.

I'm booked to win. You want to puff your chest fine. I'm not gonna pretend to be scared of you, though. I'm gonna give it to you hard. Then when I win, I'm gonna keep wailing on you. That should open up a rivalry if, and I'm saying if I want one. If not, that's it. No shame in walking away or limping. She did just that. She beat the hell out of me. Pinned me, then she beat the hell out of me again. But really, she went easy on me. I don't go easy. We trained for months, began a feud, try to find new ways to hurt one another. Yeah, it was fake. We were told who would win, but everything else was up to us. Then they started liking our stories in the ring. So much they stopped telling us, made suggestions who they thought should win.

Sometimes we agreed. Most of the time we didn't care. So here's what I'm thinking. Your move needs to look impressive. I'm thinking some sort of slam. If you're gonna keep up this monster persona, go whole hog and do something monstrous or drop it. Ho hog? Commit or quit. Make more sense. I don't quit. I know. What about a fireman's carry into a cutter? How's it look? You lift them up in a fireman's carry, put your armor on their neck, swing them around, and fall. Hmm, impressive. But not your style. What if we were to start with the fireman's carry, then instead of spinning, you throw them forward and lunge, their stomach lands on your knee, looks impressive. If I mess up. Just because you're not doing it doesn't mean someone else won't. Maybe the fireman's carry is too much.

Let's try a different family. Uh lifts, suplexes, pile drivers. I might paralyze. Mari, Jesus, why don't you just shake their hand? That can be your move. Crippling acquiescence. Aquis, give me something to work with. Uh whoa, I have an idea. Simple, elegant, plenty of room for customization. Choke slam. I know choke slam. Okay, yeah, but let's give it something more. So I'm standing, you grab my neck, standard. I push up as you lift, fall back, bump. You know this. I know. But like, here's the thing you start it like a submission, like a terrifying choke. You start gripping the neck, I start fading. Oh, no. Then slam. Now you don't just have a finishing move, you have a killer move for a killer monster character.

Choke. Slam. You wanna be a monster. You grab my throat, you look me in the eyes, you smile. Your mask has the jaw open so people will see it all. You smile, and you've got your monster. Chokeslam. Keep working it on the sandbag. Next match, I'll put you over for the win so you can show it off. I'll pretend to grip my throat and cut a groggy promo. It's gonna be sick. Choke slam. Sick. I think Tatan knocked Mara's head clean off. She is certainly reeling from that hit. She's getting that ladder again. Tatiana could do more serious damage, or she could be going up for the win. She's setting up the ladder, beginning her ascent to a possible win. She can do it. Come on, Tatya. Do your daddy proud.

But it looks like Mirchumara's starting to come around. Faster, faster, Clum! Get to the top! Come on! The trust fun princess can see the title, but her knee is worn down from that turnbuckle smasher. Slam! Club! The title's within her reach! Oh my god! Mar Miru Chumaro just shoved Tatiana in the ladder to the floor. I can't look neither of them are moving. Tremendous heart and intestinal fortitude are being shown by both these prima donnas tonight. We want to remind you all to stay tuned after this match for the grudge match of a lifetime. Roncina, Stone Johnson, two out of three falls match. I hope we have Tom. These prima donnas are taking a little longer than expected, but we've come to expect the unexpected here at WEW.

This match, this latter match is really showing how far these females, these prima donnas are willing to go, and the sheer talent the prima donna division has. They've always had talent, if you know what I mean. You're talking about their hooties, aren't you? You certainly can't teach that, Glenn. No, it looks like Tatiana's the first to her feet. She's picking up the ladder. Oh, very gingerly. She sets it up. Could she be going to climb again? Oh, Mir Chumara's now crawling. Oh, hell no. Tatiana runs off the ropes and picks the ladder over onto the back of Mir Tumara. Hmm. That's right. Clover leaf time. Clover leaf time. She's calling for a Texas clover leaf. In all the matches these two have had, Mir Tumara has never submitted to the Texas Clover Leaf.

Even if she wanted to, she couldn't for this. Mara's tapping out! She tapped! She tapped! This is huge! Mir Tumara has never tapped out. Why couldn't this have been a normal match? I'd be sipping some champagne on God Millionaire's Yup by now. She let go, and it appears she's headed out of the ring and into the crowd. What's she doing now? She's grabbing a fan sign? It says Tatiana, use my sign? What? What? Oh! There went! Oh is it? That was a there was a road sign of that's a dead end sign, Clint! Dead and Premier Chumara, that's for sure. Disrespect! The sheet she threw she threw the sign on the ground! Setting up front! Oh no! Sit out facebuster directly on the Oh. In our Japanese promotion, our matches were being picked up by Japanese, Mexican, and even some American wrestling magazines.

People want to see what we do next, but we did shock everyone. Even me. Introducing a ladies' locker room in Hokkaido, Japan. About a year ago. Alex, you know. You know me. I do, and you know me well enough to. Oh. Oh, I'm terrible, Sarah. I shouldn't be. Rego Jimmy Siegel? Yeah, he was just leaving. Sorry about this. Uh Alexa, at least consider our office. I've stated my terms. You know what I can't authorize. It's too large of an investment for WEW. If I go, I don't want to lose to some former cheerleader who can do a cartwheel, smile, and flash or what do you call them again, hooties? I'll I'll go. No, no, no. Stay, Mari. You should hear this. Jimmy, will you agree to split the two-year contract between us into one year a piece?

What? You love us. Renew us for longer. You hate us, we go back to Japan. We? And you'd be okay with this as well. Uh relocating to the US. Wrestling for the WEW? I uh Jimmy, you came to me. What is this? Your third time? You want to turn the prima donna division around? You want people to take it seriously? Show me. Put your money where your mouth is. I will sign if you sign, Mari. No, you you should just I need someone I can trust. Someone who can keep up with me. I can't authorize. Jimmy! Call you you need to, get it authorized. Otherwise, you're leaving empty handed. Get it done or quit wasting all of our time. All right. I'll tell them no guarantees, but I'll tell them. All I'm asking. Don't you want to go back to America?

You should have just WEW may might be big right now. They may have a lot of money, and yeah, they want to completely overhaul the women's division. But they can't do that without us. Both of us. I don't know if I want to go. You don't go, I don't go. Think of the money. I didn't fight at carnivals, side shows, auto shows, or strip clubs just to become someone's puppet. I've always brought myself up on my own terms. They want me, it's on those terms. Give me a damned fight. Someone who can match me, or else everything is wasting everyone else's time, money, and careers. Say you'll do it or don't. Either way, I'm fighting you, and everyone else needs to keep up or get the hell out of our way. We were flown out to Connecticut to meet with Glenn Shane, the owner and COO of the WEW.

We met separately. Introducing a swanky office in Greenwich, Connecticut. Sometime after. You do understand that this is very unorthodox. I do, yes. Reviewing your matches with Alexa, I have to say, I'm impressed. I I love what I've seen. I do think you would make a fantastic addition to our ranks. I just need to. Uh I'm gonna be frank. Are you or are you not on performance-enhancing drugs? No, I am not. Steroids. No, no, very much no. But I I hope you understand. We have to take these things very seriously, so there won't be any surprises on the mandatory drug test, I hope. Drug test? If there are, tell me now. No sense wasting any time or money on the drug test. I I uh there are a few things you will find.

A testosterone blocker and s you take these substances. They are injections, hormone injections. I've been buying them on the internet. I'm in the process of- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Did you say testosterone blockers? Yes, I have to for I don't understand. I did want to tell him. I didn't want to tell anyone. I just wanted to live. I wish I had my mask for the interview. I wish I could hide. But I told him. Because if they told Alexa that they would not hire me because of a failed drug test, I could not have her think I was an addict. And I could not tell her myself. I just wanted to live. I just wanted to work. But if I was to do that, I needed to tell them. I'm transgender, and you need to know that if I'm going to work with you.

Okay. Uh uh j just so you're aware you you are not legally required to discuss this any further with me. I am sorry. I I I will go. No, no, no, no. I I'm saying that because we as a company we we do not discriminate. We would need to inform the medics. No Mari. Mari, we're not going to out you. Look, we at least need to get you to a primary care physician and alert them that you're taking on a very dangerous job. And stop taking hormones from over the internet, okay? We can help you find someone who can help with your hormones and I am specifically not asking or assuring what you have or have not done, but if there's anything procedurally, you need you know, we will work with you to help you.

We can't provide you healthcare, but we can pay a very competitive rate that should help with this, and we take the health and safety and well being of our employees very seriously, incredibly seriously. You tell us how we can accommodate, and we will, but we need to know you're keeping healthy, and we need to alert emergency responders and our medical teams of a potential injury you may encounter. You understand? Yes. I understand. Good. So assuming that those are the only substances that show up on your drug test. I'd like to officially offer you a slot on our roster. He was the first person I told. Healthcare would have been nice, but it was good to know I had support. The magazine continued to run breakdowns of our matches with pictures.

They love the work we were doing. They say we were changing the face of Primadonna Division. They also said I can't believe you're reading that crap. Introducing a WEW locker room a short time ago. It's good to know what they're they talk about in the industry. What matters to the, you know. What matters is what we think of the industry, not the other way around. I think I like to hear their opinions. You do whatever. What are they saying? Well, they love our matches. They love the little throwbacks to our matches in Japan. The only thing they don't like. I don't care what they don't like. I don't. Um, what is it? What don't they like? Your gimmick. Whatever, it's just a gimmick. My in ring ability more than makes up for a shitty gimmick.

Who cares? I think maybe you do. No, I don't. I know myself. I know where I come from. What the hell is your gimmick? What is a Mirtumara anyway? A Buddha Shinigami, a demon that makes people want to die. It is said that if possessed, one would want to kill themselves because of the shock. Okay, that's pretty brutal. And the keeper of the books of death. WEW add that based on the yokada, a demon that decide the time of people's death. You don't feel awkward portraying a god. I'm not Buddhist. It's fucked up, but you do not have a trust fund.

[56:45] Mari: I know what I am and what I'm not, alright? I do the gimmick, play the part, we get what we want.

[56:50] Glenn Shane: We?

[56:51] Mari: Yeah, yeah. We uh get to go out every night and what? What do you really mean by we?

[56:59] Glenn Shane: Drop it.

[57:00] Mari: Are you doing this for you or playing this gimmick because of me?

[57:04] Glenn Shane: I only look out for myself, okay? I brought you along so that you can help me, my career, that's it. They want me to do a gimmick for a little while. The gimmick is everything I stand against.

[57:16] Mari: Yeah, yeah, I know. I go along with the gimmick and they sign you. That was the deal. I play the trust fund princess, and you play the Buddhist god of suicide. David and Goliath, but chicks.

[57:30] Glenn Shane: Mari, the truth in what we do is never the truth people see or that they're told. The pain is real, the craft is real, the fabrication helps sell the other realities. The pageantry is what brings people in.

[57:47] Mari: I can't stand shooters, submission wrestlers, amazing at their craft. Yeah, they are sure, but there's no pageantry in rolling around on the mat. Yeah, I'm playing ball, sucking up to people, playing by their rules, but it's still on my terms. That's why when they told me I needed a submission hold, I went with the Texas clover leaf. Reminds me of where I grew up. Wrestling with my brothers in the backyard. Being told I had to be a cheerleader when I really wanted to wrestle, forcing them to let me on the wrestling team, competing against men and kicking their asses, training to go pro and being the only woman, so again, I'd wrestle the men. Even though I'm bedazzled all to hell, even though I wear a vest that would make Liberace cry. Beneath all the glitz and glam they put on me lies the truth. I know people see it even if they don't see it.

[58:38] Glenn Shane: You go out and act like a monster. The truth is you are one of the kindest, gentlest people I've ever made bleed. It's the only it's only the nicest, sweetest people who can play the best monsters.

[58:52] Mari: Oh.

[58:53] Glenn Shane: Oh hugs.

[58:57] Mari: Okay, alright, that's enough. Just so we are clear, I never said any of that shit.

[59:04] Glenn Shane: I understand, Delmo. Meant every word I never said.

[59:09] Jimmy Segal: Can you believe she would do that? Hide a roadside and play tight.

[59:12] Glenn Shane: You gotta do what you got, Jewelish businesses, Glenn. Sometimes you've got to stack the deck yourself.

[59:15] Mari: Or it looks like Tatiana's setting up.

[59:20] Glenn Shane: Oh, not another one!

[59:21] Jimmy Segal: Not another face buster.

[59:23] Glenn Shane: Mara's head. Do it! Do it!

[59:26] Jimmy Segal: No!

[59:27] Glenn Shane: Reverse the face buster and turned it into a spine buster of her own!

[59:33] Jimmy Segal: Jimmy! Have you ever seen anything like this?

[59:36] Glenn Shane: No, Glenn! This is revolutionary! Mara now setting up the ladder. Could could Mir to Mara be going for the title?

[59:43] Jimmy Segal: Tatsu is up. Trust Fun Princesses favoring her back and her knee. Yeah!

[59:48] Glenn Shane: Uh oh, forearm to the face! Mara sent really into the rope. Trying another platinum spoon in reverse elbow.

[59:56] Jimmy Segal: Mara ducks it, bounces off the other rope. Double leg lift on Tatiana, but oh! Oh, I think Miruchumar was going for another spine buster or maybe a spear, but the trespon princess turned into a sit out facebuster. Oh, that must have taken every ounce of strength to try to deliver that spine buster. Both of them have seemed to have expended all their energy, Glenn. They are not moving.

[1:00:20] Glenn Shane: Oh, I hate watching this.

[1:00:22] Jimmy Segal: Oh, no. No, I see.

[1:00:24] Glenn Shane: It looks like yes! Mir to Mara is crawling towards the ladder. The keeper of the books of death making her way to the ladder. So is Tatiana. Both using it to steady themselves, climbing slowly to the top on either side of the ladder.

[1:00:41] Jimmy Segal: Go! Go club faster. Come on!

[1:00:44] Glenn Shane: Both making it to the top. Now trading strikes. She caught her! Mirto Maras caught Tatiana's punch! Wrapped her hand around the throat and the tr no, no, no, no, no. She can't do this on up there!

[1:00:56] Jimmy Segal: Not from the top of the channel. Looks like it's time for a dead end jokes.

[1:01:09] Mari: I took a huge risk in telling Glenn that I was trans. Then they forced me to take an even bigger risk. Introducing Greenwich, Connecticut! About about a month ago.

[1:01:20] Glenn Shane: We're not asking you.

[1:01:22] Mari: I won't do it.

[1:01:23] Glenn Shane: People have been clamoring to see you unmasked. It'll be good for you.

[1:01:26] Mari: I won't unmask. I don't want people to see my face. It's disrespectful. In Mexican wrestling, sure, but in Japan. They only remove the mask by choice. Their choice. This mask is who I am.

[1:01:39] Glenn Shane: Do you want to be defined by your talents or your mask?

[1:01:42] Mari: I want to keep my mask. I took the name of Buddhist God for you. I play a monster for you. I need my mask.

[1:01:49] Glenn Shane: If it's because you're trans, don't worry about it.

[1:01:51] Mari: Excuse me?

[1:01:53] Jimmy Segal: People will eat it up. You trans is a new gay Caitlyn Jenner.

[1:01:58] Mari: I can't believe you.

[1:01:59] Jimmy Segal: Can we have a moment?

[1:02:00] Mari: I'm telling you, if you worked a trans.

[1:02:03] Jimmy Segal: A moment, please.

[1:02:06] Mari: Fine, fine. I'm sorry.

[1:02:10] Jimmy Segal: You promised.

[1:02:11] Mari: I had to tell him.

[1:02:13] Jimmy Segal: He is not a medical professional.

[1:02:15] Mari: No, but I can't. Look, it was a shitty thing to do, I know. But he asked why you got a single locker room. I told him it was a disability and disability. I had to tell him something.

[1:02:26] Mari: I don't want to unmask. I don't want people to know in it. It's my decision.

[1:02:30] Glenn Shane: Your character can only stretch so far in a mask. We give people a face, and you become a human.

[1:02:37] Mari: I'm already a human.

[1:02:38] Glenn Shane: Not to them. To them, you're a mystery, and sooner or later, mysteries get solved. You can do that on your terms and get a little play out of it. Or you can wait for some jackass working backstage to take a picture of you with their phone. But mysteries get solved. And when this happens, I will deal with it.

[1:02:57] Mari: Goodbye, Glenn. You gotta do this, or we name someone else number one contender.

[1:03:01] Glenn Shane: You said you do told me. Her character needs to expand. To grow. Let your character grow.

[1:03:11] Mari: If I wanted to continue doing what I love, if I wanted Alexa to continue, I had to remove my mask. Introducing a locker room in Cleveland, Ohio, shortly after.

[1:03:24] Glenn Shane: Are you sure you're okay with a mask versus title match?

[1:03:29] Mari: I'm taking your mask, you know.

[1:03:31] Glenn Shane: I'm not okay, but that is the gimmick. This goes beyond a gimmick. You wear your mask at bars. This is I'm doing what I have to do. I'm playing a ball. Don't lose who you are.

[1:03:42] Mari: I know who I am. I don't need a mask to be me.

[1:03:46] Glenn Shane: Alright. Earlier today I received this letter.

[1:03:50] Mari: The threatening one. So I quit. I left a note for Glenn and walked out of that locker room.

[1:03:58] Glenn Shane: There Ina. Did not know where I was going. I just left. Introducing outside the Barkley Center, Brooklyn, New York. A few hours ago.

[1:04:10] Mari: Ow!

[1:04:11] Glenn Shane: What the hell?

[1:04:12] Mari: I'm sorry.

[1:04:13] Glenn Shane: No! Please just let me go.

[1:04:15] Mari: You don't get to do that. You don't just get to leave. Stranding me.

[1:04:19] Glenn Shane: I had to.

[1:04:20] Mari: To quit? To throw me to whatever supermodel the WEW could find for me to beat. They told me I was supposed to take on Brookbrook.

[1:04:30] Glenn Shane: Brook Brook.

[1:04:32] Mari: Her name is the same name twice. I doubt she could even climb a ladder. I said no, I'm taking on Mari. They said I can't stay here.

[1:04:43] Glenn Shane: Bullshit. After all I've done for you.

[1:04:45] Mari: You did it all for yourself. You said so every time. Bringing me here, making me unmask.

[1:04:50] Glenn Shane: I didn't want you to win the mask.

[1:04:51] Mari: You. It was all about you. You said.

[1:04:53] Glenn Shane: I lied, okay? In this business, you can't be too soft. You can't be soft at all. So many times we were this close to being forced into an evening gown match or a bra and panties match. And and you don't understand. I need to go.

[1:05:08] Mari: Then I'm leaving too.

[1:05:09] Glenn Shane: You can't, you're the champion. Figure something out.

[1:05:11] Mari: I'm doing this for you. If you can quit, I can quit. I can't fight Brookbrook tonight. What if they tell me to give my title to her?

[1:05:21] Glenn Shane: No. If you're in trouble, I want to help you.

[1:05:24] Mari: No, you wouldn't understand.

[1:05:26] Glenn Shane: Make me.

[1:05:27] Mari: Please. You're my only true friend, Mari. The only one I trust.

[1:05:33] Glenn Shane: I've been lying to you.

[1:05:35] Mari: When?

[1:05:36] Glenn Shane: I'm transgender.

[1:05:38] Mari: Oh.

[1:05:39] Glenn Shane: Okay. When did you lie to me?

[1:05:42] Mari: I've been lying this whole time. For years I pretended that wasn't. That was normal. I didn't want to think about it, but I'm not normal.

[1:05:51] Glenn Shane: That's it. That's what you've been lying about?

[1:05:56] Mari: Okay. Sure, you didn't tell me, but you never lied. Fuck, girl. You be you. I'll fight you any day. I'll fucking take you on right here. We find a time machine, I'll go back in time to when we met and I'll tell myself not to go so easy on you.

[1:06:09] Glenn Shane: That's shitty. And you said you never go easy.

[1:06:12] Mari: I say a lot of things. If this is you, own that shit.

[1:06:20] Glenn Shane: They're looking for us to do a double turn, make me a heel, and switch you to being a baby face. You wanna own it? I can start calling you a tranny or—

[1:06:27] Mari: Please don't. Don't say that. Not that word.

[1:06:34] Glenn Shane: I'm sorry. I was just saying I will do whatever it takes. Say whatever terrible things you need me to to make you the biggest baby face in the industry and let you kick the shit out of me because I, you know.

[1:06:48] Mari: Finish.

[1:06:49] Glenn Shane: Shut up. Please finish.

[1:06:51] Mari: You said you would do anything.

[1:06:55] Glenn Shane: I fucking love you, alright? I've never respected someone as much as I respect you. I need you. You're the greatest person to ever shed my blood.

[1:07:07] Mari: Anatawa Watsashiro.

[1:07:10] Glenn Shane: Oh, nay, son. You're my sister.

[1:07:13] Mari: Oh.

[1:07:15] Glenn Shane: Again with the hugs.

[1:07:19] Mari: Alright, alright, alright. Cut it out. You gonna be ready for the match?

[1:07:26] Glenn Shane: Off the ladder!

[1:07:27] Jimmy Segal: I'm dead and joke slam off the ladder!

[1:07:33] Glenn Shane: They're dead! They have to be dead!

[1:07:38] Jimmy Segal: Have you ever been dead!

[1:07:41] Glenn Shane: Have you ever in your life?

[1:07:43] Jimmy Segal: Never! They would love!

[1:07:46] Glenn Shane: Division! Not in any division!

[1:07:48] Jimmy Segal: Oh, Mirchubada! She's getting a oh no! No! She's climbing the ladder! The title's within her reach! Can she do it? Can she pull the title from the ceiling?

[1:08:03] Glenn Shane: Here is your winner and new Primadonna champion, Mirtu Mara!

[1:08:12] Mari: I'm overcome with emotion. Thank you. Thank you. I used to be homeless on the streets of Japan. I never wanted anyone to know me, to know who I was. So I hid behind a mask. I became the monster I needed to be to stay safe. I'm not hiding anymore. I am proud to be WEW's first openly transgender prima donna champion. Domo Arigato Kozasimashta.

[1:08:43] Glenn Shane: Well, we did talk about evolutions and revolutions bid within the Primadonna division.

[1:08:49] Jimmy Segal: Certainly did, Glen. Even um a little touched by the display. But how does Tatiana feel?

[1:08:56] Glenn Shane: Looked like we might find out. The trust fun princess is on her feet, staring at the keeper of the books of death. Is Yu Chumara extend her hand in friendship? At least a sign of respect, but will it be reciprocated?

[1:09:10] Jimmy Segal: She shoved Mara's hand away. But look at that hug. Have you ever in your time seen Tatiana hug anyone?

[1:09:17] Glenn Shane: It's like what you say, Glenn. Expect the unexpectedly WEW.

[1:09:26] Mari: I said in that moment, no more mask. I am me. But if I was truly ready to be me. A champion doesn't run. I had someone to call. I forgot about the time difference from America to Japan. Introducing a much needed phone call.

[1:09:49] Mari: It rang five times. And I almost hung up, but on the last ring.

[1:09:54] Unknown speaker: Moshimoshi.

[1:09:55] Mari: Moshimoshi.

[1:09:56] Unknown speaker: Sumi Mason. Who is this? Do you have any idea what time?

[1:10:00] Mari: I'm I'm sorry. You you long ago had a son and he ran away.

[1:10:05] Unknown speaker: Is this a prank?

[1:10:06] Mari: Don't don't hang up. He used to train with you. You you taught Makido, Daisu.

[1:10:12] Unknown speaker: Daiske? Dicekay?

[1:10:13] Mari: That was his name.

[1:10:16] Unknown speaker: My name. You sound so different.

[1:10:21] Mari: I I am Dad. I'm sorry I ran away.

[1:10:25] Unknown speaker: Okay. I I took all your money and I ran.

[1:10:27] Mari: Dice gay. I I wanted to pay you back. I've been working to do it, but so but I'm not Dice Gay. Not anymore.

[1:10:33] Unknown speaker: This is really hard for me, Dad. Ever since I left, I I had to bring myself up on my own terms and WW, they they want me to they want me on those terms.

[1:10:45] Unknown speaker: The wrestling company? Yes. You always loved wrestling. Why now, what do you mean you're not Dice Gipp?

[1:10:52] Mari: I want to reconnect with you, but if you're not interested, that's fine. Say you'll do it, or don't. Either way, I'm happy. I'm fighting and everyone else needs to get out of my way.

[1:11:04] Glenn Shane: You said a lot, Dice.

[1:11:07] Mari: What should I call you if not Daiske?

[1:11:10] Mari: It's Mari now, Dad.

[1:11:12] Glenn Shane: Muddy?

[1:11:13] Mari: And I'm a woman. I've always have been, but now it's official.

[1:11:20] Glenn Shane: I don't know how to.

[1:11:24] Mari: You don't have to. It's fine. I'll go.

[1:11:26] Glenn Shane: Are you happy?

[1:11:28] Mari: What?

[1:11:29] Glenn Shane: Please tell me. Tell me you're happy.

[1:11:34] Mari: Yes, Dad. Very happy. I've made my life worth something.

[1:11:41] Glenn Shane: I wish uh. I wish I knew what to do. Those years ago, but I think we both knew I couldn't. Knowing you're happy and that you're safe and and uh alive. Knowing all that makes me so happy.

[1:12:01] Mari: I am, Dad. I love you.

[1:12:06] Glenn Shane: Thank you. I'm sorry, that is all I can say right now. I I need time.

[1:12:12] Mari: Okay, okay. I I understand. You wouldn't want to call me sometime though. Sometime that isn't four in the morning.

[1:12:21] Glenn Shane: I would.

[1:12:22] Mari: Thank you. I didn't want you to be me. I just wanted you to be happy. I pushed you so you could become happy, but I pushed you too hard.

[1:12:35] Glenn Shane: Who you are that's going to take some time to get used to, but I do love you. Know that.

[1:12:45] Mari: I love you too, Dad. My whole life I hid. Behind mask, foam, rubber, and costumes, gimmicks. I hid behind assumptions. I'm not hiding anymore. A champion doesn't become a champion if they're hiding. And I'll play.

[1:13:22] ♪ Musical number ♪

[1:14:16] I'm behind your every breath.

[1:17:00] Iyvon Edebiri: So before we we we get started in the interview section of our episode, I just want to give another shout out to our really dope as fuck cast tonight. So so great. So great. Let me put this here. Okay, so Ashley.

[1:17:15] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yes.

[1:17:23] Iyvon Edebiri: What was the inspiration behind this play?

[1:17:28] Ashley Lauren Rogers: I love it. Yeah, so I it comes from a lot of different places. One, my absolute love of professional wrestling. I grew up watching it. It was something that just it spoke to me on such a huge level, and it still does. Honestly, some of the most intense emotions I've ever felt have been at a wrestling event. And so, particularly at the time that I was writing this one, this was when WWE was finally listening to the hashtag give Divas a Chance hashtag. That whole thing started, and I said, like, all right, I want to write something that I love, and I want to write something. I just gotten into Queen Wynn's work. And his whole thing is writing about stuff that he loves and finds interesting. And so for me, I said, okay, I'm gonna sit down and I'm gonna write a really over-the-top play that I don't think will ever be produced because it is entirely too complicated, and I'm not gonna limit myself.

[1:18:31] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:18:32] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And yeah.

[1:18:33] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah, and one thing I I love that. Um, and I also grew up watching wrestling. Um, yeah, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Eddie Guerrera. There were other people. There are many men. I was just like. I mean, I was just watching a lot of men just be angry, and I was okay with that. Um, but one thing I really did love as a as a child, I watched it a lot with my dad, was that it just inherently wrestling is a very theatrical event in itself. Like when I found out that the storylines were crafted, it blew my mind. I was like, how is this possible? Especially, especially sorry, I'm going on other time. Especially because you know Donald Trump was on episodes, and like Steven McMahon would just like whack the future president with a metal chair.

[1:19:23] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Type of man, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's so crazy.

[1:19:27] Iyvon Edebiri: Um Donald Donald Trump is the uh only US president in the WWE Hall of Fame.

[1:19:33] Ashley Lauren Rogers: That's bizarre.

[1:19:34] Iyvon Edebiri: That's crazy.

[1:19:35] Ashley Lauren Rogers: It's uh it's a whole thing. Although I think Obama could take him in a match.

[1:19:39] Iyvon Edebiri: I completely agree. I think yes, yes. Let's push for that.

[1:19:42] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yeah.

[1:19:43] Iyvon Edebiri: Um, so one thing I I I love the the theatricality of this play, and specifically, you know, knowing that you know it's a very visual play, yeah, you know, and you you even said it yourself that it's one that will probably be very difficult to produce. I don't think anything there are not many things that are unproducible, I think, but this would be very difficult to produce because you would need wrestlers. Um, but for this iteration, this is audio, and so um the people who are listening and were not in this room, a lot of those sounds were made by the actors slamming things and hitting on their chest and and making those um very, very um audio pieces of the play really feel alive. So, how did you approach writing the play to have a balance of both the visuals and the audio? Because usually a play leans one more one towards the other, and I think yours does a great job at giving both equal viability.

[1:20:47] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Thank you. Yeah. For me, the adaptation was very much taking what I wrote in the stage directions and trying to figure out how I can make it not just, oh, they're reading stage directions. It's okay, we've got these commentators, and these commentators are saying things already. So let's make them actually call the match the entire time. And so for that, it added a lot more flavor to these fights. And with any fight that I write, I always try and put a little note saying, like, hey, make sure that you cater it to the expertise of the people that you hire. Right. If they're good at one thing, or they're good at another thing, or this person has a background in uh like judo, yeah, play up throws, play up more judo. But I wanted to write kind of the match that I've wanted to see.

[1:21:33] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:21:33] Ashley Lauren Rogers: So I pretty much just fanbooked a match, pretty much. That's the way to do it.

[1:21:40] Iyvon Edebiri: One thing that um really struck me about your your really dope um response to the question, what would the world be missing about this play? Is that um you touched upon something that I find to be very true, and it's one one major reason why I programmed this play on this season is that um when it comes to plays that are uh about trans folks or centered around trans folks, there is a lot of violence and a lot of sadness and um and pain. And this play I think kind of subverts that because it's within the theatricality of a ring, of an actual wrestling ring. Um, but it just does what I just want to circle back to why do you think that there is this overwhelming amount of stories um that are just trans folks violence.

[1:22:34] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Okay, yeah, that has to be the crux of the story, even also from trans folks writing these stories. So why do you have any thoughts about that that you would like to speak to?

[1:22:45] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yeah, I mean, the the number one reason that that tends to be the narrative that we see is because people who generally hold the power believe that that's what will sell. And so that's why that's all we tend to see very often. And so, especially when we are telling our own narratives, uh, it tends to translate to that. It tends to be like, all right, well, I want to get something that'll actually be seen, so I guess I'm gonna have to focus on this. Now, why that becomes what they think will sell, I think it's a lot of this idea that cis folks, people who have been in power for a long time, when they are crafting, when they are allowing space for trans narratives, uh, it's very much the well, if we're not gonna tell the transition narrative, why even bother having a trans person? Why even bother creating this character?

[1:23:34] Right.

[1:23:34] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And so for them, that's the only story that trans people have to tell. And I think that that's becoming not I don't think that that's still the case. I think that that is absolutely changing, and now that we're hearing a lot of other really awesome trans stories, that's it's it's blossoming, but that is where this has come from, and I think that it is it's very hard to change someone's mind if they think, particularly if they have power, if they think one way.

[1:24:06] Iyvon Edebiri: Right.

[1:24:06] Ashley Lauren Rogers: But it can be done.

[1:24:07] Iyvon Edebiri: Right.

[1:24:08] Iyvon Edebiri: And and what can you um mention a story um or a play, anything in media that you think does that well in this new changing landscape?

[1:24:20] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yeah, I mean, Pose is fantastic. Pose does a really good job of that every single time. Honestly, there is, oh, what was it that I was watching recently? There was a really fantastic show. Um, and it had a trans character. Ultimately, like just watching. Watch Euphoria.

[1:24:37] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes.

[1:24:38] Ashley Lauren Rogers: So Euphoria is fantastic. It's it's difficult, but it's amazing. Uh, there was a movie that we watched. I actually watched it with a friend of mine who's here called Assassination Nation. And it is complicated, it is violent, it is like absolutely do your research on this movie before watching. But there is a trans character who is unabashedly trans, but also just living her frickin' life.

[1:25:03] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And I love it.

[1:25:04] Glenn Shane: Yes.

[1:25:05] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:25:05] Glenn Shane: Yes.

[1:25:06] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Um, we're kind of like, I'm just going jumping all over because my brain is like, poo-poo-pooh, so many questions I asked. Who's your favorite wrestler?

[1:25:13] Unknown speaker: Ooh.

[1:25:15] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Because you post on Facebook a lot about wrestling. Like even yesterday or two days ago, you were watching like a Royal Rumble. Was that is that true?

[1:25:24] Glenn Shane: Yes.

[1:25:24] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And I was like, wow, Ashley's like into it. I feel like I'm watching the match with you.

[1:25:29] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yeah, no, I post about wrestling a lot because I'm very passionate about it. Um, I would say my favorite right now is Asuka. Uh, she is phenomenal. Uh, they book her poorly because that's what WWE does, especially with wrestlers of color. But oh my god, she is, even when she's booked to lose, she looks phenomenal. Uh, so yeah, she's my favorite, but I grew up on Kane.

[1:25:52] Unknown speaker: Uh, Kane!

[1:25:54] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Oh my god, that motherfucker! Yeah, is he still alive? Didn't he? Was it his brother Undertaker?

[1:25:59] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:26:01] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And he'd come out all slow and like, oh, you not dead yet? He is uh No, he was always coming back.

[1:26:10] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:26:11] Ashley Lauren Rogers: It was it got to a point where it was annoying. I was like, oh, just dot like be done retire. And then he became a biker for a little while. Good for him.

[1:26:19] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:26:20] Ashley Lauren Rogers: I mean good for him. Why not?

[1:26:27] Unknown speaker: Yeah, Kane is now the uh mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.

[1:26:33] Ashley Lauren Rogers: The man who used to light people on fire and shock uh Shane McMahon's testicles. Wow.

[1:26:40] Unknown speaker: Is now maybe Shane McMahon is a horcrux. Maybe it's a theory.

[1:26:48] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Maybe if you hit Shane McMahon, you become a political official.

[1:26:53] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:26:54] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Maybe we should all go to Shane McMahon and hit him.

[1:26:57] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:26:58] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Let's all get elected into public office.

[1:27:00] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:27:01] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Maybe we might edit the part where I said we should go to Shane McMahon and hit him. Let's not, let's not threaten people.

[1:27:10] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:27:11] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yeah. You're cutting a promo. It's fine.

[1:27:12] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:27:13] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Don't come for us, Shane McMahon. Um, so we're gonna start wrapping up, and I have my last few questions, which are um the first one is uh so a hundred years from now, because now we're 2020, um a hundred years from now, um a hundred years ago I should say, uh white women, specifically white women, were given the right to vote. Um and things were ratified, and yeah, yeah, yeah. No, um, so, but looking forward, a hundred years from now, where do you see the role of women or where do you see women in the future?

[1:27:51] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Uh, I mean, immediately in roles of leadership. Uh, that's what I'm hoping. Uh, I also see women and just everyone in general championing trans issues because I think that that is something that people are, I'm not gonna say finally coming around to, but at the same time, publicly, it is a lot more not accepted. I don't want to use that word, but it is finally, we are finally seeing strides in very public ways. Uh, and with that also comes obvious blowback, but at the same time, I think if we as people are going to move forward, we need to respect one another, which is just such a vague thing to say, but really, truly, yeah. True respect.

[1:28:40] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:28:41] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Um, so we're transition to the next question because this person I'm used to weird transitions, go on. But um, so if if Donald Trump were in the room 60 seconds, what would you say to him?

[1:29:01] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:29:01] Ashley Lauren Rogers: See what I meant about like respect and then the r weird transition, yes. See, because I knew that you were gonna ask me that. Uh honestly, I have made it a habit not to waste my breath on people that I don't think are actually going to listen to me. So if he were in the room and this was a room that other people were around, I would probably try and appeal to those who are listening about understanding basic humanity and empathy and how empathy is strength and not the other way around. But again, I don't think that he would actually listen to me. And so I wouldn't waste my breath on him.

[1:29:40] Unknown speaker: Completely valid.

[1:29:41] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yeah.

[1:29:43] Unknown speaker: Um, and last question. Super, super, super easy. What'd you have for breakfast this morning?

[1:29:49] Ashley Lauren Rogers: What did I have for breakfast this morning? Oh man, uh, I had oh, I had 99 cent chocolate covered donuts and a coffee from a bodega.

[1:30:00] Unknown speaker: Yes!

[1:30:02] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yes. That bodega donut hits you a different way.

[1:30:06] Unknown speaker: It's so good.

[1:30:07] Ashley Lauren Rogers: I need to stop having it all the time. It's only a dollar.

[1:30:11] Unknown speaker: That's that's why it hits you a different way.

[1:30:13] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Yes. Awesome, awesome. Thank you, Ashley, for that really dope interview. Um, so we're we're gonna start wrapping up, and I just want to say some thank yous uh to all of our artistic collaborators who were a part of making this episode happen. So I want to say thank you to our cast tonight: Delong Le, Leanna Renee Hieber, John DeSilvestri, Mark Levy, Lauren Elizabeth, Samy Nour Younes.

[1:30:50] Ashley Lauren Rogers: The Last Ring was directed by Sagan Chen. Our musician tonight is Psyche Chimère.

[1:31:01] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And The Last Ring was written by Ashley Lauren Rogers. Yes, the fan club ran deep today.

[1:31:12] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:31:13] Ashley Lauren Rogers: Thank you to Luke DeCola, our sound engineer and sound editor. Thank you to the TPS team and Business Lunch Productions. Thank you to the Mark O'Donnell Theater for having us in their space again tonight. The Mark O'Donnell Theater at the Actors Fund Arts Center is a state-of-the-art black box performance venue and rehearsal space located at the lobby level of the Skirmahorn in downtown Brooklyn. It's a program of the Actors Fund whose mission is to foster stability and resiliency and provide a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. For more information on how the Actors Fund helps people in every area of the performing arts nationwide, visit ActorsFund.org.

[1:31:57] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And before we get to our last song, I just want to say again, thank you for listening to The Parsnip Ship. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at The Parsnip Ship NY. If you would like to help support The Parsnip Ship, please help us grow and reach new audiences by sharing your experience and episodes across social networks.

[1:32:46] Ashley Lauren Rogers: And, oh yes, we have a very exciting announcement about submissions for season six. Um, they open up this Wednesday, January 29th. Next season will be will only feature queer musicians and queer playwrights. So if you are a queer musician, queer playwright, please submit to us. Um, you can find out more information on our website at the parsnipship.com slash apply. And this episode was produced by The Parsnip Ship and Business Lunch Productions. VLP is a leading creative agency based in New York City, working with creatives all over the world. The Parsnip Ship is a fiscally sponsored project of Brooklyn Arts Council. New plays, new music, this is how we hear theater.

[1:33:33] Unknown speaker: Oh yes!

[1:33:34] Ashley Lauren Rogers: I oh, that has to say in the recording. That was beautiful. I don't know who did that, but I love you. Thank you for that burst of joy.

[1:33:47] Psyche Chimère: Well, with that, Psyche Chimère, take it away. This is a song called The Institute. It's also the subject of my second music video ever, which you can find at YouTube.com slash psychicorp. That's P S Y C H E C O R P. It's called The Institute.

[1:34:11] ♪ Musical number: "The Institute" — performed by Psyche Chimère ♪