Behind the ROPES: A Candid Conversation with Keren Winter
Written by Nicolas Pope
Keren Winter, the enigmatic and ever-intense OEW Women’s Champion, has been on a tear recently, successfully defending her title against some of the toughest competitors in the industry. Known for her cold, calculated in-ring style, Keren is not one to shy away from a challenge, and her latest bout against the formidable Volcano proved just that. Today, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Keren Winter to discuss her recent title defense, her future in OEW, and a bit more about the woman behind the icy persona.
Interview with Karen Winter
Nicolas Pope: Keren, first things first. How do you feel after successfully defending your championship against a behemoth like Volcano?
Keren Winter: (Laughs…) Sore! I feel sore! I mean, I'm still feeling it from the Hardcore Match we had, so I expect I'll be spending extra time on the trainer's table after today. But here’s the thing, Volcano is a very powerful woman…she's built like a tank and hits like a truck, you know? We had three incredible matches, and the margin of victory was really slim. I had just one more reversal in me than she was ready for, and that was it. So yeah, give the girl her flowers, totally. But at the same time, give me mine, right?
You mentioned behemoths, and OEW has a lot of them…not just Volcano, but Lilith, and Abigail, and Kin Ryu…they are all big! All very strong! But they all have something else in common…they took me lightly. They underestimated me. They assumed that their brawn was a better weapon than my brains. And they were all wrong. Let’s face it, Volcano will beat me in every arm wrestling match we ever have…actually, she should have chosen that for a match stipulation! But beating me in the ring, with the OEW Women's Championship on the line? That's a tall order.
Nicolas Pope: What's next for Keren Winter and the OEW Women’s Championship?
Keren Winter: So, this may sound trite, but honestly… I want to enjoy it. When I won the championship the first time, I was a mess. Emotionally, I was a wreck…and I was so focused on not letting anyone down, that I just really shit the bed. And as much as it hurt me to admit that, it hurt more when I tried to do the right thing, get the help, get the support…and was then betrayed by Dr. James Rose. And served up to Lilith and her crony, Syn. It hurt to lose at Immortality, because then, no matter what I had done, what I had tried to do, tried to accomplish…it was gone. Over. I wasn’t the champion anymore. And I had no guarantee that such an opportunity would ever come again. I had climbed the mountain, and once I got to the top, I fell right off the other side. And I had nothing to show for it.
That’s not what I want for myself. I want to enjoy it. Internalize it. I am taking that time, standing backstage, with that belt around my waist, knowing that I’ve got what everyone else wants…they SHOULD want it…but I have it. I’ve got the prize. And I want to be proud of that. Cherish it. Just live in the moment, really. Live IN the moment, but also live UP to the moment. Let me tell you what I mean.
The championship belt, it’s gold and leather. It’s just a thing. Anyone can go buy one. But this one? It means something special. It represents something. Not just the accomplishment, but also the responsibility. Part of that responsibility is being a face of OEW, and the other part is being available to the other women in the locker room, and defending this brass ring when they grab for it. So, no ducking anyone. When the match is made, I’m there. And I go into every match with nothing to gain….I’ve already got it…and EVERYTHING to lose. But that’s the gig. That’s the deal.
Look at the women on our roster. Volcano. Lilith. Saika. Emma. Syn. It goes on and on. There’s no shortage of challengers. There’s no shortage of great matches ahead. And I think that's great for OEW, it's great for the roster, and it’s great for the fans.
Nicolas Pope: Let's shift gears a bit. Can you talk about your relationship with your parents and the decision you made to never go home?
Keren Winter: …So…with my parents…it’s complicated, ok? Most people know by now, maybe they don’t, but my parents are wrestling superfans. Like, their lives ARE wrestling. Their house is a museum to pro wrestling history, and it’s filled with memorabilia. Family vacations were to pay-per-views, and weekend trips were to house shows. And as long as I could remember, I only wanted my parents to love me as much as they loved wrestling. And I mean, they did. They do. Intellectually, I know that. But… it didn’t always feel that way. And everyone knows, that’s why I became a wrestler. That’s why I left a life of high-end academia, it’s why I left the Canadian Space Program, why I left my career in the sciences…to impress them. To be what they loved. To be the best and force them to deal with that. And when I lost at Immortality, lost the match, the belt, everything…who texted me? Them. And they wanted me to come home.
And I was going to. I headed out the door and was going home. And I got in my car, drove to an airport, and bought a ticket to Japan. And when I got there, I made some contacts and started wrestling in some feds there. I didn’t message my folks. I didn’t need them to tell me it’s ok, they still love me…right then, I didn’t need that. I needed to kick some people’s heads off, and make my body stronger. My mind stronger. So I could come back and take Lilith down…I wasn’t going to get that hunger at home.
As much as I wanted it. As much as I’ve always wanted to get that text and go see them and have them acknowledge who I am now, and what I do…at that moment, it wasn’t what I NEEDED.
Every week, I reserve them two tickets in the OEW arena. They’ve never come. Maybe someday.
I hope so, at least.
Nicolas Pope: That’s a powerful story, Keren. It seems like your journey has been as much about personal growth as it has been about wrestling. Do you think you'll ever reconcile with your parents?
Keren Winter: (Pauses) I hope so, Nic. I really do. But right now, my focus is on me and my career. I've got a title to defend and a lot of challengers lining up. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. For now, I’m staying focused on the ring…and who knows, maybe one day they’ll be in those seats, watching me do what I do best.
Nicolas Pope: Thank you for sharing such a personal side of your story with us, Keren. Any final words for your fans?
Keren Winter: Just this—never let anyone define your worth. Not your family, not your friends, no one. You define your own path, your own destiny. And if you want something, go out there and take it. No one’s going to hand it to you. Not in this business, not in any.
---
And there you have it, folks—a rare and revealing conversation with Keren Winter, OEW Women’s Champion and one of the most compelling figures in virtual wrestling today. Keep your eyes on the ring because the story of Keren Winter is far from over.
Stay tuned to Bombshell Insider for more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content from the world of virtual wrestling!
