Lyra Valkyria has seen her profession attain new heights. The Irish WWE warrior grew to become the first-ever Ladies’s Intercontinental Champion initially of the yr. This got here only a few months after reaching a life milestone of getting engaged to longtime boyfriend and fellow professional wrestler LJ Cleary.
The Uncooked famous person was elevated additional by working with the likes of Bayley and Becky Lynch. She grew to become Ladies’s Tag Group Champions with the latter at WrestleMania. A rivalry ignited between the 2 when Lynch turned on Valkyria the subsequent evening, costing them the gold. Their heated feud helped deliver the affectionately dubbed “Chicken Girl” into the highlight.
Right here Valkyria opens up about her evolution, fiancé’s WWE’s tryout, and the rising recognition of ladies’s wrestling.
How do you mirror on these latest months working carefully with Becky Lynch as an opponent? It appeared such as you acquired extra comfy on the microphone by that have.
Lyra Valkyria: It has been an unimaginable few months. Now I’m wanting again on my reign as IC Champion for the primary time and every thing that has occurred with Becky and Bayley over the previous few months. I now have this actually cool catalog of matches. I’m creating this physique of labor that I’m actually happy with. I’ll inform individuals on a regular basis once I first began watching WWE, I used to quick ahead the matches to get to the winner and what occurred on the finish. What they mentioned to one another. I’ve all the time had an appreciation for that facet of it. To get to now do extra of that and do it in opposition to individuals I appeared as much as and made me need to do that has been wonderful.
What has the adjustment been like as you’ve turn into a extra well-known determine on WWE TV? Extra individuals are attending to know you. They’ve an opinion for every thing out of your “Becky Stompers” boots to even the twirl you probably did on Uncooked a number of weeks in the past. How do you soak up all this suggestions, particularly on social media?
I attempt to not lean into social media an excessive amount of. It has been nice doing these little issues. It’s all the time a marathon and never a dash. I’d say individuals need to exit and take a look at issues and undergo the ups and downs. I really like my chunky footwear. Chunky footwear and slightly blue will all the time be my factor.
WWE
Inform me about your presentation. What goes into placing that collectively? The place do you discover inspiration?
My inspiration comes from an Irish mythology goddess referred to as the Morrigan, who’s principally Eire’s model of the Valkyrie. That’s the place all of it got here from. The viewers is so humorous. I’ve all this analysis and wish it to appear to be this and that. There was a lot work into it. Then it’s damaged down into, “Chicken Girl!”
They’re additionally actually responding to your entrance theme. You by no means know what is going to join. When was the primary time you felt that?
I all the time have the NXT crowd to thank for the chants that occur once I do my entrance. That began in NXT. It’s that close-knit, homegrown crowd that comes again each time. It was fairly loopy when it began. The very fact it caught and advanced to the purpose of individuals doing it throughout WrestleMania. That’s very cool.
LJ Cleary
I learn LJ [Cleary] had a tryout. How is it sharing this journey collectively? You’ve been doing this across the identical time, proper?
Yeah, 10 years for me. About 11ish for him. I’m so completely happy for him as a result of I acquired into this as an adolescent, however he has been the most important fan [of wrestling] since he got here out of the womb. It’s his every thing. I’ve been driving this wave slightly bit, however to see him get his begin now and to see his star actually rise this yr within the place he needs to be greater than something. It’s so wonderful. I’m simply so completely happy for him.
Did you give him any ideas earlier than the tryout?
Actually, it’s him that provides me ideas most of the time. He was a giant a part of teaching me. At any time when he asks for recommendation, I’m extra like, “I don’t need to taint something you’ve naturally.” He’s unimaginable on his personal. I by no means need to sway him. I all the time suppose it’s his good intuition that may take him to the place he needs to be.
The place do you suppose the panorama of WWE is now?
It’s arduous to say as a result of I’ve solely been round now, however I couldn’t have discovered a greater time to be a part of this locker room than proper now. I actually really feel that, particularly at Evolution. It’s so arduous to speak a few feeling on this setting, however I want I might take the ambiance and good vibes and camaraderie between the women at Evolution and present that to the world. I feel that was a giant purpose the present ended up so good and why we knocked it out of the park.
It’s as a result of we’re all rooting for one another, however there may be nonetheless a degree of competitors. I’ve to speak in regards to the appreciation we acquired from the group as nicely. That second earlier than the bell rang earlier than our first match, the rise in the best way the individuals got here up. It was like they have been saying they needed this present and needed extra from us. We actually took in that appreciation that day, particularly even going up with all of the occasions that have been taking place that weekend. Beyoncé was throughout the street, however I feel the group went out of their option to present us the love.
I really like the eagerness you’ve. I feel we’d like one other Evolution now.
I feel so too!
WWE Uncooked, Mondays, 8/7c, Netflix
WWE SmackDown, 8/7c, USA Community
WWE Conflict in Paris, August 31, 2/1c, Peacock