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Pro Wrestling Stories
  • Choose a Story
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    • About Pro Wrestling Stories
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Women Wrestling Pioneers

Discover more about the lives and careers of women wrestling pioneers who changed the scope of professional wrestling from the early 1900s to the present.

Discover more about the lives and careers of women wrestling pioneers who changed the scope of professional wrestling from the early 1900s to the present.

Suzie Tanner, professional wrestling's first female referee.

Suzie Tanner: Secret Tale of Pro Wrestling’s First Female Referee

by Javier Ojst  May 8, 2024

Meet Suzie Tanner, the first female pro wrestling referee who fought for her dreams in a sport where opportunities for women were sparse.

Bow down to the queen! Aja Kong has ruled the wrestling world since her debut at just 16 years old.

Secret Story Behind the Unforgettable Aja Kong

by Alexa Pruett  May 17, 2023

Aja Kong has made a lasting impact on wrestling (even influencing the creation of Big Van Vader)! But details of her life might surprise you.

โ€œSensationalโ€ Sherri Martel was just that- utterly sensational. One of the greatest female wrestlers, manager/valets, and personalities ever to step foot in the ring. She was beloved in the industry, and her tragic death in 2007 at only 49 years old was among our most painful losses. But what was she truly like behind the scenes?

Sherri Martel: Secret History of a True Sensation

by Evan Ginzburg  Feb 24, 2023

โ€œSensationalโ€ Sherri Martel was just that- utterly sensational. But what was her life truly like outside the ring?

โ€œNicole Bass was special. Wonderful. Both fun and ever so funny with the biggest of hearts to match her biggest of bodies.โ€

Nicole Bass – The Life and Tragic Passing of My Friend

by Evan Ginzburg  Jan 11, 2023

When my beloved friend Nicole Bass walked into a room, everything just stopped. This is my tribute to her and her life.

Ashley Massaro | Her Tragic Story a Result of WWE Neglect?

Ashley Massaro: Her Tragic Story a Result of WWE Neglect?

by Javier Ojst  Apr 22, 2023

On May 16th, 2019, Ashley Massaro was found unresponsive in her Long Island, New York home. Later, she would be pronounced dead just ten days…

Mad Maxine was poised for greatness but, after 2 years, abruptly left the business. She opens up about the realities of her time in wrestling.

Mad Maxine: Mohawks, Moolah, and Her Surprising Story

by Javier Ojst  Jan 17, 2023

Mad Maxine was poised for greatness but, after 2 years, abruptly left the business. She opens up about the realities of her time in wrestling.

Asuka has been successful in a variety of industries outside of professional wrestling.

Asuka and Her Surprising Life Outside of Wrestling

by Braeden Farrell  Jan 11, 2023

Asuka is an incredible wrestler, but her skills don’t end there. She has had work in a variety of industries that may surprise you!

The original, calculated betrayal by Vince McMahon: How he and The Fabulous Moolah conspired to double-cross Wendi Richter in 1985.

Vince McMahonโ€™s First Screwjob: Wendi Richterโ€™s Fall

by JP Zarka  Oct 2, 2024

Before the Montreal Screwjob, Vince McMahon orchestrated a 1985 betrayal of Wendi Richter by The Fabulous Moolah, which changed WWE history.

GLOW's Roxy Astor over the years.

Roxy Astor – GLOW Wrestler on Her Unlikely Journey

by Jim Phillips  Mar 10, 2023

Roxy Astor shares her unlikely journey into wrestling and what it was like to be a part of the history of GLOW.

Lita (Amy Dumas) over the years.

Lita: From Champion to Survivor, Her Untold Journey

by Alexa Pruett  Jun 29, 2023

She could have easily been another wrestling casualty. Discover the surprising untold story of Amy Dumas, the woman behind WWE’s Lita!

Angelina Love (left) and Lexie Fyfe (right, with a camel clutch on Daffney, rest her soul) navigated the barren times of women's wrestling and helped pave the way for today's stars.

Strength in Numbers: Roots of a Women’s Wrestling Revolution

by Ian Aldous  Mar 20, 2023

Learn how two champion female wrestlers overcame the struggles of women’s wrestling and helped to revolutionize the sport.

Rhonda Sing Remembered - From Monster Ripper to Bertha Faye

Monster Ripper to Bertha Faye: Secret Story of Rhonda Sing

by Javier Ojst  Feb 25, 2023

Rhonda Sing wrestled as the punishing Monster Ripper and Bertha Faye. She had a rapid journey to the top but a fast descent once joining…

Janet Boyer Wolfe.

Janet Boyer Wolfe – A Promising Career Tragically Cut Short

by Javier Ojst  Jul 7, 2025

On July 28th, 1951, tragedy struck when 18-year-old Janet Boyer Wolfe suddenly collapsed during only her third professional wrestling match.

Wrestling trailblazer Sandy Parker, the first Black woman to hold a world championship, broke barriers in the 1960s and โ€™70s.

Sandy Parker: Wrestlingโ€™s First Black Woman Champion

by Alexa Pruett  Nov 13, 2024

Sandy Parker broke barriers as an openly gay Black wrestling champion in the 1960s and ’70s. Discover this pioneer’s secret, untold story.

"The Super Genie" Melissa Coates

Melissa Coatesย – A Champion’s Fight Outside The Ring

by Evan Ginzburg  Feb 6, 2023

Melissa Coates made a name for herself in multiple fields. But before her untimely passing, she went through her biggest fight yet.

Veteran wrestler April Hunter weighs in and tells, from a female wrestler's perspective, whether or not Netflix GLOW gets it right.

GLOW on Netflix Through the Eyes of a Female Wrestler

by April Hunter  Jan 25, 2023

Veteran wrestler April Hunter weighs in and tells, from a female wrestler’s perspective, whether or not Netflix GLOW gets it right.

Kanaโ€™s (WWEโ€™s Asuka) Manifesto That Changed Everything

Kanaโ€™s (WWEโ€™s Asuka) Manifesto That Changed Everything

by Rutvik Keche  Jul 3, 2025

Kana (WWEโ€™s Asuka) dropped a 2010 manifesto that ripped apart Japanese womenโ€™s wrestling and changed her career forever.

Debrah Miceli (Madusa and Alundra Blayze) over the years.

Blayze of Glory: The Madusa/Alundra Blayze Story

by Si Powell  Jan 18, 2023

Hers is a tale of changing the wrestling landscape, inspiring others, and, ultimately, monster trucks. This is Madusa, and here is her story.

Unsung wrestling pioneers, sisters Babs Wingo, Marva Scott, and Ethel Johnson.

Babs Wingo, Marva Scott, and Ethel Johnson: Wrestling’s Unsung

by Ebony Nash  Feb 13, 2023

The amazing, untold stories of Babs Wingo, Marva Scott, and Ethel Johnson, three African American wrestling sisters who paved the way.

Womenโ€™s wrestling allowed for the opportunity to travel and make a living, but some say that The Fabulous Moolah profited unfairly from her trainees throughout her career.

Fabulous Moolah – Her Career and Controversial Legacy

by Javier Ojst  Apr 13, 2023

Fabulous Moolah became the most powerful woman in wrestling through ruthless and cutthroat methods, leaving behind a controversial legacy.

Remember the name: "Act Yasukawa"! Although her photo might not scream tough wrestler at first glance, she is one of the most resilient ever to lace up a pair of boots!

Ghastly Match Incident: The Legit Nightmare Beat-Down in Japan

by Javier Ojst  Apr 5, 2024

Read the gripping tale of The Ghastly Match Incident, a 2015 Stardom bout between Act Yasukawa and Yoshiko that went terribly wrong!

Steve Austin opens up about his friend Chyna, sharing how he feels she should be remembered.

What Steve Austin Has to Say About Chyna’s Legacy

by JP Zarka  Jan 26, 2023

Steve Austin opens up on the death of Chyna, her impact on the sport, and how her legacy should be remembered.

Before Becky Lynch, Velvet McIntyre was the original Irish Lass Kicker.

Velvet McIntyre | WWE’s Original “Irish Lass Kicker”

by Michael Marek  Jun 4, 2023

Velvet McIntyre was WWE’s original “Irish Lass Kicker.” She had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, yet often gets overlooked. This is her story.

From WWE wrestlers in Playboy, Shawn Michaels' regret, and more, discover 30 racy times pro wrestling entangled with the adult industry!

Playboy to WWE: 30 Racy Wrestling & Adult Industry Relations

by Alexa Pruett  Nov 11, 2024

From WWE wrestlers in Playboy, Shawn Michaels’ regret, and more, discover 30 racy times pro wrestling entangled with the adult industry!

Bra and Panties matches had one simple aim. And surprisingly, its shocking history goes back further than you'd expect!

Bra and Panties Matches: A Shocking History

by Alexa Pruett  Apr 13, 2023

Bra and Panties matches had one simple aim. And surprisingly, its shocking history goes back further than youโ€™d expect!

Jacqueline Moore - A tough, shining star out of Texas.

Jacqueline Moore – A Tough, Shining Star Out of Texas

by Ebony Nash  Jan 11, 2023

Jacqueline Moore was one of the toughest to step inside a squared circle. However, this WWE Hall of Famer’s talent goes much beyond the ring!

Professional wrestling trailblazer, Mildred Burke.

Mildred Burke: The 5’2″ Giant Who Conquered Wrestling

by Javier Ojst  Feb 19, 2025

The 5โ€™2โ€ queen who made men tap. Mildred Burkeโ€™s reign hid bone-snapping holds, backroom scandals, and wrestlingโ€™s forbidden truth.

The feud between Gail Kim and Awesome Kong in 2007 and 2008 set a new standard not only for women's wrestling but for professional wrestling as a whole.

Gail Kim and Awesome Kong Feud: Redefining Women’s Wrestling

by Javier Ojst  Dec 27, 2023

The feud between Gail Kim and Awesome Kong in 2007 and 2008 set a new standard not only for women’s wrestling but for professional wrestling…

Irma Gonzรกlez and Irma Aguilar (Las Irmas) revolutionized women's lucha libre in Mexico, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations of female wrestlers through their mother-daughter partnership that spanned decades.

Las Irmas: The Mother-Daughter Duo Who Ruled Lucha Libre

by Javier Ojst  Nov 14, 2024

Mother-daughter team Las Irmas (Irma Gonzรกlez and Irma Aguilar) defied odds to become legends, paving the way for women in Mexican wrestling.

The ever-formidable yet wonderful Luna Vachon over the years.

Luna Vachon – A Force in the Ring with an Unfortunate End

by Javier Ojst  Mar 17, 2023

With her imposing presence, Luna Vachon was a force to be reckoned with. This is the unfortunate story of her rise and tragic fall.

Victoria (Lisa Marie Varon) military presses Trish Stratus. The pair had some hard-hitting affairs and always gave their all when they met in the ring.

Victoria (Lisa Marie Varon)’s Stunning Life After WWE

by JP Zarka  Feb 8, 2023

Lisa Marie Varon opens up about Trish Stratus, CM Punk, the WWE locker room, and her former restaurant, The Squared Circle.

The fierce yet wonderful Mae Young.

Mae Young – A Fierce Fighter In (and Out) of the Ring

by Javier Ojst  Jan 12, 2023

Brash, athletic, and tough as nails, the fierce yet wonderful Mae Young was a born performer, and professional wrestling was the perfect fit.

Evelyn Stevens was a women's wrestling trailblazer and one of the few to taste championship gold during the authoritarian reign of Fabulous Moolah, but in 1986, her world came crashing down.

Evelyn Stevens – From Champion Wrestler to Murderer

by Javier Ojst  Jun 6, 2023

Evelyn Stevens was a women’s wrestling trailblazer who tasted success and championship gold, but in 1986, her world came crashing down.

Sandra Gray: the genius costume designer behind pro wrestling's greatest stars. Discover her secret, untold story.

Sandra Gray: Wrestling’s Unsung Game-Changer

by Tim Buckler  Oct 12, 2023

Discover the secret, untold story of Sandra Gray, the genius costume designer behind pro wrestling’s greatest stars!

Women of ECW: Beulah McGillicutty, Dawn Marie, and Francine.

Women of ECW: Untold Stories (More Than Meets the Eye!)

by Javier Ojst  Dec 8, 2023

ECW did everything they could to make sure you didnโ€™t change the channel. With these three ladies, there was a lot more than meets the…

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ยฎ 2025 Pro Wrestling Stories
  • Choose a Story
  • About
    • About Pro Wrestling Stories
    • Contact
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    • Policies
      • Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure Policies
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  • Dark Tales
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  • Territories
  • Merch
    • HOMAGE.com – Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! (Use code “PWS” for a nice surprise)
    • PWSTees.com – Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee!
  • Meet The Team
  • More
    • Women Wrestling Pioneers
    • Shoot Fights
    • Lists
    • In Memoriam
    • Podcasts
      • Pro Wrestling Stories Presents (2015)
      • The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19)
      • The Pro Wrestling Stories Podcast (2020)
    • Pro Wrestling Documentaries, Books, and Movie Reviews
    • Today in History
    • Huge Crowd Reactions
    • Ask PWS