Shannon Ward is best known to pro-wrestling fans as the screaming "Daffney Unger", the self proclaimed 'crazy stalker chick' that first appeared with David Flair and Crowbar in WCW.

NZPWI Editor Dion McCracken interviewed Shannon in April of 2001, just a few weeks after the WWF purchased WCW.

Dion McCracken: Hi Shannon, and thank you for taking time out with NZPWI for this interview.

Shannon Ward: Thanks for having me, Dion.

Fans here in New Zealand first got a glimpse of you as WCW's Daffney Unger, but as we all know, there really is life before wrestling! You grew up in a military background, and were often on the move. Do you ever wish you stayed in one place throughout your childhood, or was the experience completely worth it for you?

One always wonders what life would have been like if... But I'm glad I got to experience living in Europe growing up. I got to know my mother's side of the family and visit many cool places.

What is your happiest childhood memory?

I couldn't pin one down in particular. I always look back on times with my older brother with a smile. We would play soccer in a field behind my house in England.

While living in Oxford, you were cast in "Insignificance" and "Santa Clause". How did these roles come about, and what was the experience like?

I actually went to a cattle call audition. I got a call back, and then another, and then I was told that I was picked. Pure luck both times!

You really excelled at college, and graduated with a BA, majoring in film and video production and minoring in music and acting. At that time, what career path were you hoping for, and has that changed since?

I always hoped to work some as an actress, but I thought a good way to get my foot in the door would be to work behind the camera.

November 1999 saw your audition with World Championship Wrestling to play a 'crazy stalker chick' in a program with David Flair. How did the whole audition process go? Were there a whole host of 'crazy chicks' going for the part?

I'm not sure. I know that WCW flew two of us up to Minneapolis for an on-site audition. They didn't even ask me to do anything, they just gave me the part based upon my look. From there, I had to prove myself with pre tapes and in the ring action.

Soon after the audition, you found yourself teamed with Crowbar and David Flair, with Crowbar being the guy you spent most of your WCW tenure with. How did you get on with the two of them, and how did the two of them get on with each other?

I get along great with the both of them. David and I don't speak too often, but Crowbar and I talk on the phone about once a week. He's an awesome guy and we hope to work together again one day soon.

Many people feel that David Flair was brought in far too early because of who he was, not what he could do, with many fans being very vocal about this. Did David ever react to this, or talk about the position he was put in?

Not to me.

We've got to get to the screaming. How did the screaming gimmick come about? Did WCW direct you that way, or did you just do it one night and they stuck with it?

I just did it one night and they told me to keep on.

Some people loved it, and some hated it. Did you ever get sick of people yelling "shaddup", and how did you react to them?

No, that's just part of the gig.

You trained at the WCW Power Plant as often as possible. What was your impression of the facility?

It's a great facility with four rings and a gym.

Did WCW have plans to get you into the ring for matches, or was the Power Plant training more in reparation for taking bumps as a manager?
I don't know what their plan was.

What were the circumstances surrounding your split with World Championship Wrestling?

They simply said they were going in a new direction.

What was the feeling with you, the other girls, and various talent backstage over the loss of the female talent?

I thought it was a mistake, mostly because so many males watch wrestling, it helped to have a few females around.

You mention on your web site that you're currently training at Dusty Rhodes' Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling Camp in Georgia. How is that going?

Great! I'm working my first show with him on May 5th, in Dothan Al.

Finally, are there in negotiations between you and WWFE to enter the WWF or WCW?

Nope. I wish.