Lyra Valkyria, ring name for Aoife Cusack, born October 23, 1996, is an Irish professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, performing on the Raw brand. Trained in Ireland and Europe, she came into WWE in 2020, rising through NXT to become Women's Champion.
She continued her rise by defeating Dakota Kai in the finals of the tournament to become the inaugural Women's Intercontinental Champion. With her Celtic-inspired persona, taking on the form of The Morrigan, proud of her heritage.
The bright lights of WWE are a million miles away from Lyra Valkyria's humble beginnings on the Emerald Isle of Ireland. Fueled by her passion for wrestling, Aoife Cusack made her professional debut for Celtic Championship wrestling on May 2, 2015. Further training would be acquired in many Irish promotions, such as Fight Factory Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Ulster, Over The Top Wrestling, and Phoenix Wrestling.
CAPTION: A warrior's path carved from Irish soil. Lyra Valkyria is here to leave her mark in WWE. SOURCE: Instagram She also tried her hand at European wrestling in the German Wrestling Federation and Westside Extreme Wrestling. These early years of wrestling built a base for the fierce competitor she would later turn out to be.
On January 20, 2020, Aoife signed with WWE as Aoife Valkyrie. She then began working within NXT UK. She instantly drew in many people with her very unique combination of athleticism and mystery, laced with Celtic enigma. Finally, on 13 February, she made a successful debut when she defeated Amale, hence setting the tempo for what could be an overwhelming, unbeaten steak. Valkyria remained undefeated until April 29, 2021, against the legendary Meiko Satomura.
With NXT UK sunsetting in the fall of 2022, Valkyria set her sights on the American NXT. Debuting on December 13 under the name Lyra Valkyria, she immediately made her presence felt with a victory over Amari Miller.
CAPTION: Lyra Valkyria is rewriting the story of success in WWE, climbing the NXT ranks with strength and heart. SOURCE: Instagram Valkyria would overcome Ivy Nile, Kiana James, and Cora Jade for her chance at the NXT Women's Championship, but would ultimately fall to Tiffany Stratton at the NXT Battleground. She would then set her sights on Becky Lynch.
The stars aligned for Valkyria to step into NXT: Halloween Havoc against no less than renowned Becky Lynch for the NXT Women's Championship. In one heck of a fight, she came out on top and was able to seize her first-ever big WWE Women's Championship.
Her reign has seen successful title defenses against notable opponents like Xia Li and Blair Davenport that keep on establishing her as one force in NXT's women's division.
The drafting to the RAW brand during the 2024 WWE Draft ushered in a new era for Valkyria. She immediately made an impact by saving Becky Lynch from Damage CTRL and then defeating Dakota Kai. Her journey then saw a new height in the Queen of the Rings Tournament, beating Zoey Stark and Iyo Sky to make it to the final, losing to Nia Jax at King and Queen of the Rings.
CAPTION: From NXT standout to Raw powerhouse! Lyra Valkyria is here to show the world her unstoppable force. SOURCE: Instagram She furthered her rise with a defeat of Dakota Kai in the finals of the tournament to become the inaugural Women's Intercontinental Champion.
Lyra Valkyria is not just an athlete but a symbol. She is well-recognized through different means for honoring her Irish roots and, through them, the spirit of The Morrigan, the Celtic goddess of war and destiny. She represents a mix of athleticism and pride in culture, making her a very dynamic and inspiring figure in professional wrestling.
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