10 Things Fans May Have Forgotten About The Wrestler Jazz

Every era of pro wrestling features underrated performers who might have been bigger deals if they were wrestling in another era. This is especially true for many wrestlers in the late 1990s and early 2000s, who were wrestling with WWE in eras where in-ring abilities were secondary to looks and presentation. Jazz is the perfect example of this kind of female wrestler, who’s massively underrated but appreciated by die-hard fans who remember her work.

RELATED: 10 Former WWE Women's Wrestlers Who Would Be More Successful In The Modern Era

While she’s made some appearances lately, Jazz is one of those wrestlers modern fans might not be aware of. Let’s take a look at her career and what fans should know about her.

10 Started In ECW

Inspired by watching Jacqueline Moore, Carlene Moore joined a pro wrestling school in Louisiana, training under Junkyard Dog at one point, and actually got to wrestle Moore in her debut match. Then, in 1999 she got her big break when she debuted for Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1999, as a member of the faction Impact Players alongside Justin Credible and Lance Storm. But Jazzmine ended up feuding with stablemate Jason Knight, leading to a match — and victory — at Heatwave 1999.

9 Debuted In WWE As Part Of The Alliance

Following the demise of ECW in early 2001, Jazz signed to WWE, where she spent most of the year training in the company’s developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. Jazz’s televised main roster debut would happen at Survivor Series 2001, where she challenged for the vacant World Women’s Title in a six-way match that included Jacqueline, Lita, Mighty Molly, Ivory, and Trish Stratus. Hilariously, Jazz debuted as a representative of the WCW/ECW Alliance on the faction’s very last night of existence, as the group would be dissolved in the aftermath of the main event.

8 The Last WWF Women’s Champion

Trish Stratus would win the Women’s Title in that aforementioned Survivor Series six-way match, but would not be done with Jazz, who’d end up becoming #1 Contender to the belt. While Jazz failed to capture the Women’s Championship at Royal Rumble 2002, she’d successfully dethrone Stratus weeks later on an early February Raw.

RELATED: WWF's Name Change To WWE, Explained

During her initial 98-day reign as Women's Champion, the World Wrestling Federation would rebrand as World Wrestling Entertainment, making Jazz the last WWF Women’s Champion and the first WWE Women’s Champion.

7 Aligned With Stevie Richards

In late April of 2002 Jazz began to align with fellow ECW alum and former Alliance member Stevie Richards, first helping him beat Bubba Ray Dudley for the Hardcore Title after she couldn’t beat Dudley for the belt herself. In return, Richards would help Jazz defend her Women’s Title against Trish Stratus by interfering, resulting in Dudley aligning with Stratus against Jazz and Richards. This would result in a mixed tag team match for both Jazz’s Women’s Title and Richards’ Hardcore Title, which Stratus and Dudley would win.

6 Member Of Thuggin’ And Buggin’ Enterprises

In 2003, Jazz was back in the Women’s Title picture, and even competed for the belt at WrestleMania 19. Around this time, she gained a manager in Teddy Long, who formed the heel stable Thuggin’ & Buggin’ Enterprises, which mostly featured Black wrestlers who felt they were being held back in WWE due to racism. Under Long, Jazz was able to win back her championship from Trish Stratus at Backlash 2003, holding it for 64 days before losing it in a battle royal.

5 Briefly Returned To WWE

In November of 2004, Jazz — along with her real-life husband and fellow Thuggin’ & Buggin’ Enterprises member Rodney Mack — were released from WWE, only to be brought back to the company at different times in 2006. However, her only on-screen appearance would be at WWE vs. ECW Head-to-Head special that aired days before One Night Stand 2006, wherein she unsuccessfully challenged for Mickie James’ Women’s Championship. From there Jazz would only perform at a handful of appearances at house shows before she and Rodney Mack were once again released in January 2007.

4 NWA World Women’s Champion

In September of 2016, Jazz captured one of the most historically prestigious championships in women’s wrestling when she beat Amber Gallows to win the NWA World Women’s Championship. As she defended the belt against names like Thunder Rosa, Jordynne Grace, and Penelope Ford, Jazz managed to rack up an impressive run with the belt, lasting 948 days.

RELATED: 10 Women Who Held The NWA Women's Championship

Those 948 days weren’t just the longest reign with the belt in the 21st century — it’s also the third-longest reign ever. However, Jazz ended up vacating the NWA World Women’s Championship in April of 2019 for personal reasons.

3 Wrestled On The Indies

Following her second departure from WWE, Jazz continued to wrestle on the independent scene, wrestling for all-female promotions like Women Superstars Uncensored and SHINE and co-ed indie outfits like CHIKARA. During her time on the indies, Jazz took on notable wrestlers like Mercedes Martinez, Sara Del Rey, Saraya Knight, and Ivelisse, capturing the WSU Tag Team Championship at one point. In CHIKARA, she entered the 2016 King of Trios tournament, teaming with fellow WWE alumni Victorie and Mickie James as “Team Original Divas Revolution.”

2 AEW Appearance

In 2019, after debuting the signature Casino Battle Royale for the men at Double or Nothing, All Elite Wrestling announced an all-female version for the All Out pay-per-view. In YouTube hype videos leading up to the show, entrants were announced, including Jazz. The match happened on All Out’s pre-show, The Buy-In, with Jazz entering alongside Teal Piper, ODB, Allie, and Nicole Savoy as part of the Hearts, the last group to enter the fray before the Joker. However, she’d be eliminated by ODB during the course of the match.

1 “Retired” In Impact Wrestling

Jazz announced her retirement in October of 2020, but then returned to the ring a month later, debuting on Impact Wrestling as the partner to Jordynne Grace in a tournament for the revived Knockouts Tag Team Championship. The two were knocked out of the second round, but they continued to team up in the division. Jazz went on to put her career on the line against Deonna Purrazzo for the Knockouts Championship, but was forced to leave the promotion in defeat.