Ashley America is a seven-year veteran in the ring based out of Pennsylvania. Her love for pro wrestling didn’t begin until high school. Later, she ventured into backyard wrestling in college with friends.

Looking for a job as an art teacher out of college didn’t pan out so thanks so a good friend, Ashley joined a wrestling school. She has wrestled all over the United States and Canada since her debut in 2013.

Some of the promotions she worked with include Combat Zone Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, Prime Time Wrestling, and Victory Pro.

Who is Ashley America?

Age: 32

Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Trained: “I trained many places.  I credit Eddie Valentine as my first trainer who actually cared about me.  There was a really negative stigma about women wrestling in my region when I first started in 2012.  I moved to train with Josef Von Schmidt, The Blue Meanie, Bille Wiles, Punishment Martinez (Damien Priest), Delirious, Cheeseburger, QT Marshall  and Truth Martini.”  

Debut Match: March of 2013 for SWO in Columbia, PA vs. Chrissy Johnson. 

When she started watching pro wrestling: “High School, probably around 2004-2005.”

Her journey into pro wrestling:

“I was going through some personal hard times, being out of college and having a hard time finding a job as an art teacher.  I started dating some emotionally abusive guys.  Friends saw that I had been beaten down to a hollow shell of myself and suggested I try doing roller derby.”

“I had looked into training for wrestling about a year or so before after attending a Chikara show but was too afraid to do it.  Finally my friend Adam told me I was ‘ruining his life‘ by not starting to train so I decided to sign up.  He was the one who introduced me to wrestling.  He had started a backyard promotion with a bunch of our friends in the marching band (it was more about characters and storylines than actually wrestling). I retired our backyard title in college. “

“I only had one move which was the “lumberjack slap” which was literally the slap on the arm with two fingers from the game lumberjack that kids used to play on the bus, and the person taking it would act like their entire body was in the most intense pain ever.”  

Inspirations in the ring:

“My favorite female wrestlers when I started were Mickie James, Gail Kim, and Victoria.  Once I learned about independent wrestling, I watched a lot of Sara Del Rey, Daizee Haze, Cheerleader Melissa, and Awesome Kong.  Now I prefer technical and catch wrestling.  I love Johnny Saint, Fit Finlay, Steven Regal, Robbie Brookside and Steve Grey.”

Her in-ring style:

“I like a more technical style of wrestling.  I incorporate diversionary tactics but also include some more whimsical movements like my bow and arrow punch.  I also incorporate yoga poses into my move sets and strategies. ”

Favorite match/opponent to date: “I think my favorite match and opponent I have had so far is Sonya Strong.”

Future goals: “HAVE FUN”

Dream opponents:  “Kris Statlander, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Bayley… you know, just the cream of the crop.”  

Inspirational words:

“Wrestling can be a tough and cruel place.  It has gotten better than what it used to be.  I hope we as women can continue to learn and grow and lift each other up instead of being petty and jealous and seeing each other as competition.  I have had girls take advantage of me, try to mess up my makeup on purpose, and even once someone put soap in my contact case.  You never know what someone has been through to get where they are or what kind of mental illness someone may be suffering through with a smile.  Be kind.  Remember, it’s about EVERYONE.”  

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