Magazine Archive: A Dedication to the Woman Who Built Daffney: Pro Wrestling’s Original Scream Queen (Patreon)

By Taeler Hendrix, Issue 5 FightfulMag.com

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To know that someone is inherently good is, in my opinion, a rarity in this industry and subsequently a rarity in this life. And yet, here I am, failing miserably to write a sentimental dedication on just such a person. A once in a lifetime person. To be inherently good, one must be fundamentally sound. Full of resolve in their convictions and yet characteristically open-minded towards others and their views. To be inherently good, one is artless in their kind treatment of others. They are entirely without artifices deriving from ulterior motives. To be inherently good, one must be simultaneously in tune with their own flaws and their own innate abilities. Using both to bring out the better in others. To be inherently good, one may often be misunderstood but nonetheless remains passionately dedicated to the betterment of all. To be inherently good, one must possess immanent power radiating an unmatched congenial attitude contagious to most in its vicinity no matter the cost to oneself. Selfless. Passionate. Caring. Talented. Intelligent. Larger than life. Inherently good, well, if you ask anyone blessed enough to truly know her, they’d all agree, that this was the essence of Shannon Spruill— the woman who built “The Scream Queen” Daffney.

I am wholeheartedly in agreement with Mick Foleywho openly shared with sorrowful fondness that Shannon Spruill as “The Scream Queen” Daffney Unger was way ahead of her time. In my eyes, she was and always will be the embodiment of what it means to be inherently good. From 1999 to 2021, Shannon as Daffney defined an iconic genre in pro wrestling. She pioneered a previously underwhelmed demographic. She pushed the envelope of what women were capable of on TV in this industry at that time. And even more notable, she cultivated a safe nurturing space for aspiring young talents likeNikki A.S.H, Mia Yim, Jamie Senegal, and others who possessed the same gritty passion as she herself did as an aspiring young talent.

Shannon Spruill took the road less travelled as she built “The Scream Queen.” Daffney as many would come to know her came to life when Shannon was by chance booked by Vince Russo and impressed executives to earn her very own WCW contract in 1999. Daffney’s edgy, larger-than-life on-screen persona was matched in every way by Shannon Spruill off-screen and is reflected in her lasting relationships with the people who loved her most throughout her life. From her days at OVW where she welcomed Mickie Jameswith open arms and an infectiously huge smile. To her time in WCW managing Crowbar and wrestling with“Hurricane” Shane Helmsand Mick Foley, which was nothing short of revolutionary. To her independent days and in TNA Impact under several beloved gimmicks. To SHIMMER with long-time friends and fellow pioneers Lexie Fyfe, Allison Danger, Nikki Roxx, and MsChif. In such a short time, as good as Daffney became in the ring on our TV screens, she was just as good a person off-screen and behind the scenes when no cameras were rolling. Like I said, inherently good.

As much as people loved Daffney, the people that got to know the woman behind the character loved her even more. As Shannon herself, she inspired countless people just by being herself. Her guts and gumption to go out into this industry being free with her authenticity created new opportunities and opened previously locked doors for talents that didn’t fit the mold. I am one of those people and I am forever grateful. In all my years and the numerous times I came across Shannon, I never once saw an act of prejudice, disdain, or disrespect from her. I felt her enthusiasm and her compassion for everything she said and did. I honestly had no idea that the road less travelled would ultimately have me crossing paths with her, making me better because of her. At the time, I had no idea just how closely connected to my heartstrings she actually was and forever will be and I never got the chance to tell her just how much. And that leads me to the problem with dedications, eulogies, and celebrations of life.

This piece has been by far the hardest for me to write. The feelings cascading down into this piece and emanating from me echo the collective sentiments of others in their shock, sadness, pride, tears, laughs, memories, and so much more representing the impeccable sense of loss we all feel. So much so that I find myself struggling to add up the intrinsically priceless value of a person the likes of Shannon Spruill. “Gone too soon” doesn’t quite put into words the effect Shannon had on so many of us during the course of her career. To say she was a genuine soul doesn’t do any justice to the woman she truly was and always will be in our hearts, minds, and our actions for having been influenced by her. Nor do these words even begin to shed light on the daughter, sister, and friend that she was and the people fortunate enough to have had her in their lives. Not to mention the people fortunate enough to have had her in their corner fighting alongside them in life. Which is why I feel she is by far and away the best example of someone who is worth knowing because in everything that she did she was in fact inherently good.

The problem with dedications, eulogies, and celebrations of life are the scales of grateful and regretful. It’s been my personal experience that immensely genuine good-hearted people like Shannon Spruill are once in a lifetime people. They are rare. Selfless. Creative. Caring. Compassionate. Humorous. Kind. Boisterous. Talented. Honest. All in all, inherently good. It is my belief that Shannon’s example of being a good human being will irrevocably change this business for the better. And also, in my opinion, she deserves nothing less. She aimed to inspire people to aspire for the better. To protect themselves better. To do better. To be better. To be kinder and smarter. To laugh more. To smile more. To speak up more. To perform with your all with every opportunity while you are blessed enough to do so. To show up better. To stand up better. To be more honest. To represent better. To better your grasping hold onto your integrity. To put more effort into showing those whom you love just how much they mean to you. To never take anything for granted. These are the very things that I saw personally that Shannon selflessly advocated for on the behalf of others. And these are also the differences that I have found to tip the scale between grateful and full of regret.

In the grand scheme of things, I want to share a piece of myself with you the readers and by proxy, to Shannon herself that I never fully got to share before. As a testament to the woman she was and always will be in my eyes, and all the words I never got to say to her. I started experiencing tragic loss from a very early age. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I was five years old and my grandmother died of cancer in our home. I remember the people coming in and out to pay their respects. I remember my mother taking care of her up to the very end. I remember saying goodbye to her the night before she died. I remember standing on her favorite recliner chair with my arms folded over the top as I watched people come and go. Some were strangers, and others close family, and some not so close at all. I remember it all. One of the things I remember most about my grandmother before she died was one of my fondest memories of her. And at the time, I had no inclination of fate, timing, and how it would come full circle to me as a grown woman and to Shannon Spruill herself.

One of my fondest memories with my grandmother that I can still recall with happiness and clarity was watching over and over and over again Santa Claus: The Moviestarring Dudley Moore. We probably watched it 50-plus times before she died. To this day, it’s one of my favorite Christmas films. Unfortunately, my grandfather didn’t take her passing very well. He died just as I was starting out in wrestling. He never got to see what I would become someday, but he always supported me. As a former member of the U.S. Military and a semi-pro boxer, he always supported my love of pro wrestling. He was one of the few that did. And one of the last things we ever did together was watch that Santa Claus movie.

Fast-forward years later, I see Daffney on television and I’m intrigued by her. I’m captivated by her persona that jumped off the screen. And I’m inspired by how different she was. Later on, I met Shannon Spruill and for once in the wrestling business, I didn’t feel alone.

As you all may or may not know, in 2015, Shannon was the host of a California independent show where I got severely hurt with perhaps the second-worst concussion of my career albeit this one had more immediate lasting effects.

As it would happen the momentum went wrong and I took two Northern Lights suplexes onto the top of my head. No one’s fault, it unfortunately happens. It was a bad spot. I don’t remember anything after that for at least eight minutes. I’m told I finished the entire match as called in the back and I apparently hit my time queue. And I even walked myself to the back. I don’t remember any of it. My first memory when I came to was Daffney holding my hand telling me I was going to be okay. She told me that she was going to take care of me and make sure I got to WWE the next day for the Royal Rumble. I was having a very rough day that day. I kept apologizing for what happened and in response, she said something to me that was word for word one of the last things I would ever hear my grandmother say when I was five years old. Shannon had no idea that I was depressed that day because that day was approaching the tenth anniversary of my grandfather’s passing. What’s so emotional for me is realizing how much fate works in such mysterious ways bringing people into our lives exactly when we need them to help us grow into who we are supposed to be someday.

All the times I watched Santa Claus: The Movieadded up in that moment in California. Watching that film over and over as I grew up. Seeing Daffney on TV in TNA and later watching her footage from WCW. Fast forward to me becoming a wrestler myself, meeting Shannon, and Shannon being there that day of all days. And then it all came full circle. That night per her instructions, I did everything I could to stay up before my flight due to the concussion. So, I once again watched that movie. And that’s when I truly saw how inherently good Shannon was, is, and always will be. And how fate really does push us where we need to go, and to whom we need to meet, to be who we need to be someday. Now, I’d watched that movie for years and it wasn’t until that night in California, that I realized that Shannon was one of the young girls in the movie. That day I saw that film differently. I don’t know how. I don’t know why. But there she was on the screen (she’s uncredited as the Bratty Kid at Ballet Class). In a movie I’d been watching for years out of comfort and fond memories. That day changed me as a person. I think that day was a precursor to getting me ready for battles yet to come and how I needed to find my voice, my confidence, and my gumption as a person. Shannon had a huge impact on me that day. That experience showed me who I want to grow up to be someday and what I could be capable of if I stayed true to myself and followed through on my own personal philosophy — All You Need is Love, Guts, and Gumption. Shannon Spruill had all of those things and she was there in my time of need. And I’d apparently seen glimpses of her since I was five years old sitting down with my grandmother and grandfather. A part of who I am today is a direct reflection of that experience and her inherent goodness. I never got to tell her that.

It is often through eulogies, dedications, and celebrations of life that we as human beings express our affections for the people we love. The people who have impacted us in some profound way as they took a chance on us and molded us into what we needed to become to embark on the journey of reaching our fullest potential in life. The problem is that the people we speak of aren’t necessarily there in the physical sense to meaningfully hear how much they meant to us. We always think we have more time. But unfortunately, time is never ours to control. The ‘To Do’ lists add up. The seconds tick by. The hours spent mindlessly, aimlessly scrolling on social media. The texts go unsent. The calls you meant to make but put off. If there’s one take away from the life of Shannon Spruill, I hope it’s this: live with purpose, honesty, integrity, compassion, and authenticity. And above all else, don’t wait for a eulogy, dedication, or Celebration of Life to tell the people that matter, that they matter to you.

Be grateful for all the things you took the time to say and show while people are still around. Be it call, text, DM, e-mail, write a letter, etc. Do not be full of regret for all the things you could have taken the time to say, show, or do but didn’t. Take the time to be sincerely grateful instead of dreadfully regretful.

The sudden loss of Shannon Spruill is indicative of the precarious nature of time and preciousness of true solidarity. While I wish her story ended differently and much later, one thing still remains even in her final moments — Shannon wanted to affect change for the betterment of others, even at the cost of herself. Again, inherently good. Shannon Spruill, at least to me, should be immortalized through her contributions to so many and the sacrifices she made and the pain she endured for a business we all love and or call home. To her loved ones, to science, and for the betterment of this business, she gave her all to each fan, match, appearance, project, and peer. I’m forever better for having known Shannon for the times that I did.

I implore you with complete earnestness and conviction to live a grateful life and not one full of regret. Daffney was indeed ahead of her time. Her exuberance for life will not be forgotten. Her innate talent in acting and pro wrestling will forever keep her name in conversations of greatness and ingenuity. Her dedication to the betterment of the industry will live on long after affecting change for the betterment of the generations that follow. I hope you will join me in saying, here’s to the lasting impression and the essence Daffney leaves behind. And here’s to Daffney’s fans. May they cheer her name loud and proud for many years to come. Here’s to Daffney’s free authenticity of love, guts, and gumption. May they be felt through her friends, her fans, and her family alike. Here’s to her inherent goodness. May it inspire others to dare to be revolutionary as she did in the best of ways. Here’s to the rarity that she was who blessed those around her just by being herself. Here’s to the once in a lifetime person we are all better for knowing. And most importantly, here’s to the heart and soul that will forever be synonymous with the inherently good woman who single-handedly built pro wrestling’s original “Scream Queen” Daffney Unger - Shannon Spruill.

Taeler Hendrix has contributed to Fightful since 2020, after a pro wrestling career that saw her as a prominent figure in both Ring of Honor and TNA Wrestling.

Twitter: @Taeler_Hendrix