After succeeding in the worlds of modeling and wrestling, you now have your sights set on Hollywood.  How’s that going, and what do you hope to accomplish?

Tell us more about that?

Yeah.  It’s called OB1

Obi-Wan, as in Star Wars?

Yeah.  It’s a sci fi type show.  We’ve got the trailer for it.  We’ve just been taking it to different places to see if anyone’s interested in it.  Hopefully, it will be on a major station and I’ll be on TV every week again.  I get offers all the time for different movie roles.  It’s a lengthy process.

What is your role on OB1?

Well, the sci fi tv show – the role I’m working with is kind of a sci fi sex babe. (laughs) A cyber babe, I guess you could say.

You were born in Sacramento and now live in Stockton.  What do you like about the land of 916 and 209?

I am originally from Sacramento and I came to Stockton about 14 years ago.  I really like it.  Sacramento’s kind of an out of control town.  I’m the kind of the type of girl who likes to be pretty down-to-earth.  I am not into the fast-paced life.  When I’m home I like my quiet time, and get away from all of the riff-raff of Hollywood.  With me being in Stockton now, I really enjoy it, it’s kind of a quiet orchard town.  And, I like the people who are here.  I kind of live on the outskirts.  I can come home and be comfy cozy and get away from it all.

Well, Stockton is obviously slower paced than professional modeling and wrestling – what do you like most about the city?

With Stockton, there’s been a lot of changes since I’ve been living here.  It’s actually been really nice.  It’s grown a lot.  Where I live, it’s a new community.  I love my home.  I knew the house I wanted.  I knew the lot I wanted.  I was determined to get the house I wanted on that lot. I really like the improvements they’ve done to Stockton, especially downtown.  It was kinda getting run down.  They put that new movie theater in.  That’s really really nice.  And the waterfront, there’s a lot of great bands that come to Stockton.  It’s bringing a lot more to Stockton.  I think it’s more what they needed to do.  To bring the young people – especially with the young people at UOP.  Something that Stockton still needs are some dance clubs.  I’m young, and occasionally if I get a chance to go out, I like a place to socialize.  I don’t socialize a lot, because usually I’m so busy I know my friends who live here in town, usually they don’t stay here in Stockton because Stockton doesn't have dance clubs.  A lot of people go to Sacramento, or Modesto or the Bay Area or some place like that.  I think one of the next things we need to bring to town is something like that.

Favorite bar?

I am not a bar person.  I am not  really much  for going out and drinking.  If I do have an occasional drink now and then it’s at my house with friends and family.

What about a favorite restaurant?

I definitely am a food lover.  My favorite places here in town... it depends on what kind of food I am looking for. I like Stockton Joe’s or Dave Wong’s or Garlic Brothers, or if I want a good burger I’ll go to In N Out Burger or something.  It depends on what kind of mood I’m in and if I want to sit down and have a meal or whatever.  Of course when I get a chance to splurge I love Krispy Kreme donuts.  I don’t get to splurge too often, especially with me doing my modeling.

Did you begin your career in modeling after high school?

No, actually I didn’t.  I was kind of confused on what I wanted to do.  I thought about enlisting in the Navy.  I’m not a girl who comes from money or nothing.  I was kind of confused when I got out of high school.  A lot of young people are confused they don’t know which direction they want to go with.  I always had a dream of doing modeling and stuff.  Being an 18 year old, you think all these beautiful models, supermodels and girls on covers of magazines, they have to come from money.  I didn’t realize that it takes a lot of hustling, going out there and socializing with different people, making connections.  I never did go in the Navy, I forgot all about that.  I started doing bikini contests.  That’s the way it all started.  I started doing bikini contests, Hawaiian Tropics, and some more risqué contests.

Was that hard for you to jump into the more risqué?

No, actually I’ve always been a bit of an exhibitionist.  It wasn’t too hard.  (laughs)  I would do contests at truck shows. 

Tell us more more about your modeling career.

It started with bikini contests, the senior editor of Sport Truck magazine had seen me and he wanted to shoot me, so I got together with him and I shot for some covers of his magazine.  And then a fitness photographer saw me and he liked my look and liked my figure.  So, I shot for covers of magazines like Muscle Mag and Muscle Development and Iron Man.  And with my automotive magazines I shot for things like Sport Truck and Mini Truckin.  And then I went on to wrestling.

Modeling or Wrestling, what's your favorite?

I’ve enjoyed every avenue I’ve taken in my career.  I’d have to say the favorite part of my career is when I got into wrestling and got my character developed as Major Gunns.  It was the most funnest time in my career so far.

What drew you into wrestling?  And how was the character of Major Gunns developed?

I was doing my fitness modeling and knew people in all industries.  I knew some people who were in the wrestling industry.  They were looking for some girls to come out and do an interview in LA.  They were looking for about six girls.  I was one of the girls who was chosen.  I knew someone in the industry, so that helped to get into it.

Who was it that you knew?

Terry.  You know, Hulk Hogan.  Kevin Nash.

(Eyes widening) You were friends with them before you got into wrestling?  How did you meet Hulk Hogan?

A friend of mine down in LA ran all of the Gold’s Gyms.  All of the celebrities and wrestlers would go in there.  Hulk Hogan would go in there, and Kevin Nash and different wrestlers, when they would be in LA.  So, he ran across them and then when I would be down in LA I would go into Gold’s Gym to train.  He [Hogan] would ask what I do, and since he was there in the middle of everything, he would ask if I would be interested in getting into movies, or wrestling?  I was like, “Yeah, I was interested in to different things.”  So, I interviewed for the NWO, and I was one of the girls they picked up.

How many people were interviewed?

I’d say about 25, but they only picked up 6.  In 1999, when I got in there, it was for the NWO.  I went to Texas.  We did some pre-taping.  We girls were in the background and seeing how things operated back there.  They were seeing if the six girls they chose were going to pan out.  I was with them for a few months, and then that storyline was kind of dying out and they were going into different storylines.  I worked with Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett and all of them for quite a few months doing that story line.  Basically when they were changing storylines, they had me with Scott Steiner, we were all valets for him.  That was not my cup of tea.  I didn’t want to do that.

Because it was demeaning?

In 2001 you were voted Sexiest Female Wrestler.

Yep.  I was a team player with all my guys.  We worked really well together.  They were all great guys to work with.  We always helped each other out.

I don’t know if people know how much work goes into it. 

Well, it’s not easy.  What you see is all the glitz and glamour.  It takes a lot out of you.  I would be gone for two or three weeks at a time.  Come home for one or two days, and then be gone again.  I didn’t have time to see my family or hang out with friends.  There were times that I would miss holidays because I would be out on the road.

What did your family think about this career move?

They were really surprised.  They’ve always been behind me and been really supportive.  They said 'You’re a grown woman and if this is career you want to do, we’ll support you no matter what you do.'  They get a kick out of it.  They are some of my biggest fans.

What's it like physically and mentally to be a professional wrestler?

Long hours.  We had to do all of our pre-taping, get a sense of how the story lines were going.  That’s basically what you see in between matches.  After we got doing those, we would get ready for the matches.  Then we’d have the show.  We wouldn’t get out of there until 11 o’clock at night.  We’d then have to get to the next town.  Get two hours sleep to head to the next convention and do it all over again.  A few days a week I went to the Power Plant – I went to wrestling school.  It was like boot camp.  You had to learn how to take bumps, how to run the ropes.  When I first started one of my teachers was Medusa.

Did you learn how to do the figure four leg lock?

Mmhmm.  I’ve never had it done on me though.  Learning how to wrestle is certainly something you have to get your body conditioned for.  I’ve always been really athletic, but wrestling is something completely different.  Learning how to do the moves a certain way so that there aren’t more injuries.  The way you land.  They way to get up.  Certain ways to take bumps.  Just learning how to run ropes. Now because of it I have an injured lat muscle that I will always have problems with. The next day I had to be wrapped with an ace bandage from underneath the armpit to my hips because my muscles were black and blue.

When you got into the actual ring, did you have any injuries from there?

Oh yeah.  I ended up in the emergency room.  Me being Major Gunns, the baby face, we always get the bad end of things – we always get our butts kicked.  I had a match coming up with me and Paisley.  I had different moves that I was planning on doing and she had a new one that she wanted to do.  So, we went into the ring.  There were other people there, too.  She was going to do a back flip and throw an elbow into my chest while I was standing on the turnbuckle.  But, she didn’t have herself backed up enough, so when she did the back flip, instead of giving me an elbow into the chest, both of her feet went into my chest.  It knocked me right into the turnbuckle and I landed right on my face on the mat.  I couldn’t breathe so they rushed me to the ER.  They thought I was going to die on them, I think.  So, that was one of my worst times.

The documentary Behind the Mat shows the darker side of wrestling (drug addiction, mental and physical illness, fading careers). What's your take on that?

All people see out there is the glitz and glamour – the big guys and the beautiful girls.  They don’t see how the guys get the size they get or the girls get in shape or look the way they are.  The life is really draining on you.  Basically everybody is fighting to be on top.  Fighting to be noticed.  Everybody wants TV time.  There’s so much talent there that everybody – there’s a lot of great guys and girls that I worked with.  There’s other ones that will play cut-throat and do whatever it takes to get TV time.  There’s great people, and then there’s prima donnas who would whine and snivel to get their way – and I won’t name no names.

I always looked up to Jake the Snake when I was a kid as kind of a Superhero and then to see this other side of him, was quite shocking.

Kids get their superstars and think this perfect guy has everything.  But, they have to realize that we’re people too.  WE have real lives and real problems.  I know the situation with Jake the Snake is a sad situation.  There are people in the wrestling industry with real issues – not saying I’m perfect – it’s not an easy life.  For some, wrestling is all they have.  If it were to end tomorrow, where would they go?  They couldn’t become doctors or lawyers.  And a lot of the wrestlers are 30 on up?  Where do you go from there?  The circus?  It’s not an easy life in any way.  I love and adore my fans, and I get some fantastic emails.  I’ve made some great impressions on people.

Can you think of a particular experience with a fan that was extremely positive?

I can think of a couple.  With my name, Tylene, I never met anyone with my name.  But, I was at this one convention and this 10 year old girl was screaming from across the room, “Tylene!  Tylene!  Major Gunns!”  I went over to introduce myself and she said, “I know exactly who you are.”  She held up her ID and said, “I have the same name as you.  I hope to be exactly like you when I grow up.”  I almost started crying.  That was so cool.  She was so happy and bouncing around.  I didn’t really realize the impact I’d made on young people.  Sometimes kids with special needs would dream of meeting us.  This girl, about 8 years old, she was a tiny, fragile little thing.  She had this teeny little voice.  She grabbed hold of my leg.  She had only six months to live.  Her mom and dad were there.  She said, “Can you sign this for me?”  I took her up to the ring before the show started.  She wanted to put my boots on.  She was a total crack up – the boots went all the way up to her butt.  That really made an impact on my life.

I’d always heard about how wrestlers will give up their time to go meet up with the fans.  Hulk Hogan is the most requested Make A Wish celebrity terminally ill children want to meet.  I don’t think people know much wrestlers give back to the fans.

I did this bowling charity event here in Stockton.  I do it every year, at Pacific Bowl.  It’s for kids who are less fortunate.  I like being able to do what I can.  If it’s their dream to meet a star, and if I’m their star, it’s going to make an impact in their life – and give them the drive to not give up.  I’ll do whatever it takes to help them.  Every year it gets better and better.  They can always count on me.

Who are your favorite wrestlers?

Me.  Of course.  (laughs)  It’s hard to say because I know all of them, but I’d say Hulk Hogan because he’s a legend in wrestling.

Who would win in a no holds barred bout between you and [80s Female Wrestling Champion] Wendy Richter?

I couldn’t tell you.  I don’t actually know who that is.

What are you're favorite movies?

Should I keep this clean?  Dirty Dancing, I think that’s every girl’s favorite.  Lethal Weapon.  Ace Ventura.  (laughs)

What music do you like?

I like a lot of different kinds of music.  Van Halen, Sade and Marvin Gaye.

Which Van Halen do you prefer?

I like older Van Halen, but I like Sammy Hagar, too.

What’s it like to get recognized on the street?

I’ve been recognized by kids a few times. 

Have you ever been the target of an overzealous fan?

It was pretty scary.  He wasn’t far from here. I used to get creepy emails and letters to my PO Box.  Sometimes it’s really nice to be considered a superstar and have fame.  Sometimes I’m like, “I’m Tylene Buck.  That’s all I am.”

How is it balancing wrestling and Hollywood with being a mother?

I have two step children.  I’ve been with my husband for fourteen years.  He’s been with me from the very beginning.  I was a nobody.  I was nothing.  He was my whole support.  When we got together, my step children were two and four at the time.  I think with the way the world is today and having stepchildren.  It takes a lot of listening to them.  Letting them be themselves.  Spending time with them.  We’ve always been up front and honest them.  The world is not easy out there.  With what I do, they’ve always been really proud of me.  They haven’t been harassed or anything.

Have parents of some of your kids’ friends’ parents given you any negativity?

Sometimes.  I am not sure if they’re jealous that they have to go off to an office job and I don’t.  Some parents have been like that, but I have all of their kids at my house.  I have anywhere from 8-15 kids at my house because my house is so open.  A lot of parents aren’t listening to their kids.  Kids have problems, too.  It’s not like that here in my house.  They know that if they’re in my house, they follow my rules.  There’s no drinking, no drugs.  They can be safe in my house.  I’ve taken in all of the orphans.  They can always talk the girl-girl stuff.  I’ve the neighborhood counselor-mom.

Are you retired from wrestling?  Or just on hiatus?

Basically, I was under contract with the WCW.  I was limited on the things I could do.  Before, I was doing my modeling and acting, and different things.  When I got under contract, all the other stuff stopped.  I knew how much that kind of thing took out of me.  I do have my character name.  I always wanted to be my own boss.  Run my own career.  I didn’t want to go that direction and be away from home.

What made you want to put your own adult website together?

I’ve been approached by Playboy and Penthouse.  The way I am, I want to be my own boss.  Make my own decisions.  I don’t want to be under contract with anybody.  I want to have my own career, and have it the way I want to.  I have a lot of fans who’d followed me from the beginning of my modeling.  I figured that I already had my portfolio of my bikini modeling online, and I figured I wanted to do it, so why not.

How is the site maintained? 

I maintain the website myself.  I am an internet nerd.  (laughs)