A New Éire: How Irish Professional Wrestlers Are Leading A Revolution

By Ryan Brolly

In 2023 I authored an article for The Scoop spotlighting a few Irish Professional Wrestlers who do not get spoken about in this neck of the woods despite them occupying space as our most respected and celebrated athletes in a global context, since that article was published there has been a substantial boom in the popularity of Pro Wrestling and Irish performers are at the forefront of this boom.

The global leader of Professional Wrestling WWE currently has five Irish born performers on its ‘main roster’ all appearing as part of the flagship Monday night television show WWE Raw which airs on TNT Sports in the UK. Limerick born Becky Lynch currently reigns as the show’s ‘Women’s World Champion’ the joint highest honour within the company showing immediately the stock that Irish performers hold within the world’s largest wrestling company. Alongside Lynch the recently debuted Aoife Cusack under her ring name Lyra Valkeria has instantly been positioned in the upper echelon of the main event card having positive receptions from American’s crowds in her first few shows holding a 2-0 win/loss record at time of writing, this proves there is faith from the executives within WWE given the pre-determined nature of the sport.

Finn Bálor, a grand slam champion meaning he has held each of the five championship honours there is in WWE was awarded recently with a multi-year big money contract showing how crucial he is for the product. Legendary trailblazer Sheamus who is a man you could credit with making these performers’ paths clear has recently returned to WWE after a serious neck injury when there was speculation he could have left the company altogether in late 2023.

Outside of the United States, Japan is arguably the largest hotbed for Professional Wrestling in the world, it is a widely held belief that every performer should have a stint in Japan to refine their craft given the sheer contrast between the Japanese and American styles, with Japan being much more athletic and hard hitting. Irish Wrestlers are excelling here too with son of Belfast born ‘Fit’ Finlay, David Finlay recently winning the ‘IWGP’ Global Heavyweight Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling which is Japan’s premier promotion. Outside of this Dublin born LJ Cleary has recently completed a tour of Pro Wrestling NOAH his first venture into Japanese wrestling. Belfast born Myla Grace is also set to embark on her first tour of Japan as a member of the new promotion Dream Star Fighting Marigold, an all female company focusing on the ‘Joshi’ style of Professional Wrestling, this company also has direct links to WWE giving Myla Grace a clear path in the future to the U.S. company.

Of course there is also Wrestling on your doorstep showcasing the stars of tomorrow, Titanic Pro Wrestling operating in Belfast currently has former WWE talent Tucker featuring there, Fight Factory Pro Wrestling out of Dublin has seen most of the performers in this article walk through their doors in the past and the most famous Over The Top Pro Wrestling will often bring the biggest names in Professional Wrestling to Dublin and Belfast for their shows, most recently announced Nic Nemeth formally WWE’s Dolph Ziggler will be wrestling in Dublin in August against the mentioned LJ Cleary which promises to be a great event.