Kasey Catal is a name that is making rounds on the independent scene. Based out of New York,

Catal has been keeping busy since her debut in June of 2017. She gained exposure just four months into her career when she appeared on an episode of Raw in a squash match against Asuka.

Catal has wrestled for Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), CZW and Northeast Wrestling, to name a few. She is currently one-half of the WSU Tag Team Champions with Demi Exo. On Thursday, Oct. 24, Kasey will face Nicole Savoy in the finals to crown the first-ever Empower Champion.

Who is Kasey Catal?

Age: 28

Birthplace: Poughkeepsie, New York

Trained: Create A Pro Wrestling Academy under the tutelage of Pat Buck and Brian Meyers (Curt Hawkins)

Debut: June 3, 2017. Kasey Catal & Liza Viero defeated Maria Manic & Izzy McKenna

When she began to watch pro wrestling:

“My story is a bit different than a lot of peoples. I didn’t grow up watching wrestling at all. I was a dancer for most of my life, obsessed with musical theater, even moved to LA to do some acting. The most I knew about wrestling was Hulk Hogan and John Cena. I got introduced about 6 or 7 years ago. I had a mutual friend invite me to his Indie wrestling show and I’ve been obsessed and watched since. I was like this is so badass, how do I do this?”

Her journey into pro wrestling:

“After that first Indie show, I knew it was something I needed to try. It was the perfect combination of performance (which I already adored), athletics, and just straight-up bad assery. I ended up dating the guy who invited me to the show and he was really against me trying it, for political reasons. He knew how hard it was to become a wrestler and the thick skin it took and really wasn’t comfortable.”

“The day after we broke up (about 2 years later) I signed up for wrestling training. There was such something about it that I fell in love with. The excitement, the performance, the chance to really show who I was through a different art form. It also made me into a really confident and tough woman. I was training with mostly men, being judged in front of lots of people all of the time and for the first time in my life, I really didn’t care. I started training at Create A Pro in NY under Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers) and Pat Buck. Starting was hard, intimidating, and painful but I had never looked forward to anything more than training. I really grew as a wrestler and as a person every time I went.”

Inspirations in the ring:

“My favorites are Chris Jericho (who I will be naming my firstborn after when I eventually decide to have a kid), Natalya, Molly Holly, and Tommy Dreamer. When I first started watching I was driven to ECW and to Tommy. His character evolution was really mind-blowing to me. I love how he was this pretty boy/underdog and turned into this no f’s given, tough and extreme guy. I loved everything about ECW. “

“Natalya and Molly Holly inspired me as female wrestlers because they were/are extreme athletes who weren’t like everyone else, and could hang with anyone in the ring. I loved their background stories of their dedication, determination and how amazing role models they are for people like me, who don’t necessarily feel as though they “fit in” all the time. Chris is a freak athlete who sported the same hairdo in the ’90s that I did since I was 3 so I immediately fell in love with him. But c’mon, who wouldn’t  It’s Jericho. He’s one of the best storytellers ever.”

Favorite match to date:

“My favorite match at this point is one for more sentimental reasons. It was at Cage of Death at CZW last December (2018). It was a 4-on-4 match with myself, my now-husband Brandon Kirk, Kit Osbourne, Connor Claxton vs. Maria Manic, Jimmy Lloyd, Dan O’Hare and Mitch Vallen. It was my first deathmatch which was terrifying, but it was at the ECW arena in Philly.”

“It was insane to share the ring with my husband, and really test my limits as a wrestler. I pushed passed so many boundaries and pushed past so much fear and it was such a rewarding experience. I never thought I could do something like that, and I did. That feeling is something I’ll never forget. I also won’t forget the scars on my back.”

“I also really loved my match with Tenille Dashwood for Northeast Wrestling Under the Stars in summer 2018. That was huge for me because it was in my hometown of Poughkeepsie, NY at Duchess Stadium where the renegades play. I grew up going to those baseball games so being able to wrestle there, and to wrestle someone like Tenille was pretty surreal as well.”

“I got to wrestle for my mom (who never watches because she saw me bust my face open and is terrified to watch), and some of my teachers from Elementary school. I was also in the local paper which was awesome because my sisters always were in the paper for sports growing up and I always thought “that’s so cool, I want to do that too!”

Favorite opponent to date:

“Favorite opponent is a tough one. I’ve been in the ring with some incredible people. I always learn so much from the others that I’m in there with. I know that’s sort of a PC answer but I’ve only been wrestling for a few years, so any experience I get is something important to me. Whether or not they were on TV for 10 years or had 1 match before me, it only makes me learn more, and become better.”

Her in-ring style:

“My style is evolving as I learn more, and figure out really who Kasey Catal is. It’s a big learning process for me but I’m starting to come more into my own. I’m very aggressive. I fight hard, I hit hard, and I use other’s weaknesses to my advantage.”

“My finishing move is a hangman’s neck breaker off of the top rope, I do a ripcord roundhouse kick to the head, and if there’s a platform or some sort of balcony Ill probably jump off. I’m very resourceful.” 

Future goals:

JAPAN. That’s the big one. Until then, I want to continue to grow. I have so much to learn and really want to be great at what I do. That’s the main goal right now. To give everyone the best possible me that I can, and to get better and better.

Dream opponents:

“Anyone and everyone! Of course I have people I love watching and who’s work I admire but It’s funny because sometimes when you have matches with people you love and want to work, it almost lets you down a bit.”

“Sometimes the chemistry isn’t there or you two aren’t on the same page on how you want to tell your story. Or you meet your idols and they aren’t that same idol as they are on paper I go in now with no expectations, just motivation. Again, so PC so true for me. Sometimes you’ll have the best matches with people you haven’t even heard of before.”

Inspirational words:

“I really love wrestling, but wrestling has given me so much more than I expected. It’s given me the love of my life, it’s given me newfound confidence as a woman and as a person, and it’s given me a hell of a lot more compassion for other people. It’s crazy to be in this world, and extremely hard at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.” 

“I hope people who are struggling in life and who don’t really know where they fit in can look and me and be like “hey, she can do it, she got passed those hard times, I can too!” It sounds so cliche but hearing from other people that you inspire them to go out and do the things they love is the most priceless thing to me on the planet. I know that’s why I was put on this earth, and I’m just getting started!”

Kasey Catal has years ahead of her in the ring and she is destined for success. She is a name to watch out for as she grows as a wrestler and continues to travel the country, and eventually the globe.