Nicole Fuchs[3] (née Bass; August 10, 1964 – February 17, 2017) was an American bodybuilder, actress, professional wrestler, and professional wrestling valet. She worked for companies such as Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation and XPW. From 1993 until her death, she made numerous appearances on The Howard Stern Show and took part as a contestant in Stern's 1993 pay-per-view television event The Miss Howard Stern New Year's Eve Pageant.[4] She then became a member of the show's Wack Pack and appeared in Stern's movie Private Parts.[5]

Nicole Bass
Born(1964-08-10)August 10, 1964
Queens, New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 17, 2017(2017-02-17) (aged 52)
Queens, New York City, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Bob Fuchs
(m. 1985; died 2013)
Professional wrestling career
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1]
Billed weight231 lb (105 kg)[2]
Billed fromNew York City[1]
Trained byECW House of Hardcore
DebutAugust 15, 1998
RetiredJune 15, 2002

She made guest appearances on four soap operas: The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives in 1991, and General Hospital and Guiding Light in 1992.

Early life

edit

Bass was born in Middle Village in Queens, New York.[3]

Bodybuilding career

edit

Bass was a bodybuilder in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. She won the 1997 NPC National Bodybuilding Championship.[3]

Year Body Competition Division Placing
1985 NPC Eastern USA Championships Heavyweight 2nd
1986 IFBB Ms. International Heavyweight 16th
1986 NPC Nationals Heavyweight 8th
1987 IFBB North American Championships Heavyweight 4th
1987 NPC USA Championships Heavyweight 7th
1988 NPC Northeastern States Heavyweight & Overall 1st
1989 NPC Extravaganza Heavyweight 3rd
1990 NPC Nationals Heavyweight 2nd
1991 IFBB North American Championships Heavyweight 4th
1993 NPC Nationals Heavyweight 10th
1994 NPC Nationals Heavyweight 6th
1995 NPC Nationals Heavyweight 2nd
1996 NPC Nationals Heavyweight 2nd
1997 NPC Nationals Heavyweight & Overall 1st
1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia 14th

[6]

Professional wrestling career

edit

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998-1999)

edit

Trained by Extreme Championship Wrestling, she started her professional wrestling career in Japan in August 1998 for NEO Women's Pro Wrestling, where she won a tournament by defeating Kyoko Inoue.[7] Bass debuted in ECW during the first half of 1998. She aligned herself with Justin Credible, Jason Knight and Chastity. She participated in feuds with Tommy Dreamer, Mikey Whipwreck and Beulah McGillicutty.[8]

World Wrestling Federation (1999)

edit

Bass soon joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), debuting as Sable's villainous bodyguard at WrestleMania XV on March 28, 1999.[1] She became involved in an extended feud with Debra McMichael, which culminated in a mixed tag match pitting Bass and Val Venis against Jeff Jarrett and Debra at the 1999 WWF Over the Edge, which took place directly after the death of Owen Hart at that pay-per-view.[9] On the June 7th episode of Raw Is War, Bass was then aligned with Venis until she accidentally whacked him with Jarrett's guitar after losing a bikini contest to Debra on.[10] The following week, she interfered in a match between Debra and Ivory, with Debra losing her Women's Championship due to Nicole's interference.[11]

This led to a brief alliance between Bass and Ivory, which ended abruptly when Bass left the WWF in July 1999 and filed a lawsuit against the organization for sexual harassment, claiming she was sexually assaulted backstage by Steve Lombardi. In 2003, the case went to court and was ultimately dismissed.[12]

Independent Circuit (1999-2002)

edit

Bass continued to wrestle on the independent wrestling circuit and did bookings for public events and for personal training. Worked for Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Combat Zone Wrestling. She wrestled her last match in 2002.[7]

Personal life

edit

Bass was married to Richard "Bob" Fuchs from 1985 until his death in 2013.[13] At the time of her death, Bass was in a relationship with her business partner, Kristen Marrone.[14][15]

In 2006, Bass was hospitalized due to steroid-influenced pancreatitis.[3]

Death

edit

On February 16, 2017, girlfriend Kristen Marrone posted a statement on Bass' official Facebook stating that Bass had been hospitalized after being found unconscious at her apartment.[16] Later that day, she was declared to be medically brain dead following a heart attack. Her family and friends were with her that evening as she was taken off life support. Bass died on February 17 at the age of 52.[17]

Filmography

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Private Parts Herself Film debut
1999 Pain and Suffering
2000 Spank Those Bitches 2
2000 I Love To Hurt You
2000 Violence on Violence
2000 Beat Your Ass Abusive Woman
2000 Man Handled

Championships and accomplishments

edit

Professional wrestling

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. ^ "Nicole Bass « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". cagematch.net.
  3. ^ a b c d "Nicole Bass Profile". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  4. ^ The Miss Howard Stern New Year's Eve Pageant (Media notes). One Twelve, Inc. December 31, 1993.
  5. ^ "Nicole Bass - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "Bass, Nicole".
  7. ^ a b "Matches "Nicole Bass" Wrestlers Database". Cagematch. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Uncovering the Tragic Story of Bodybuilder & WWE Wrestlwer Who Mysteriously Died in 2017". EssentiallySports. February 4, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Matthews, Paul (July 31, 2022). "Over the Edge '99". Classic Wrestling Review. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Attitude Classics (March 26, 2022). Debra vs Nicole Bass, Bikini Contest Women's Championship, Raw June 7, 1999. Retrieved October 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ WWE (February 14, 2018). Ivory vs. Debra - WWE Women's Championship Match: Raw, June 14, 1999. Retrieved October 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "RAW Rebounds, Ratings, Bass Case Decided, Rock on TNA, and More..." Scarla, Rick and Online Onslaught. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2007.
  13. ^ "Nicole Bass' husband passes away in his sleep." Archived 2013-07-23 at the Wayback Machine howardstern.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  14. ^ Farrell, Paul (February 17, 2017). "Nicole Bass Dead: Photos to Remember the WWE Star".
  15. ^ "REPORT: NICOLE BASS PASSES AWAY". www.pwinsider.com.
  16. ^ Peter, Genovese (February 19, 2017). "Nicole Bass, longtime Howard Stern guest, WWE wrestler, dead at 52". NJ.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  17. ^ Ryan, Satin (February 17, 2017). "Nicole Bass — Passes Away While Surrounded by Friends and Family After Life Support Was Removed". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
edit