LuFisto (AKA Genevieve Goulet) is a French-Canadian professional wrestler whose introduction to the sport came at the age of six, when she used to watch it on TV with her grandma. “She was really into it and would scream at the TV,” Goulet remembers. “My favourite back then was the Ultimate Warrior and, although he was one of the bad guys, I’ve always loved Rowdy Roddy Piper.”

This Friday, LuFisto will be squaring up against Jordynne Grace at Super Showdown VII, happening at the Midtown Event Theatre (2492 Yonge St). We asked her what got her into the sport, how she trains, and what she wants you to know about wrestling.

SDTC: What prompted you to get into wrestling yourself?

LF: It all started when the drummer of my band told me I had to watch “this guy” because he was awesome. He was talking about the Undertaker who was building a casket for Yokozuna. I was hooked. However, it is the matches between Alaundra Blayze and Bull Nakano that caught my attention. It made me discover Joshi Wrestling and fell in love with it. They were strong and powerful women and I wanted to be like them.

What were the early days like?

I was told that I would never be able to become a wrestler by many. Wrestling was not for girls, I was too small, etc. I wanted to prove people wrong and push my limits while doing something that mixed two things I loved: sports and entertainment. Being a professional wrestler also meant that I needed to work on my creativity, which was very appealing. So I joined a local school in Sorel, Quebec (I was the only girl).

How did you arrive at your current persona?

I did have many personas throughout my career. From goth girl to sexy vixen, to first lady of hardcore to being a human anime, I am now known as the Wounded Owl LuFisto. Wounded for all the battles I’ve been through and the many scars I bear from the crazy matches I had, including matches with barbed wire, fluorescent lights, thumbtacks and other weapons. Owl comes from the years of experience (23 years) and knowledge I have. So, knowledge acquired through pain.

This character is really an evolution of every past one. I am strong, cocky, vicious, intense and obnoxious. I am a big fan of heavy metal, so I get my inspiration from the looks of many musicians but also from the Japanese women wrestlers from the 90s when it comes to my battle gear. It really can be anything: shorts and top, bodysuit, pants or even dresses and skirts.

As for my entrance gear, it is a black long jacket made of leather and feathers. I wear a head piece that makes me look like a great horned owl (but dark). It is said that your best character is the one closest to your true self. I wouldn’t say the character is me, but definitely an evil version of me.

What is a misconception about women’s wrestling that you’d like to dispel?

That women wrestlers are not as good as men. A few years ago, yes definitely. But today, I see women putting on better matches, having more entertaining personas and working twice as hard as their male counterparts.

Also, I want people to know that a woman wrestling a man IS NOT showing domestic violence. I have fought for women’s rights my entire career. I even fought the Ontario Athletic Commission and took them to the Human Rights Tribunal because they wouldn’t let women fight men.

Female wrestlers are superheroes, just like Wonder Woman or the Black Widow from The Avengers. They are strong women, role models to the younger generation. Wrestlers are just like them, but we are live action heroes.

Describe the women’s wrestling scene in Toronto.

I remember a time where I was the only woman wrestling. Now, there are many women from the Toronto area who are well-known: Rosemary, Gail Kim and Allie. Almost every show has a women’s match or at least one woman wrestling. There are also all-women’s shows. You have new girls who are doing great, such as Jody Threat and many girls training at schools like Tyson Dux’s Wrestling Factory.

The women’s wrestling scene is very much alive as promotions like Smash Wrestling are giving a very important place to women on their shows. The scene is great and can only get better.

What do you want people to know about this sport?

I want them to know that this sport is a lot more than what they probably think. Wrestlers are actors and stuntmen that don’t get to have many takes to deliver their performance. Everything has to be perfect. It’s a one-take movie. It is very much like theatre, but we also provide the action.

Wrestling, although scripted, is definitely not fake. Wrestling is learning how to live with pain on a daily basis. From happiness to anger, we will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions and to do so, we will put our bodies on the line for the sake of your entertainment.

Walk us through a typical day in your life, from getting up til going to bed.

I have two kinds of days. The first, a week day, I wake up at 5:30 am, feed my three cats and do my morning cardio on an empty stomach for 45 minutes. I take a shower, have breakfast, get dressed and go to the bank where I work as a customer service agent. I come back home around 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (depending on the day), I eat and then do my weight training. Another a shower, I work on designs, answer e-mails, prep meals if necessary, phone my boyfriend who lives two hours away in Quebec City and go to bed with the cats.

On wrestling days (mostly on the weekend), I sleep a little bit more if I can (unless I have to drive a long distance, sometimes 7-8 hours to the destination of my event). I get my stuff ready and have breakfast, at home or on the road while driving. I get to the show, set my merchandise on a table, dress and put on my make-up if I didn’t get the time to do so at home.

I meet with my opponent and the promoter to get my match ready; then, I wait for my match. The music plays, I go through the curtain and give the crowd everything I got. After the match, I sell more merch, change and jump in the car again. I will stop at a restaurant with fellow wrestlers or again, eat while driving. I get home, take a shower and go to bed.

The next morning, I am sore.

What do you love most about this sport?

Besides the fact that it included everything I love—sports, entertainment and creativity—I love the camaraderie. I don’t have brothers and sisters, so wrestling has been my extended family. I even love to go to events where I don’t wrestle just to sit backstage and talk with my fellow wrestlers. I also love to help and guide the next generation.

See LuFisto in action; grab your tickets here.