Women in indie wrestling: why female wrestlers are the scene's future
An exploration of women's wrestling in the independent scene, featuring interviews and analysis of female performers reshaping indie wrestling.
For much of professional wrestling’s history, women were an afterthought. A brief intermission between men’s matches. An entertainment product rather than legitimate wrestlers.
The independent wrestling scene changed that.
Today, some of the best wrestling happening anywhere—indie or mainstream—features women. Have you seen Shotzi Blackheart?! And the indie scene is where this shifted first.
The history: why the indies led the way
Mainstream wrestling (WWE, early AEW) had gatekeepers and executives making decisions about women’s wrestling based on old ideas about what audiences wanted. Independent wrestling had nobody to answer to except wrestlers themselves and their fans.
When nobody was telling women wrestlers they couldn’t draw, they started drawing.
When nobody said women’s wrestling was less important, it became as important as anyone else’s.
The indie scene gave women the freedom to prove what they were capable of, and that capability changed everything.
Women’s wrestling in indie promotions today
The shift
Modern indie wrestling features:
- Women main eventing shows
- Women’s championship belts with the same prestige as men’s titles
- Women’s matches getting the same time and booking as men’s matches
- Women working every style: technical, high-flying, hardcore, comedy, strong style
The reality
That said, indie wrestling isn’t perfect. Women still often:
- Work more shows for the same pay as male counterparts
- Face safety and conduct issues in some promotions
- Have to build larger audiences to get equivalent bookings
- Face double standards in character work and marketing
But the trajectory is clear: women are becoming central to indie wrestling, not peripheral.
Key female voices in Australasian indie wrestling
Eleaine Hope
A high-flying submission specialist from South Australia who grew up watching wrestling on her dad’s lap. She’s worked across multiple Australian promotions and speaks about:
- Seeing TNA Knockouts and realizing women could headline
- The specific challenges of being a woman in regional wrestling
- Why little girls seeing women wrestle matters
- What it takes to survive in indie wrestling
Anna Wood (Lady Reffington)
New Zealand’s first and only full-time female wrestling official. Her perspective is unique—she brings safety expertise and theatrical knowledge to refereeing. She discusses:
- How safety protocols protect everyone
- Women’s roles beyond just wrestling
- Building wrestling culture in Australasia
- The responsibility of being a role model
Ms. Selina
A heel wrestler in Singapore Pro Wrestling who teaches school by day. Her interview covers:
- Building wrestling in markets where it doesn’t traditionally exist
- Balancing multiple identities (teacher, wrestler, heel character)
- Training the next generation of wrestlers
- Women’s wrestling outside English-speaking markets
Why women wrestlers matter to indie wrestling
1. They expand the audience
When women can see themselves reflected in wrestlers, they become fans. Women viewers bring new audiences, merchandise buyers, and dedicated followers.
2. They’re better storytellers
Some of the best storytelling in indie wrestling happens in women’s matches. Greater creativity and character work, sometimes because women wrestlers have to differentiate themselves more intentionally.
3. They bring different styles
Women’s wrestling in the indies features:
- Technical wrestling with submission focus
- High-flying innovation
- Strong style striking
- Character-driven work
- Hardcore and death match wrestling
Diversity of style keeps the scene fresh.
4. They’re often more accessible
Women wrestlers are often more accessible to fans:
- More likely to meet fans after shows
- More active on social media
- More likely to do indie wrestling education/training
The economics
The pay gap
Women wrestlers in indie wrestling often make:
- Same percentage of gate as men for equivalent status
- But less total pay because they often work shorter matches or earlier in the card
- Have to work more shows to earn equivalent income
This is improving slowly. Top female indie wrestlers now command rates equal to top male wrestlers, but parity is still being built.
Building an audience
Many female indie wrestlers build their own audiences through:
- Social media presence
- Merchandise sales
- Training and teaching
- Content creation
This creates multiple revenue streams beyond just booking fees.
Starting as a female indie wrestler
If you’re a woman interested in professional wrestling:
Training
Find a wrestling school that:
- Has female trainers (though male trainers can be excellent too)
- Values safety and consent
- Has experienced female wrestlers on the roster to learn from
- Has clear policies on harassment and conduct
Getting bookings
- Start with your training school’s promotion
- Network with other female wrestlers
- Build a strong social media presence
- Show up reliably and work safely
- Develop a memorable character
Building sustainability
Most female indie wrestlers combine multiple income streams:
- Booking fees from wrestling matches
- Training other wrestlers
- Merchandise and autographed photos
- Social media/content creation
- Regular employment outside wrestling
The challenges to prepare for
- Potential safety concerns in some promotions (ask about conduct policies)
- Unequal pay in some situations (negotiate fairly)
- Double standards in character work and dress code
- Limited opportunities in some regions
- Physical and emotional toll
But also:
- Incredible community of female wrestlers supporting each other
- Genuine passion and love for the craft
- Real respect from audiences
- The knowledge that you’re part of changing wrestling
What’s changing
Representation
More female wrestlers in indie wrestling means:
- More visible role models for young women
- Normalized women’s wrestling as legitimate
- Diverse body types, ethnicities, and backgrounds
- More female trainers and coaches
Culture
Indie wrestling promotions are increasingly:
- Setting clear conduct policies
- Prioritizing safety
- Paying fairly regardless of gender
- Featuring women in top spots
The future
The future of indie wrestling includes:
- Women main eventing major indie shows
- Gender-neutral championships
- Women wrestling in every style and stipulation
- Female promoters and bookers leading promotions
Supporting female wrestlers
If you’re a fan or potential promoter:
As a fan
- Attend women’s matches
- Buy female wrestler merchandise
- Follow female wrestlers on social media
- Vocally support equal pay and booking
As a promoter
- Book female wrestlers in prominent spots
- Pay them fairly
- Protect their safety
- Create clear conduct policies
As a wrestler
- Support other female wrestlers
- Mentor newer women in the business
- Speak up about issues
- Build community
The interviews
Hear directly from women reshaping indie wrestling:
- Eleaine Hope — “No matter what stands in front of me, I always need to be brave.”
- Anna Wood — “The ref is the adult in the room.”
- Ms. Selina — Building wrestling in Singapore despite cultural barriers
The bottom line
Women’s wrestling in the indie scene isn’t a novelty anymore. It’s the core of what’s happening.
The best shows feature women main eventing. The most innovative wrestling comes from female wrestlers. The most dedicated fanbases follow female performers.
If you love wrestling and you’re a woman, the indie scene is where you belong. If you love wrestling and care about its future, supporting women wrestlers is essential.
The indies are proving that wrestling is better when everyone gets to play.
Next steps
- Support female wrestlers in indie promotions near you
- Attend women-focused wrestling shows
- Follow female wrestlers on social media
- If interested in wrestling, find a school with experienced female trainers
- Talk about women’s wrestling with other fans
The future of wrestling is inclusive. And it starts in the indies.