The Steve Austin Show – Ivory PART ONE – SAS CLASSIC

Date: March 3, 2026
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Lisa Moretti (Ivory/Tina Ferrari)
Location: Hollywood, CA, by way of the Broken Skull Ranch

Episode Overview

This episode of The Steve Austin Show features a lively and nostalgic conversation with Lisa Moretti, known to wrestling fans as Ivory (WWE) and Tina Ferrari (GLOW). As Ivory was scheduled for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018, she joins Steve to discuss her career in sports and entertainment, from athletic childhood to breaking into wrestling with GLOW, working in different promotions, and stories from her days on the road. The episode is candid, witty, and gives listeners an inside look at women’s wrestling in the '80s and '90s.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ivory’s Hall of Fame Induction & Speech Preparation

• Excitement and pressure: Lisa expresses excitement and honor about her WWE Hall of Fame induction but also acknowledges the pressure to prepare a thoughtful speech, wanting to respect the audience’s time.

  • Quote:

    “I feel super honored and I feel like I've got this, you know, 120 pound bag of responsibility on my shoulders.” – Lisa Moretti [04:09]

• Importance of women’s wrestling history: She hopes to spike her speech with stories from prior eras, noting that the current women’s revolution in WWE has roots in prior generations.

  • Quote:

    “I feel like I lived through kind of one of those segments in the culture of women's wrestling.” – Lisa Moretti [05:41]

2. Athletic & Family Background

• Growing up in California: Born in Inglewood, raised in Torrance. Youngest of four in a sports-friendly family.
• Tomboy roots: Always active, learned rough-and-tumble play and basic wrestling from her older brothers.
  • Quote:

    “They loved when we were really small to spread out all the furniture… be the tag team brothers to beat the hell out of me and my sister Gina.” – Lisa Moretti [09:52]

• Sports in school: Focused on tennis, worked diligently to earn top team spots.
• Self-motivation: Developed a work ethic from practicing tennis alone, later teaching tennis to pay for college.
  • Quote:

    “That work ethic came in through wrestling of not really having the coaching, but having the drive to not look like a total ass.” – Lisa Moretti [40:06]

3. Education and Early Adult Life

• USC Journalism: Chose public relations for wide applicability. Paid own way through college, graduated with student debt.
• First jobs: Tried traditional temp agency work but hated LA commutes; realized early she wasn’t cut out for 9–5 life.
  • Quote:

    “I ain't doing this with my life. Am not. I don't care if I'm poor. I am not driving this traffic as part of my career, my life.” – Lisa Moretti [18:48]

4. USFL Cheerleading & Early Stage Work

• Becoming a cheerleader: Fell into the job by chance after being scouted—emphasizes the difference between “pom-pom girls” and cheerleaders, identifying herself as a song leader focused on routines and dancing, not vocal cheers. [21:36]
• Adventure and camaraderie: Loved her year as a USFL Express cheerleader, found the group genuine and fun, with parties attracting LA’s pro athletes.
• Connection with GLOW: First brush with athletic performance and entertainment as a group.

5. High-Energy Personality & Coffee

• Natural energy: Lisa describes herself as always energetic (with or without coffee), a trait that served her through travel and wrestling.
  • Quote:

    “You can't work with a bunch of animals if you're not high energy.” – Lisa Moretti [27:42]

• On quitting coffee: Tried going cold turkey, but quickly returned:
  • Quote:

    “I got a cup of coffee and I had the best day of my life… I realized what a difference this shit makes.” – Lisa Moretti [28:30]

6. Breaking Into GLOW: Original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

[29:00–45:00]

• Dragged to audition: Joined the GLOW audition at the urging of a cheerleading friend, with no initial intent to wrestle.
• First impressions: Gritty environment in Watts, LA; initial training with legendary Mondo Guerrero, whose passion and expectations set the tone for the “bimbos” he was teaching.
  • Quote:

    “He just snatched one of these girls off of the rope, laid her down, applied some pressure, and made her cry. Oh, I was sold.” – Lisa Moretti [32:15]

• Mondo Guerrero’s influence: His seriousness and commitment inspired Lisa to give her all and develop respect for the craft.
• Rapid training process: A few weeks’ training before filming the pilot in Vegas; little time to develop technical skills.
  • Quote:

    “There was no time at all to prepare us to make, like, decent matches… you take your first bump, you don't know where you are.” – Lisa Moretti [37:38]

• Developing character: “Tina Ferrari” conceived with her friend as “T & A” in defiance of director Matt Simber. Lisa invented a Beverly Hills heiress identity to give her persona depth.

7. Life in GLOW: TV, Characters & Culture

[43:45–59:30]

• Over-the-top camp: GLOW succeeds through its blend of humor, variety, and “organic performances.”
  • Quote:

    “People nowadays wouldn't remember Hee Haw, but remember Hee Haw with wrestling is what I would tell people GLOW is, you know, a little bit like Laugh-In, but with wrestling.” – Lisa Moretti [52:27]

• Matt Simber, director: Both creative and divisive; motivated girls by alternating between encouragement and cruel personal putdowns.
  • Quote:

    “Maybe he thought that was great motivation… but he would turn on you in front of everybody and use that ammo in a really nasty way.” – Lisa Moretti [46:34]

• David McLane: Praised as a go-getter with announcing skills reminiscent of Jim Ross—sometimes the butt of jokes but a consistent presence in women's wrestling promotion.
• Unconventional production: Ref Steve Blantz often wrote the show’s skits and vignettes; show relied on infectious camp humor and TV variety show models.
• Diverse cast: Variety of shapes and sizes; beauty wasn't a requirement for TV success.

8. In-Ring Experiences & Favorite Opponents

• Physicality: Lisa credits her tomboy childhood for helping her withstand the tough, unsophisticated early wrestling rings, which were boxing rings and unforgiving.
• Match construction: No real wrestling psychology; matches were spot-heavy, with little heat or narrative arc, but the characters and costuming made the show work.
  • Quote:

    “Nobody knew how to do that. So we just did spots after spots after spots. There was no heat. There was no comeback.” – Lisa Moretti [61:22]

• Memorable rivals:
  • Spanish Red: Passionate, physical, prone to “shoot” matches.

    “With Spanish Red, it was real. It was a shoot, you know... she was stiff and she got really... fired up.” [54:03]

  • Attache & Nanotchka: Noted for athleticism and reliability.
• Wild venues: Sometimes brawls spilled through the Riviera Hotel or into campy music videos.

9. After GLOW: POW, LPWA, and Beyond

• David McLane’s post-GLOW exploits: McLane moved on to Powerful Women of Wrestling (POW), bringing GLOW talent together with “real” wrestlers for more traditional matches—Medusa, Peggy Lee Leather, Bambi, Luna Vachon, and others.
• Syndication era: GLOW unprecedented in 1980s for broad syndication and pop culture reach.

10. Behind-the-Scenes Details

• Paydays: Earned $400/week at GLOW—modest by TV standards, decent by indie wrestling standards of the time.
  • Quote:

    “I made $400 a week for my tenure at Glow. I was there for about nine months. So that's pretty good money.” – Lisa Moretti [57:00]

• Grueling schedule: Limited days off; matches taped in clusters with long shooting days; sharing “life in the Twilight Zone” of Las Vegas.
• Ring differences: GLOW rings had shorter ropes and smaller dimensions to exaggerate performer size.

11. Glamor vs. Discomfort: Still Photography

• Uncomfortable with modeling: Lisa, like Steve, never enjoyed still photos or “diva” photo shoots, despite later gaining tips from the likes of Trish Stratus.
  • Quote:

    “That was the most challenging effort in all of my career. I would do that 10 times over, then stand there greased up in a thong with some guy taking a picture.” – Lisa Moretti [65:03]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Lisa on Hall of Fame Pressure:
  “It's like, you know, it's a special moment and I think that it's worth being prepared and not just, you know, flapping your jaw up there.” [04:41]

• Lisa on Training with Mondo Guerrero:
  “No laughing. Pay attention. And no hanging on the ropes. ... Oh, my God, he just snatched one of these girls off of the rope... and made her cry. Oh, I was sold.” [31:00–32:15]

• Lisa on cheerleading vs. song leading:
  “High school cheerleaders are the ones with the fat thighs and the loud voices. I might have a loud voice, okay, But I don't have fat thighs.” [21:44]

• Lisa on GLOW's Ring Psychology (or lack thereof):
  “When it came down to telling a story with action, physicality, nobody knew how to do that. So we just did spots after spots after spots. ... There was no heat. There was no comeback.” [62:26]

• Lisa on pay, “Twilight Zone” life in Vegas, and working with comedians:
  “We would go in there, like, basically in our sweats. And it was like watching TV at night, was watching stand up. ... You might as well be in the Twilight Zone. And it wasn’t family friendly then. It was freaky.” [57:14]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:08–04:00] – Steve’s introduction, overview of Lisa’s career, and her Hall of Fame induction.
• [08:50–12:51] – Lisa’s upbringing in Torrance, California, sports as a kid, and influence of her family.
• [14:19–18:48] – Paying for college, early job experiences, and career uncertainty.
• [21:36–25:31] – USFL cheerleading, song leader vs. cheerleader, and landing the job.
• [27:42–28:46] – Lisa’s naturally high energy; the story of quitting (and quickly returning to) coffee.
• [29:34–41:21] – GLOW audition and training under Mondo Guerrero, character work, and show preparation.
• [43:53–50:47] – The GLOW phenomenon, directors, and producers (Matt Simber, David McLane); building the show’s identity.
• [52:23–66:18] – Lisa’s favorite rivals; lack of match psychology; ring style and structure; backstage life; still photo shoots and discomfort with modeling.

Final Thoughts

This entertaining and in-depth episode provides a rare, honest look inside the pioneering days of women’s wrestling television, from the unglamorous beginnings and high-energy camaraderie to backstage politics and enduring friendships. Lisa Moretti’s humor and humility shine as she recalls her journey from tennis courts to USFL pom-pom lines, the gritty GLOW gyms of LA and Vegas, and ultimately to the WWE Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned for Part Two for more stories and reflections from Ivory’s remarkable career!