Jackie Stiles to appear on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, Feb. 15
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by Alexandra Pernice
Jackie Stiles AKA Jacqueline on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge. Photos courtesy of the CMT television network.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, wrestler and current MMA fighter Jackie Stiles will compete on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge on the CMT television network.
The television show, which is currently in its second season, pits eight elite athletes against one another in three physical challenges. The top contestant of the episode will have the chance to try their hand at the Skull Buster – a half-mile course with 10 obstacles along the way. There, the athlete will attempt to complete the course and defeat the reigning champion’s time for the chance to win $10,000.
Each episode alternates between male and female competitors, with two previous champions from the last season. For Stiles, she will have to defeat Women’s Professional Football League player Heather Hudson from season one. Hudson, who has won a total of $20,000 from her time on the Broken Skull Challenge, continues to hold the top spot of the women’s competition.
All of the contestants on the Broken Skull Challenge come from highly athletic backgrounds, including Stiles. The wrestler turned MMA fighter believes she found strength from her experience on the mat.
“My previous experiences in wrestling and fighting were huge for me on the show. I have about 10 years of wrestling under my belt and two years of MMA. With that alone, I was pretty confident. The third challenge is always The Pit, and I loved it. I knew that if I could get to that event, I could win,” said Stiles.
Stiles, who started her wrestling career at W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, found her true strength in college. Despite not placing at the state competition in high school, she was recruited to wrestle at the University of the Cumberlands. There, she became a four-time All-American and a 2007 Women’s College National Champion at 105 lbs.
“My freshman year was huge for me. I had a little bit of an advantage because girls are not allowed to wrestle guys in Texas. My girls wrestling background from Texas gave me a bit of an advantage, as well as my summer wrestling in freestyle and Greco events,” said Stiles.
After graduating college, she was offered an assistant coaching job at King University. Her experiences there included a variety of ups and downs, but coaching proved to be a positive experience.
“My first year at King I was pregnant with my first son. I had been training, so I had to hold back on competing. Then, I had an ACL injury, and the birth of my second son followed that. After all of that though, I wanted to get back into shape,” said Stiles.
Stiles got married in 2012, taking on her husband’s name. While many in wrestling know her as Jackie Stiles, she now goes by Jacqueline Abshire as well.
Since then, Stiles has been competing in MMA and winning fights with the strength and technique that wrestling has afforded her. She has begun to find her footing as a fighter, and is confident in her abilities to succeed in the future.
“It was always in the back of my mind, fighting. With my wrestling background, people in MMA say that it’s a good background to have. I was always encouraged by everyone to try it. Once I coached at King and had my second son, I was getting back into training and I thought I might as well try it. My first fight was in July 2014 and I got a K.O., a double leg takedown right to the ground in 11 seconds. I just fought recently and it lasted for about 1:45, and I got a T.K.O. The girl had a really good ground game, but even though I’m still new I took her down,” said Stiles.
With her “tough mentality” and competitive spirit, Stiles was eager to participate in the Broken Skull Challenge. For her, competing in the Challenge wasn’t about the money. It was about showing her sons that anything is possible.
“After seeing the show, I looked at my husband and said ‘I think I can be successful at this’. I wanted to show my kids that you can do whatever you want. If you work hard you can reach your goals,” said Stiles.
Fans can see Jackie, who will compete under her full name Jacqueline, on the Broken Skull Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on the CMT television network.
For more information about Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, click here.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, wrestler and current MMA fighter Jackie Stiles will compete on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge on the CMT television network.
The television show, which is currently in its second season, pits eight elite athletes against one another in three physical challenges. The top contestant of the episode will have the chance to try their hand at the Skull Buster – a half-mile course with 10 obstacles along the way. There, the athlete will attempt to complete the course and defeat the reigning champion’s time for the chance to win $10,000.
Each episode alternates between male and female competitors, with two previous champions from the last season. For Stiles, she will have to defeat Women’s Professional Football League player Heather Hudson from season one. Hudson, who has won a total of $20,000 from her time on the Broken Skull Challenge, continues to hold the top spot of the women’s competition.
All of the contestants on the Broken Skull Challenge come from highly athletic backgrounds, including Stiles. The wrestler turned MMA fighter believes she found strength from her experience on the mat.
“My previous experiences in wrestling and fighting were huge for me on the show. I have about 10 years of wrestling under my belt and two years of MMA. With that alone, I was pretty confident. The third challenge is always The Pit, and I loved it. I knew that if I could get to that event, I could win,” said Stiles.
Stiles, who started her wrestling career at W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, found her true strength in college. Despite not placing at the state competition in high school, she was recruited to wrestle at the University of the Cumberlands. There, she became a four-time All-American and a 2007 Women’s College National Champion at 105 lbs.
“My freshman year was huge for me. I had a little bit of an advantage because girls are not allowed to wrestle guys in Texas. My girls wrestling background from Texas gave me a bit of an advantage, as well as my summer wrestling in freestyle and Greco events,” said Stiles.
After graduating college, she was offered an assistant coaching job at King University. Her experiences there included a variety of ups and downs, but coaching proved to be a positive experience.
“My first year at King I was pregnant with my first son. I had been training, so I had to hold back on competing. Then, I had an ACL injury, and the birth of my second son followed that. After all of that though, I wanted to get back into shape,” said Stiles.
Stiles got married in 2012, taking on her husband’s name. While many in wrestling know her as Jackie Stiles, she now goes by Jacqueline Abshire as well.
Since then, Stiles has been competing in MMA and winning fights with the strength and technique that wrestling has afforded her. She has begun to find her footing as a fighter, and is confident in her abilities to succeed in the future.
“It was always in the back of my mind, fighting. With my wrestling background, people in MMA say that it’s a good background to have. I was always encouraged by everyone to try it. Once I coached at King and had my second son, I was getting back into training and I thought I might as well try it. My first fight was in July 2014 and I got a K.O., a double leg takedown right to the ground in 11 seconds. I just fought recently and it lasted for about 1:45, and I got a T.K.O. The girl had a really good ground game, but even though I’m still new I took her down,” said Stiles.
With her “tough mentality” and competitive spirit, Stiles was eager to participate in the Broken Skull Challenge. For her, competing in the Challenge wasn’t about the money. It was about showing her sons that anything is possible.
“After seeing the show, I looked at my husband and said ‘I think I can be successful at this’. I wanted to show my kids that you can do whatever you want. If you work hard you can reach your goals,” said Stiles.
Fans can see Jackie, who will compete under her full name Jacqueline, on the Broken Skull Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on the CMT television network.
For more information about Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, click here.
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