Former WWE star getting degree from University of Alabama

A former wrestling star with the WWE is getting a master's degree at the University of Alabama.

According to a story by David Miller on the school website, Debra Marshall, who was the WWE Women's Champion, in 1999, is getting a degree in criminology and criminal justice. She plans to work as a jury consultant.

Marshall earned an undergraduate interdisciplinary degree with a concentration in community relations in 2013 from the University of Alabama.

Marshall, who studied acting at the Lee Strasburg Theater and Film Institute in New York, retired from the WWE in 2003.

Miller's report says that during her career in sports entertainment, Marshall learned that choreography of ring performances required non-verbal cues and an understanding of how to trigger the desired emotions of the audience, which translates well into vetting jurors.

"Being in wrestling you watch body language and adjust to it. Acting is the same way. All that ties together when I am working with juries," she said in the report.

Larry Gierer: 706-571-8581, @lagierer

This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 11:03 AM with the headline "Former WWE star getting degree from University of Alabama."