The countdown to the greatest female British wrestler is in, with the ten best women taking their place on this prestigious list.
Despite being banned in London for over 40 years and ITV never showing any of their matches on World of Sport, women’s wrestling has a long and storied history in the UK.
With that in mind, we’ll look at the best women’s wrestlers to come from Great Britain, all the way back to the early days of wrestling, to the stars of WWE, AEW and more today.
This list compromises the best wrestlers from various background. Whether it is the best in the ring, the most interesting characters or the most influential, all factors have been considered in this list.
It will include wrestlers from the United Kingdom – namely, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Wrestlers from the Republic of Ireland, like Becky Lynch, are not British and will not be included.
10. Layla
- Achievements: WWE Women’s Championship, WWE Divas Championship
It’s hard to argue with the incredible tenure Layla had in the WWE. The English-American star spent nine years with the company after joining through the “Divas Search Contest”, becoming an integral part of the company.
Whether it was stripping on ECW as part of Extreme Expose, or as part of one of the most dominant women’s duos of all time in “LayCool”, Layla was a huge player in a growing women’s division in the WWE.
She retired in 2015, but Layla is remembered as a good wrestler in a poor time for the women.
9. Mariah May
Despite being early in her career, Mariah May is among one of the best wrestlers to come out of the UK.
She made her name with Stardom in Japan, where she found fame as a member of Club Venus. During this spell, she became a Goddess of Stardom Champion, one of the few Englishwomen to win the title in the promotion.
She since appeared in both NXT UK and AEW. Mariah May found fame alongside Toni Storm in AEW, and their on-screen relationship quickly became one of the most entertaining storylines on the show.
Her character work and in-ring ability is among the best in the world. Mariah is only 25 and has decades ahead of her in her career. Give it a few years, and she could be talked about among the greatest female wrestlers of all time.
Check out Mariah May’s best matches by clicking this link.
8. Bea Priestly
Also known as Blair Davenport, Bea Priestly is no doubt a legend of the UK wrestling scene.
She wrestled in the BritWres scene for nearly a decade, becoming one of the most recognisable females in the business. As well as starring in Progress and WCPW, Priestly made a name for herself in Japan, both in Stardom and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Bea Priestly was poised to be a star in AEW. She was pushed heavily in their early months, but the pandemic put a stop to it. She subsequently signed for WWE, where she was renamed Blair Davenport in NXT.
Despite being accused of bullying, alongside Will Ospreay as part of the Speaking Out movement, she continues her career in WWE as one of the finest female stars to come from the UK.
7. Alba Fyre
Alba Fyre has swiftly risen to prominence as one of the top British wrestlers in the world.
Initially gaining recognition in WWE NXT UK, Alba Fyre (formerly known as Kay Lee Ray) showcased her incredible talent and determination. She made history as the longest-reigning NXT UK Women’s Champion, holding the title for a record-breaking 649 days, a testament to her dominance in the division.
Transitioning to WWE NXT, Alba Fyre continued to impress with her fierce in-ring style and magnetic presence. Her role in the “Unholy Union” with Ilsa Dawn has made her a top heel in NXT, and she is destined for world title goal on the main roster before too long.
6. Nikki Cross
Nikki Cross has quickly established herself as one of the standout wrestlers to emerge from the UK.
Gaining prominence through her work in WWE, Nikki first made waves as a part of the SAnitY faction in NXT. Her intense persona and unorthodox style captured fans’ attention, and she went on to become a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, showcasing her versatility and resilience in the ring.
In addition to her success in NXT, Nikki Cross has made a significant impact on the main WWE roster. Teaming up with Alexa Bliss on RAW, she became a central figure in one of the show’s most captivating storylines, earning praise for her character work and in-ring performances.
At 34, Nikki Cross has a promising future ahead. Her unique blend of charisma and athleticism positions her as a potential legend in women’s wrestling, with many believing she has the potential to be remembered as one of the all-time greats in the sport.
She even became a Ms Money in the Bank and WWE Women’s Champion, as Nikki ASH.
5. Jamie Hayter
Jamie Hayter has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the wrestling world, earning her place among the best talents from the UK.
She first gained attention on the independent circuit, where her hard-hitting style and relentless energy made her a standout performer. Her journey took a significant leap when she joined AEW, where she quickly became a key player in the women’s division.
Her matches are known for their intensity and technical prowess, drawing fans’ admiration and respect.
In AEW, Jamie has forged notable alliances and rivalries, particularly with Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., which have become integral parts of the show’s narrative. Her presence in the ring and her ability to tell compelling stories through her matches have set her apart as a unique talent.
With her combination of skill, charisma, and determination, she is well on her way to carving out a legacy that could see her recognized as one of the greatest female wrestlers of her generation, while already being an all-time great women’s wrestler in Britain.
Despite injury ending Hayter’s iconic AEW Women’s title run, she is regarded as a top wrestler, and will be once again be amongst the best in the world when she is back from injury.
4. Klondyke Kate
One of the pioneers of women’s wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s was the larger-than-life Klondyke Kate.
Despite not being showcased on ITV’s World of Sport, he helped women’s wrestling grow across the country during her tour of the nation. Her larger frame and violent style of wrestling stood out from the usual women’s wrestlers at the time.
She helped break down barriers for women in the UK. Kate was a powerful and dominant wrestler, when women were seen as more technically-based. She became a household name, and was the face of women’s wrestling for many for a number of years.
Had she been born three decades later, we would be talking Klondyke Kate in the same breadth as the likes of Awesome Kong and Aja Kong. She was a trailblazer, and legend of the ring and British wrestling great.
3. Toni Storm
- Achievements: Progress Women’s Champion, United Kingdom Women’s Champion, AEW Women’s Champion
Toni Storm definitely deserves to be mentioned among the best women’s wrestlers in British history.
While the three-time AEW Women’s Champion is an Australian/Kiwi wrestler, she is also British! The “Timeless” performer confirmed in an interview that Toni Storm is British, and has family from the UK, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
“I lived in England for a really long time.” She told the Daily Star. “It’s where I got established, it’s where I made a name for myself. I am British, I have a British family.
Toni Storm made her name on the UK indie scene, becoming the first ever Progress Women’s Champion. She did the same in the WWE as the first women to hold the United Kingdom Women’s Championship.
She has taken her performances to new heights in AEW. Her “Timeless” character has made her one of the most popular wrestlers in America, while putting on some incredible matches.
She honoured her British heritage at All In at Wembley Stadium. She entered to “God Save The King”, the national anthem of the United Kingdom.
2. Mitzi Mueller
Despite women’s wrestling being banned from ITV’s World of Sport, Mitzi Mueller still managed to become a huge star in wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Blonde Bombshell fought against London’s ban against women wrestling, becoming a big draw in the UK during the Golden Age of wrestling.
According to a BBC report in 1976, she was just one of a dozen female wrestlers touring the UK full-time. She helped blaze the trail for future women’s wrestlers, and without her, the business would be very different.
She retired in 1987, wrestling her final match in at the Royal Albert Hall. It was the first time women could compete at the iconic venue, and put a fantastic bookend to a legendary career.
Mueller’s presence in the ring helped pave the way for future generations of female wrestlers. Her skill, determination, and athleticism quickly earned her a reputation as a formidable competitor, and her charisma and star-power made her a big draw all throughout Britain and the rest of the world.
Fans in Turkey once rioted when her match was cancelled, causing an end to Orig Williams’ tour of the country!
1. Saraya
- Achievements: NXT Women’s Champion, WWE Diva’s Champion, AEW Women’s Champion.
Without a doubt, the most influential female wrestler to come from Britain has to be Saraya, or Paige as she was known in the WWE.
One could argue she is the most influential female wrestler of all time, for her work at bringing about the Divas Revolution in the WWE.
Prior to her 2013 run as NXT Women’s Champion, the female talent in WWE were not taken seriously. Their opportunities were limited to two-minute TV matches, treated as sex objects and generally seen as second-class wrestlers.
However, Paige was making a difference to women’s wrestling back in NXT. With Finlay overseeing the women’s division, Paige led a group that vowed to change women’s wrestling in the WWE.
This work was first showcased at NXT Arrival, when Paige battled Emma in a match that has gone down in legend. It showcased women in WWE like never, proving they could wrestle as good as the man, and even better.
It got fans to believe in women’s wrestling, and Paige in particular. She became a huge star, debuting on Raw after WrestleMania 30 and winning the Divas Championship in her debut match.
She became a two-time Divas Champion, before injury forced her into retirement. This was after she was a part of the “Divas Revolution”, one which she arguably started all the way back in NXT.
Paige’s neck injury would force her to retire in 2018, ending her career when she was just 25. Luckily, she was cleared again after heR WWE release, and now wrestles for AEW.
Paige now wrestlers under her real name Saraya. She is a former AEW Women’s Champion, having won the title from Toni Storm at Wembley Stadium in 2023.
