For CNN Terri Runnels was originally a make-up artist. She worked in the same studios in which WCW were taped. As soon as WCW was purchased Ted Turner in 1988, booker Ole Anderson invited her to become part of the roster. Terri was debuted in 1990 as Miss Alexandra York, an accountant who led the WCW faction known as the York foundation.

The York Foundation was a consortium of wrestlers with finance themed gimmicks, including Terrance Taylor), Richard Morton, Thomas Rich and Michael Wall street. Terri carried a laptop (actually a Tandy 100 computer, which at that time had been obsolete for about six years) to ringside which she purportedly calculated the means (and time) necessary for her clients to win matches.

Terri also debuted in the World Wrestling Federation at the 1996 Royal Rumble as Marlena, the cigar-smoking manager and wife of her real-life husband Dustin Runnels, then packaged as the eccentric, cross-dressing, bisexual wrestler Goldust. Terri managed Goldust until on November 3, 1997 he revealed his new valet, Luna Vachon.

Terri decided to settle their differences by having an arm wrestling match. Unfortunately Sunny cheated, which really left no one the actual winner. When Chyna came on the scene in 1998, a nice feud began between the two. Chyna more than once got the best of Marlena. Of course that should be expected since Chyna was at least twice the size of the dainty Marlena. Terri disappeared from TV, re-emerging in 1998 as the manager of Val Veins. When Chyna came on the scene in 1998, a nice feud began between the two. Chyna more than once got the best of Marlena. Of course that should be expected since Chyna was at least twice the size of the dainty Marlena.