The Queen of Mayhem
hopes to revive The Stink Bombs

By Tracy Farr
Editor, The Daily Spittoon

A former roller derby athlete is on the comeback trail, hoping to revive interest in a sport that went out of fashion more than 20 years ago.

Susan Dennis, who works as a teacher’s aide during the day, has been spending her free time getting back in shape in order to come out of retirement.  She plans on reviving the Stink Bombs, a local Roller Derby team that was once famous throughout the Texas Roller Derby circuit.

“Roller Derby was a big part of my past,” Dennis said.  “I spent my high school summers touring America, slamming and jamming with the best of them.  It was something I loved and I’m hoping to pick it up where I left off.”

Dennis left the sport after she had her first child.  Before that, she was known as the Queen of Mayhem with The Maniacs.

“I had a good career with The Maniacs,” Dennis said.  “We were a real family.  We really looked out for each other.”

Dennis, who wore a leather mask during races to hide her identity, was known as one of the most violent and villainous skaters in roller derby history.  During her three-year career, she sent eight other skaters to the hospital, broke 47 noses with her signature elbow jab, and broke the arms of two referees.

“The audience loved to boo me when I came on the rink, but it was all in good fun,” Dennis recalled.  “Whenever The Maniacs were in town, audience attendance numbers went through the roof.  People just like to see a little blood while they’re eating their popcorn.”

Roller Derby stopped being televised in the early 70’s, but regional chapters were still popular throughout the late 80’s. 

“I remember watching Roller Derby every Saturday night,” Dennis said.  “I was only about four or five at the time, but it made a big impression on me.  I knew then and there that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up.  The heyday of Roller Derby was over by the time I was in high school, but luckily for me the regional chapters were still going strong.”

The Stink Bombs folded in 1989 when Roller Derby lost its appeal with the public.  After more than 20 years, Dennis believes the public is once again ready to embrace the quick-paced, action-packed sport.

“We’re going to try and make a go of it,” Dennis said.  “You’d be surprised how many former Roller Derby athletes are out there, living normal lives and hiding the fact they once bruised it up on the rink.  When I finally coax them out of the woodworks, we’re going to put together a team that will be a force to be reckoned with.” 

For more information about Roller Derby or The Stink Bombs, contact Susan Dennis via The Daily Spittoon at thestinkbombs@thedailyspittoon.com.