UK Gladiator Inferno to Become Latest WWE Diva

[nightrain]

SEXY Jemma Palmer will become the WWE's latest British Diva in just one month's time, SunSport can reveal.

And former Gladiator Jemma — who played Inferno in the Sky One television series Gladiators — told us she's delighted to be following in the footsteps of other Brit babes Katie Lea and Lalya El.

The gorgeous 24-year-old from Tamworth, Staffordshire, will relocate to Tampa, Florida, next month to join the WWE developmental program — Florida Championship Wrestling.

In an exclusive interview, she told SunSport: "I've been waiting on my Visa which has taken seven months but I fly out at the beginning of March.

"In the meantime I've been training hard in the gym twice a day power lifting and fitness training and also showing my little sister the ropes — I've been beating her up!"

Jemma says she would have joined WWE last year but the Visa process was an obstacle.

She added: "WWE applied for a special green card so I can eventually be a US citizen but you have to be a person of extraordinary ability.

"I had lots of evidence to put together and in the end the application weighed five pounds in total."

The blonde has been passionate about pro wrestling since childhood and was a very sporty kid at school — despite being bullied.

Her father brought her up as a tomboy teaching her martial arts and her heroine was Lara Croft.

She said: "I was bullied at school and all through that time I looked at people like the Gladiators and wrestlers — fit, strong characters who told you to go for what you wanted.

"So I ignored the bullies and didn't let them distract me from my education and goals. I hope I can inspire other kids to go for their dreams.

"I wanted to be a wrestler and a Gladiator and I've done that by ignoring what anyone else said."

Jemma says she previously auditioned for Vince McMahon's company in 2005 — the same tryout that landed fellow Brit Katie Lea her job — and was one of only three British girls invited from hundreds of applications.

She told us: "The experience was great as I got to meet Kurt Angle, Ricky Steamboat and Fit Finlay.

"I didn't have any pro wrestling training under my belt at the time, but I got to show them I was willing and had a passion for the business."

Following the tryout she began training with TNA's Doug Williams who at the time was the head coach for Britain's biggest wrestling promotion — The Frontier Wrestling Alliance.

She worked several shows as a valet before moving to the US to hone her ring skills with Ultimate Pro Wrestling in California.

So far during training Jemma has wracked up a number of injuries including a broken nose, several broken toes, and even a dislocated knee.

But none of that has deterred her from her dream of becoming a WWE Diva.

Jemma said: "I'm just blessed to be following a childhood dream, it hasn't yet sunk in but I guess it will once I start wrestling drills again."

She believes that WWE employs the best trainers in the business. The stunner added: "Dr Tom Prichard is awesome. I've watched so many of his matches as well as Steve Keirn [FCW owner] and Norman Smiley who is lovely and a great technician.

"I played around a lot with Norman doing chain wrestling at airports while waiting around and I often get asked what's going on by security.

"Of course there is also Dusty Rhodes who blew me away with promo tuition.

"I'm looking forward to starting as soon as possible."

And we're looking forward to watching you, Jemma.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2866881/Sexy-Jemma-Palmer-set-to-heat-up-WWE-Interview-with-new-British-Diva.html#ixzz0gTexdbP1

[Hammy]

As a life long Gladiator fan, I did see a fair bit of her during the revival, she wasn't much of a talker, but she was a heck of a looker, and a redhead, clearly she meets the requirement in WWE - she's hot!

[Izzy]

Its odd that Linda gets savaged for Katie Vick angles but a company that bases its hirings on how badly Vince wants to nail them - thats....okay?

[Hammy]

Its odd that Linda gets savaged for Katie Vick angles but a company that bases its hirings on how badly Vince wants to nail them - thats....okay?

True, but all credit to the guy, if she came for a job interview, would you say no??