Photo Credit: Becky Lynch (Instagram)
Women’s wrestling has come a long way in the past two decades, discarding the idea of seeing female stars only as eye candies in the squared circle. Roughly in all leading wrestling promotions, women’s wrestling is taken seriously now, with fans taking a keen interest in the ring’s actions and storylines.
The radical change in women’s wrestling has prompted wrestling companies to recruit talents with diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Likewise, Ireland, which has been a key contributor in producing incredible athletes over the years, has nurtured some famous female Irish wrestlers who are thriving in numerous promotions all over the globe. Take a look at some prominent female talents from the Western European country who are well-respected in the wrestling fraternity.
5) Session Moth Martina
Session Moth Martina, or simply Martina, is a seasoned wrestler of independent promotions. Making her debut in 2011, she has been committed to the business for thirteen years, competing all over the world. Apart from various indie promotions, Martina has wrestled in ROH and Japan.
Capturing the ICW Women’s Title is one of her major accomplishments. In the past two editions of the top female wrestlers’ list produced by PWI, she was named among the top hundred women professional wrestlers in the world. The Ireland native was born in Dublin.
4) Myla Grace
Myla Grace is a world-traveled young professional wrestler who is gradually achieving prominence in the wrestling world. Currently, she is part of the Japanese wrestling scene. However, she has also wrestled in the United States, United Kingdom, and all over Europe. The 31-year-old has been a professional wrestler for six years after breaking onto the scene in 2018.
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Myla Grace has earned recognition after wrestling for promotions such as Marigold and Kick Out Wrestling, featuring in PWI’s top 200 female wrestlers in 2024. Born in Belfast, Ireland, she ranks as one of the best talents from the Indies, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her in WWE or AEW someday.
3) Lyra Valkyria
Seeing Lyra Valkyria’s gimmick in WWE, it would be incomprehensible that she is not from a Nordic country. Currently, she is the only female Irish wrestler in WWE who is under contract. Even though her gimmick and name have a Nordic touch, she is from Dublin, Ireland.
Trained in Fight Factory Pro Wrestling in Ireland, Lyra thrived and honed her skills in the indies for five years after debuting as a professional wrestler at the age of 19. Once she caught WWE’s attention, she got signed in 2020 and featured in the NXT UK roster.
She eventually experienced a productive period after arriving in NXT US, winning the NXT Women’s Championship once. Following her draft earlier this year, the 28-year-old has been associated with the RAW brand.
2) Velvet McIntyre
Velvet McIntyre was one of the pioneers of old-school women’s wrestling, much earlier than the women’s revolution in WWE. She was one of the influential figures of professional wrestling in the 1980s alongside the likes of Judy Martin, Princess Victoria, Sherri Martel, etc.
Velvet embarked on her career in wrestling after relocating to Canada. However, she came to the country as an immigrant because she was an Ireland-born woman. The 61-year-old was originally from Dublin.
Velvet McIntyre is recalled for her remarkable tenure in the 1980s when he had incredible rivalries. While she won the WWE Women’s Championship once, when Vince McMahon discontinued the women’s Division, she reverted to Canada, wrestling in the Indies. Following an eighteen-year famed career, she hung up her boots in 1998.
1) Becky Lynch
Many people would agree that Becky Lynch holds the tag as the most significant female star of this generation, having monumental accomplishments attached to her name. Part of the women’s revolution, The Man’s charisma, and flair in between ropes placed her among the four horsewomen of WWE.
Beginning her WWE career through NXT in 2013, the company anticipated good things from her, and she gradually delivered as a performer. Main eventing WrestleMania 35 was the highest milestone of her illustrious career, where she walked out with a victory. As a women’s Grand Slam Champion, she became a seven-time Women’s Champion, Tag Team Championship, as well as, a Royal Rumble winner.
Unlike Velvet McIntyre, Becky mastered her in-ring skills in Ireland after initially getting trained by the current WWE star, Finn Balor. Born in Limerick, Ireland, Lynch, aka Rebecca Quinn, wrestled in different promotions all over the world before moving to the United States after securing a WWE deal. The 37-year-old megastar’s WWE deal expired in June 2024, and she is believed to be taking a hiatus from wrestling to enjoy quality time with family.
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Avik Das is an English Literature graduate with an experience of over six years as a professional writer. He has written for renowned publications such as The Sportster, Sportskeeda, Pinkvilla, and The Things
