Shannon Hall

This article is about the boxer. For the building, seeCloverdale Fairgrounds § Shannon Hall.For the theater space, seeWisconsin Union Theater.

Shannon Hall
Born	(1970-04-18)April 18, 1970 Jonesboro, Arkansas
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Shannon Hall
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Trained by	WWE
Debut	1998

Shannon Rachelle Hall(born April 18, 1970) is an American former professional boxer, kickboxer, professional wrestler, and bodybuilder. She was the first ever Toughwoman World Champion and competed onAmerican GladiatorsasDallas.She has also worked as a professional boxer in the IFBA Boxing League and a professional wrestler for WWF. She has competed onESPNas a fitness competitor, starred in two boxingpay-per-viewsand one wushu martial arts pay per view, featured inSports Illustrated,Muscle & FitnessandUSA Today.In 2023 she was induced into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as a master Pugilist.

Career

In 1993, Hall was selected out of hundreds of female contestants across the United States to star as "Dallas" on the syndicated television show,The American Gladiators(1993–1994), in Los Angeles. She went on to win the "Alumni Special" on the series, defeating fellow gladiator ZAP for the Alumni title. Hall continued playing "Dallas" in theAmerican Gladiators's Orlando Live Dinner Show from 1995 to 1998 inKissimmee, Florida.

Hall was also a fitness competitor, winning the Fitness America California Pageant in 1993, then placing fourth in the Nationals on ESPN.

In 1996, in Detroit, Michigan, a "Toughwoman" contest was added to theToughman Contestcircuit. Hall entered upon invitation and won the $10,000 Boxing Grand Prize, a professional boxing contract and the Toughwoman World Championship title.

In 1998, Hall successfully defended her Toughwoman title on pay-per-view, winning the IFBA Pro. Platinum Division belt against three other professional women boxers. Hall went undefeated in ten fights in Toughwoman contests.

In February 1998, Hall and Fernandez became the first women to box professionally inMadison Square Garden.(Hall) Under Dore Management, (Fernandez) Top Rank Boxing, we’re in a match on aBuster Douglasundercard.Hall won by a technical knock out defeating Tera "The Hot Tamale" Fernandez in the first round.

In addition, as a Martial Artist, Hall entered the Wushu Unlimited Martial Arts Tournament in Orlando, Florida, winning Women's San Shou Competition. Men's San Shou Champion, Cung Le, taught Shannon briefly before the competition, the rules of San Shou, including punching, kicking and taking down your opponent. Hall learned quickly and dominated her opponent to win the tournament.

Hall trained with professional boxing trainers Murray Sutherland, Jeff Gibson, and Frank Pezzulo, and studied kickboxing with Mosama Ruben Morales and Muy Thai under Sifu David Krapes. She was a stable-mate and training partners with Former Boxing World Champion Hector "Macho" Camacho and Pro. Lightweight Boxer Earnest "M16" Mateen.

In her third boxing title attempt in 1999 for the IBA Super-Middleweight Belt, Hall faced off against Suzy Taylor. Hall lost to Taylor in the 9th round via referee stoppage, and soon after retired from Boxing. Shortly thereafter, she signed with the World Wrestling Federation and toured with them for one year.

Personal life

Shannon attendedArkansas State Universitywhere she joinedDelta Zeta(Omicron Epsilon chapter).

In 2001, Shannon gave birth to her son. In 2005, she had a daughter.

Accomplishments

• Miss Fitness America finalist (California Winner)
• Toughwoman World Champion
• IFBA Platinum Boxing Champion
• Wushu San Shou Women's Champion
• American Gladiator Television Alumni Champion