Jordynne Grace is a phenomenon. The 26-year-old from Austin, Texas (real name: Patricia Parker) has become a dual-sport superstar, winning titles in both professional wrestling and powerlifting. As one of the most recognizable stars in IMPACT right now! Airing on AXS TV, the wrestling show “Thick Mama Pump” sits down with Muscle & Fitness to talk about her fighting origins, her love of weightlifting and the upcoming historic title challenge at the 20th Annual Slammiversary Pay-Per-View.
“When I was growing up, I really liked strong wrestlers, so Beth Phoenix was my No. 1,” said Grace, a big WWE fan who grew up watching wrestling on TV. Powerful female wrestlers like Chyna and Beth Phoenix helped break the mold and provided a much-needed breath of fresh air from the cover girl looks that prevailed during the WWE Attitude era of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Jordynne Grace knows strong girls rule
“I think (my favorite strong girls) is because they were so different from what WWE had at the time. They had Diva Search, these guys were models and basically modeled gigs, and [had] Never wrestled. That’s what I’ve seen since I was a kid. It’s great to see these types of women (like Phoenix and Chyna). We should appreciate diversity in race, height, nationality. I think it’s important for kids to see that because they can relate to it. “
Grace started lifting weights for the first time at the age of 12 and knew that muscle was necessary if she was to achieve her dream of becoming a professional wrestler. “That was my mindset,” she recalls. “For me, the first step in wrestling is lifting weights and getting strong.” By the time Grace was 14, she had already attended amateur and professional wrestling training sessions. “I’ll use what I’ve learned in amateur wrestling to make myself better [pro] Wrestler,” she said. The now multiple champion recalls feeling good when she first entered the ring. “I watched so much wrestling with a kid, and when I finally got in, it felt Kind of like second nature. ” Her debut will come in 2011.
Pro wrestling has been evolving since WWE’s Attitude era, and unlike the Diva Search days of the past, where women were often taught less aggressive styles in order to present a sexier image to audiences, girls are now learning the ropes alongside boys. “Where I’m from, the training is no different,” Grace said. In fact, as a professional wrestler, “Thick Mama Pump” has a reputation for being as tough as anyone else in the locker room, even fighting the boys in countless transgender matches across the US. The 5-foot-3 dynamo has become a social media sensation and is one of the most famous wrestlers on the track who have not signed a WWE contract. Jordynne Grace doesn’t fit the sexist notion of what a female wrestler should look like, and her fans love her passionately for it. With her large frame and prominent quads, this fighter can outshine and surpass most men.
Grace has already achieved many milestones, she was the first woman to compete in AEW’s “Over Budget Battle Royale” and nearly won, knocking out Brian Cage in the process. “That was a very, very important moment for me,” she recalls. and. Not long after it caught everyone’s attention that night, IMPACT! Wrestling has announced that it has signed Grace to a two-year contract. influences! The precursor to many of today’s WWE Superstars, including Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode and Xavier Woods. Many critics consider success in IMPACT! is a good indication of being able to implement it anywhere. In 2018, Grace lifted her first knockout title. Since then, she has become one of the most decorated stars in the company. She said she just wanted to regain the title and she’d get the chance to do Slammiversary.
Jordynne Grace knows success takes effort
“I usually try to go to the gym every day,” she said. “If it wasn’t a stressful day, then I would try to do some kind of mobility training, but I would try to go at least once a day. I’ve been doing it twice a day lately because I really hate doing cardio. I’m sure a lot of people do It resonated with that, so I tried to break it down into different times of the day.”
To maintain her flexibility in the ring, and to recover from heavy lifting, Grace also started practicing yoga. “Lifting weights with pro wrestling is very difficult, so I started doing yoga just because for the past year or so, wrestling for weightlifting has been insane. Through yoga, I’ve been trying to make my body feel better. “It’s not just everything physically that makes weightlifting and wrestling difficult to juggle. Our girls have been known to leave the ring after the live event and make a 4-hour drive straight to the 6am weightlifting competition.
So, does Grace have a preference for wrestling or weightlifting? “It’s hard to say because they mean completely different things to me. Pro wrestling pays the bills, I’ve been doing it, I love it, but weightlifting is a different thing. There’s no ‘if’, ‘and’ or ‘But’, you can lift weights or not, so I do feel a different sense of accomplishment when I’m able to do something in a competition.” And, speaking of doing “something” in a competition, Grace last year Broke 3 Georgia state and national records in the World Natural Weightlifting Federation (WNPF) 165-pound class. Incredibly, she squatted 320 lbs (150 kg), benched 210 lbs (95 kg) and deadlifted 355 lbs (161 kg). Then, in an unsanctioned weightlifting competition in February, Grace showed further progress by breaking all those numbers to a total of 1,065 pounds (483 kilograms).
The balance between wrestling and weightlifting continues to present challenges, but Grace accepts it all with a good… um… Grace! Recently, during a game, the grappler was forced to release the weight for a short period of time after her back was sore due to poor placement. So she switched to Powerbuilding training during her recuperation. “It’s like a program between weightlifting and bodybuilding,” Grace said. “Basically, it’s not full-fledged, 100 percent powerlifting.” Strength training is a great way to build muscle and increase strength at the same time.
Jordynne Grace wants to be the Queen of the Mountain
as an influence! Celebrating its 20th Slammiversary pay-per-view on June 19, available on FITE.TV, ‘Thick Mama Pump’ looks to play his best to crush 4 other opponents to regain ‘Queen’ Knockout Championship Hill’ contest. While Grace has accomplished so much, she still has so many coveted matches to look forward to, so who does she have her eye on? “Dakota Kai is great for wrestling,” Grace said. ” And, I think it’s Rhea Ripley. It’s a dream match that many people have chosen, and it’s one of mine. The powerhouse is also excited about the possibility of wrestling again with Athena, who last wrestled her about 10 years ago. But right now, there’s nothing more important than getting that shiny knockout title. “Slammiversary will be great,” laughs Grace, excited about the prospect of winning at the historic show.
Not only is Jordynne Grace an inspiration in terms of her athleticism, but she’s also a beacon to others who might not fit a certain pattern. With a massive social media following, Grace has had to deal with negative comments like many of us, but the star says she’s learning that following trolls is all about giving them what they’re looking for. “One of the most important things to understand is that loving your body is really a process, an everyday thing,” Grace said. “Look at your body as a whole, not things like ‘I hate how fat my thighs are’ or ‘I hate my belly.’ Be aware of all the things your body does for you every day, once you’re conscious It’s ten times easier to love yourself.”
Jordynne Grace’s 3-Day Full Body Weightlifting Workout Routine
Day 1 (chest/triceps)
- Bench Press: 4×5
- Incline Dumbbell Press: 5×8
- Flat extruder: 4×15
- Triceps Push Down: 5×8
- Barbell Skull Crusher: 4×15
- Triceps Pushups: 1x AMRAP
Day 2 (group of four)
- Back squat: 4×5
- Bulgarian Split Squat: 4×10 (each side)
- Walking lunges: 4×20
- Weighted Jump Squats: 4×15
- Leg extension: 4×20
Day 3 (Shoulder)
- Military Press: 4×5
- Latitude increases: 5×20
- Arnold Press: 4×15
- Front lift of the cable: 4×15
- Wide Grip Upright Row: 4×15
- Dolphin push-ups: 3×12