This week's GLOWING Saturday Spotlight is all about Tulsa, played by Jody Haselbarth. This blog entry was a special collaboration with Jody Haselbarth. A big THANK YOU to Tulsa! Not only did she help co-write this piece, but she also shared some fantastic photos from her rodeo days. Enjoy the trip down memory lane!
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| Jody as Tulsa |
This week's GLOWING Saturday Spotlight is all about Tulsa, played by Jody Haselbarth. Tulsa joined GLOW in the third season and stayed until the show's end, standing out with her cowgirl persona, charming Southern accent, and a whole lot of spunk. Initially seen as a replacement for Dallas from previous seasons, Tulsa carved out her own niche as the Yellow Rose of GLOW. She was one of the "country" girls, alongside Babe and Sally the Farmer's Daughters, but she truly stood on her own, especially with her authentic Texan accent. Tulsa wasn't just another pretty face; she was fearless in the ring, from surviving Beastie shoving raw meat prepped with the potty brush in her mouth during a match to Hollywood performing an iconic flying scissor takedown on her, which can be seen in the opening credits during the season 3 and 4 episodes of GLOW. Her impeccable timing and delivery during skits, as well as her fun raps, made her an even more memorable character. Tulsa connected with the audience, winning their hearts whether she was trash-talking her opponents or performing high-flying moves.
When Matt Cimber was considering her character, Jody told him that all she knew how to be was a cowgirl and that since Dallas left, GLOW needed another one. He actually listened, something he rarely did. Jody was a real rodeo cowgirl; barrel racing, break-away calf roping, and goat tying. She even rode bulls and bareback broncs in all-girl rodeos. Jody said she was horrified that Matt gave her the name Tulsa because it is north of the Red River and because she is a native Texan. Later, her momma told her that she lived in Oklahoma when she was a little girl, so that made everything alright. I loved hearing her say that because my own mom was from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and lived many years in Texas. In her words, "Our sweet mommas are both OK and TX, what a great combination!" Her ring entrance with a lasso became iconic, and though her fans would have loved to see her use it in the ring, she was a clean fighter who earned her victories fairly. She embodied the spirit of a true rodeo cowgirl because she WAS one. Although she wasn’t allowed to use her lasso in the ring (it was considered a weapon), she wouldn’t rope a person anyway since it is a real calf rope that she used in break-away calf roping. She made an exception for Beastie because she considered her livestock.
After the television series was canceled, Jody Haselbarth continued to wrestle as Tulsa independently and was lucky enough to work around the world, wrestling in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Jordan, Panama, England, Japan, and several tours to Hawaii with other ladies of GLOW such as Hollywood, Lightning, Mt. Fiji, Dementia, Tiffany, Dallas, Beastie, and a few others. Officially, Jody made one final televised GLOW appearance as Tulsa, wrestling Hollywood during the 1993 GLOW pay-per-view event. But that wasn't the last we saw of Jody. She went on to become a much sought-after stunt performer, known for her work in movies like Transformers: Age of Extinction, Arlington Road, and Idiocracy. She's also appeared in other popular films and TV shows, proving her versatility and dedication to her craft. Some of her best stunts were in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as Renee Zellweger’s stunt double and Matthew McConaughey set her on fire. Jody's work has earned her recognition and respect among her peers in the entertainment industry. She's an absolute sweetheart and super fan-friendly, a rare quality among the "Good Girls" from GLOW. Jody is active on Facebook, and along with many of the other ladies of the original GLOW series, she proudly carries the torch, dedicated to preserving the legacy of Tulsa and GLOW for the fans.
Tulsa’s legacy in GLOW is a testament to the impact Jody had on fans and the world of women’s wrestling. Whether you're a long-time fan or discovering GLOW for the first time, Tulsa’s matches are definitely worth revisiting. They capture the essence of what made GLOW such a groundbreaking and entertaining show.
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