In collaboration with PWI, Bell To Belles interviewed over 20 women who have ranked on this year’s PWI Women’s 100 ranking. Bell To Belles will release one interview per day, celebrating the past year in women’s wrestling.

Faye Jackson, who ranked #41 on this year’s list, chatted with Jacqui Pratt of Bell To Belles about her last year in wrestling, the origin of the Grey Sweatpants Battle Royale, and changing the image of women’s wrestling on the indie scene.

Earlier this year, Jackson announced she would be holding the Grey Sweatpants Battle Royale—an event that distinctly challenged wrestling norms. Jacqui noted to Jackson that the idea of the Grey Sweatpants Battle Royale really inverted the typical trope of sexualizing women in sports, and asked Faye to walk viewers through the thought process behind creating the show.

…it’s a male-dominated sport. If they want to see T-and-A, that’s what they’re going to get. That’s who they’re going to hire, that’s the standard look that they want. And now, I would say that women’s wrestling is evolving where it’s not just based off looks, it’s also based off skill—can you go in the ring?

But to bring it back, being a single woman, sometimes you have needs…

Faye Jackson

Watch the entire interview with Faye Jackson on her past year in wrestling, below. Buy the digital version of the Women’s 100 edition today from PWI here.

Return to Bell To Belles every day until early November for a new interview from a 2020 PWI Women’s 100 ranked woman, updates on your favorite wrestlers, advocacy and unique opinion pieces. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Please credit Bell To Belles for the interview and quote transcription.