Thrash Wrestling's Vixen Jade a mild-mannered court reporter by day

Nick and Jill Szalanski are like most newlyweds. They like spending time together and they hardly ever fight – at least not with each other.

"I like to think 'Jade' is my alter ego because during the day I’m a court reporter, a stenographer. I work with lawyers, listen to witnesses, listen to trials and stuff.

"And then at nighttime, I smear a lot of black stuff on my face, and I wear spandex and I beat people up," says Jill.

Vixen Jade is her wrestling identity with the Okanagan’s Thrash Wrestling.

When she moved to Vernon in 2013, becoming a professional wrestler wasn’t exactly on her radar. Jill says it all started with a walk to a 7-Eleven.

On her way, she saw a Thrash Wrestling poster on a telephone pole.

She decided to go to the show, which featured Tommy Dreamer of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fame.

The crew from Thrash Wrestling would become her new family. Quite literally.

She's now married to former wrestler and promoter Nick Szalanski. When the pair first met, Nick was also in the ring, duking it out as 'Slave'.

He's earned many belts over 18 years, including the Thrash, Armstrong, and Tag Team titles before retiring from the sport just over a year ago.

Along with sparring in rings across the Okanagan, the two have toured internationally, allowing Vixen Jade to take her fishnet-wearing flex to four shows across Japan.

"I think pretty much any wrestler will tell you that when they walk through that curtain and they become somebody else, it's just the most amazing feeling in the world and they feed off that energy from the crowd."

If you've never had the opportunity to sit ringside, Jade promises an interactive experience.

"The best thing about wrestling is that it's like live theatre. You know, like you're performing in front of all these people. You're telling a story. There's a good guy and a bad guy, right? And you're telling a story to them and people cheer, they boo, they clap, they yell. Little kids sometimes cry. There's a lot of emotion wrapped up in pro wrestling."

When asked if the newlyweds would ever get in the ring together, Jade jokes: "The loser is going to have to fold laundry for a whole year."

Tickets for Friday's final Thrash event of the year, 'The Naughty List', are on sale for $20, $25 at the door.

Action starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Schubert Centre, and Vixen Jade will be in the ring.

Jan. 7 Thrash Wrestling returns at the Ukrainian Orthodox Parish Hall in Kelowna, and Jan. 14 in Penticton at the Trade and Convention Centre.