Shelly Martinez may be long removed from TNA, but the wounds left behind by Dixie Carter have not completely healed.
Speaking on her Too Much Information podcast, Martinez discussed the Dark Side of the Ring episodes examining TNA’s history. While she was familiar with many of the stories surrounding the company, the former Knockout said she was especially interested in hearing what people had to say about Carter.
Martinez explained that she was living in a completely different world during her TNA run. She was still dealing with the heartbreak of leaving WWE and struggling financially, which left her in survival mode. Because of that, she either missed much of what was happening backstage or only heard pieces of it through whispers. The Dixie Carter situation was different. Martinez said she always believed Carter did not like her, but she never understood why.
“With Dixie Carter, I always felt she didn’t like me, and I didn’t understand why. It bothered me. I really should be like, ‘So what? You don’t like me,’ and then move on.”
Martinez admitted that the issue became a lasting wrestling wound that stayed with her long after she left the company.
“For some reason, that Dixie wound remained for so long. I’m better with it now, for sure, but at the same time, I still want to know.”
She hopes watching the series will help fill in some of the blanks and finally allow her to let go of the resentment she has carried. Martinez made it clear that she does not want to keep having an emotional reaction whenever Carter appears on her social media feed. Her goal is to eventually view Carter as nothing more than a former boss from another chapter of her life.
“I’m looking at it as—I hope this can be a way for me, even if it’s just a little thing and to the viewer it didn’t mean anything, it might mean a lot to me to know that information.”
“No matter how much I’ve evolved in not caring about Dixie, it still does affect me. Every time I see her on my feed, one way or another, I get triggered. I don’t want that.”
“I want to be able to look at Dixie and just be like, ‘That was a woman I used to work with.’ Boom. But that doesn’t happen. I’d really like to get to that place, and I’m almost there.”
Despite her personal feelings, Martinez acknowledged that Carter’s involvement did bring something positive to TNA. She believes Carter helped the company grow but lacked the wrestling expertise needed to maintain its success.
“Whether you like her or not—and I’m a person who does not like her—I’m here to say her involvement still did do something positive for that company.”
Martinez is not pretending the relationship never bothered her. She wants answers, closure and the ability to finally leave that part of her wrestling career behind without getting pulled back into the same emotions.
Why do you think Shelly Martinez’s issues with Dixie Carter have stayed with her for so long? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
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