Spotlight on Delmi Exo w/ Don Halliwell

Delmi Exo has been wrestling since 2015 and this journey has taken her from her home in Rhode Island all across the globe. Delmi has wrestled throughout the US along with trips to Japan and Canada. She has also worked for some of the biggest promotions in the country like MLW, Shimmer, AEW and ROH. Delmi made a big splash on the independent wrestling scene as one half of the tag team the Sea Stars with her sister Ashley Vox, capturing multiple tag team titles, including one in the biggest women’s promotion in America, Shimmer.

In the past year and a half Delmi has been focusing more on her singles career and starting a new promotion. Delmi has elevated her singles career and status as one of the top independent female wrestlers in the country. She has been in the ring with top independent stars like Billie Starkz and Trish Adora, along with IMPACT star Masha Slamovich, AEW’s Willow Nightingale and international legend Emi Sakura.

Delmi has also started a new promotion with her partner Rip Byson, called Pro Wresting GRIND, which has quickly become one of the most talked about independent promotions in the Northeast.

I had a chance to ask Delmi Exo some questions about her career and Pro Wrestling GRIND.

You started a promotion, Pro Wrestling GRIND, with Rip Byson. Can you please tell us what led to your decision to start the promotion. Also, what were the biggest obstacles and your proudest moment of the promotion so far?

Me and Rip wanted to provide our area with a great quality product of wrestling. Western Mass had been dried out from wrestling for quite some time and it wasn’t being talked about amongst the indies. It feels great knowing that we accomplished that and seeing more people want to come and wrestle in a place like Easthampton, MA. The biggest obstacles we’ve faced has probably just been back in July when Ripper’s truck we use for transportation and equipment moving shit the bed. We almost had to cancel the show a week out but call it determination or stupidity we pushed onward, and the show ended up being one of our best shows with a great turnout. Our proudest moment has to be Wrestival from New Year’s Eve. We made it our goal to be on that stage that year before and man did we deliver as a team.

What do you feel makes GRIND stand out from other promotions?

I think the hunger. Our locker room is some of the best out there and yet they don’t always get their flowers. From our staff to our performers, we work with some of the most talented individuals out on the indies today. I can say that confidently I believe in our talent to show up on GRIND days and always put their best foot forward, there is no half assing matches. Everyone genuinely wants to be there, and it shows on GRIND day.

What were some of your favorite matches at GRIND that did not involve yourself?

Travis Huckabee vs Anthony Henry was a good one. Travis has been a long time friend of mine and seeing him wrestle in a dream match that he rightfully deserved was a feel-good moment. Seeing the crowd fall in love with Ryan Mooney after his brutal match with Gary Jay. That’s definitely one to watch back and a match that can’t be replicated.

You had an amazing match with Emi Sakura at the last Pro Wrestling GRIND show. How did that match come about and what was it like working with this legend?

We got to work with the Saito Brothers from AJPW thanks to Tajiri and Jay Freddie while they were on their US excursion. I believe that set up a good reputation for us as a promotion for other international talent to want to reach out. Sumie Sakai approached us with the opportunity to work with her friends and we were able to schedule the date perfectly for what was our biggest show to date. It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Japanese wrestling, getting to wrestle someone I idolized just felt so surreal. I couldn’t believe it was even happening until I stood across the ring from her finally. All month people had asked if I was excited, and I just couldn’t put into words how special it’d be for me in fear of it not getting to happen due to travel or any other complications.

Do you feel that yourself and Rip push each other to become better wrestlers and promotors?

Me and Rip have always pushed each other to improve. Rip is my best friend and life partner. I can’t thank him enough for how much he’s put in to making me be the wrestler I am today. As for being co-owners of a company I can’t think of someone else I trust more than him. I do kind of take a stance that I’m the promoter and he’s the booker since I tend to be more heavy with social media and content but that’s just to bust his chops. It’s nice being treated as an equal by your business partner. Times have improved for women in wrestling tremendously, however there is still a difference when other talent assume that Rip is the sole owner for GRIND. It’s nice to hear him always correct people that I’m actually the “BIG BOSS”. There isn’t too many females in charge behind the scenes and I’m glad to be able to change that.

We seem to have quite a few very confident and powerful women coming out of the New England wrestling scene with yourself, B3CCA, and AVA. Can you tell us a little about what led to your transition to the God Queen and also your opinion on the transformation of B3CCA and AVA.

I wanted something new and fresh that could help me step away from the tag team scenes. Often times when you’re in a tag team and you try to branch out it’s almost impossible and promoters and fans tend to pigeonhole you without even realizing it. God Queen was that character for me. She was an anti-hero, she was narcissistic, she was only concerned with winning matches, not making friends like her past life “One Of The Boys” Delmi Exo was. Thankfully it worked but now that the siren was rang the real Delmi can return. I can transition from savage attitude or be the anime princess I usually am and it’s all who the God Queen is because it’s a mindset. The God Queen believes in herself and her own abilities and that’s all she needs. B3CCA and AVA are great performers and characters. Be excited because we will be seeing more B3CCA this year in GRIND!

Are there any up-and-coming female wrestlers from New England that we should be keeping an eye on?

I haven’t spent too much time working with this next crop coming up so I’m not familiar to say. The last group of Paris Van Dale, Lil Mean Kathleen and B3CCA set the bar high. In terms of stage presence alone they could all be stars on your TV someday.

What do you have coming up for yourself and GRIND?

I will be wrestling on every GRIND show. That sounds kind of redundant but last year I’d step off to make the cards make sense or not over book the show. This year I plan on writing more for the women and just continue showcasing how great the talent is.

The next Pro Wrestling GRIND event is “OVERKILL 2023” and will be on Friday February 24th in Easthampton, MA. This event will feature Delmi, Ichiban, Travis Huckabee, Andy Brown, Brooke Valentine, Ryan Mooney, Rip Bison, the GRIND Grand Champion, Jay Freddie, the debut of Bryan Keith, and many more.