We saw lots of growth in women’s wrestling in 2024, from the debut events at Belle 2 Bell, the rise of Uprising, and much more. From this growth saw some amazing young women that made their debut or solidified themselves as future stars in the independents and beyond.

I have narrowed that crowd of women down to 20 that you will want to keep an eye out for in 2025. In the first group of women we will see a vast different backgrounds; from dance, to Division 1 volleyball, to cheerleading and more. These women all have different skills, but are all proven to be great in the ring.

Sophia Rose

Sophia Rose is one of the most inspirational people in wrestling. She suffered a stroke whenever she was 19 and had to relearn how to walk and talk. While she was in the hospital, she saw wrestling for the first time and knew that was something that she wanted to do.

At the time, that was a very distant goal, but it was a goal nonetheless and it is something that she has not only attempted, but excelled at. Sophia trained that the Rhodes Academy under Dustin Rhodes. She then went to OVW to learn under Al Snow.

Sophia has been wrestling at OVW since the summer of 2023 and has been a crowd favorite at the Davis Arena. She has exceled in singles competition, as well as tag team competition, teaming with Ladybird to form America’s Sweethearts. I am sure that Sophia will keep improving and her star will keep shining brighter, as she has proven that she can conquer any obstacle that is put in front of her.

Stori Denali

Stori Denali is a 6’3 former Ohio State Volleyball player, which is about enough to make her a blue chipper right there. She towers over most men and women and can choke slam them to the mat with ease. Besides her height and obvious athletic ability, Stori has shown off her power in matches against the likes of Shelly Benson, Aesop Mitchell, and in a triple threat for the BCW Women’s Title against Stacy Shadows and Rayvin Raddix.

Stori got injured this past September and is out of action for 6 months, so we are in for quite a comeback story in the beginning of 2025, and I would hate to be anyone in her path.

Paris Van Dale

Paris Van Dale is someone that has become very loved and very hated in the New England area. One thing for sure is that Paris Van Dale is always going to be noticed.

Paris has been wrestling since 2020 and has appeared in pretty much every top company in New England, from Beyond Wrestling to Limitless Wrestling to Chaotic Wrestling, and more. She has also made appearances at MLW and AEW.

Paris started out in the Higher Society with Armani Kayos. They were a very successful tag team, and they let everyone know that they were better, richer and more good looking than anyone in the audience. The Higher Society were even back up dancers at international pop star, B3CCA’s first live performance.

Paris then went on to have singles success, winning the LPW Women’s title from Davienne and becoming a two time Pan Optic Champion at Chaotic Wrestling. In 2023 Paris formed The Bratz with Shannon LeVangie and Zayda Steel. She then went on to have matches with some of the best; such as Gabby Forza, Allie Katch, Delmi Exo, Kristara, and many more.

PVD has been tested against some of the best and has proven that she is just as good as any of them. She keeps improving, and there is no ceiling for where she can go.

Stevie Brooks

Stevie Brooks has trained at The World Famous Monster Factory, and has really gotten noticed through her work on the Monster Factory shows and the Belle 2 Bell events. She even wrestled at the ECW Arena against Gabby Ortiz in the Lisa Marie Varon Invitational tournament.

Stevie describes herself as quirky and unique and says “she’s not like other girls.” Stevie has very fun and quirky promos, but is an absolute powerhouse in the ring. B2B promoter Missy Sampson said that Stevie was one of the first women that she wanted in her new promotion when she started it. It is because of that Stevie’s 2025 will start big as she will be vying to become the first Belle 2 Bell champion in a four way match against Notorious Mimi, Zoey Cannon and Gabby Ortiz.

Kelsey Heather

Kelsey may be best known as Randi Rah Rah in WOW, but she has recently been training with Natalya Neidhart and Tyson Kidd. She’s looking to make a big impact in 2025.

Kelsey is a former cheerleader in the NBA, NHL and NFL. She uses that athletic ability and enthusiasm whenever she is in the ring. In 2024 Kelsey had matches against Tiffany Nieves, Kelsey Raegan and Tina San Antonio. She also captured the Shine Nova title when she defeated Amber Nova at Shine 79. She has already started showing up in new places in 2025, making an appearance in OVW in the Nightmare Rumble.

Gema

Gema is a rising star from Puerto Rico, who spent quite a bit of time on the mainland wrestling in 2024. Gema started wrestling in Puerto Rico in 2023, then moved to Kentucky to train at OVW. While she was in OVW she joined the Bad Girls Club with Tiffany Nieves, Dream Girl Ellie and Leila Grey. She has some great matches teaming with Dream Girl Ellie, and had an incredible title vs career match against Leila.

After coming up short in that match, she did go back to Puerto Rico. She did not remain there, as she won the BPW Women’s Championship in Indiana, then went to Spain, where she was part of the RCW World Cup. She defeated Millie McKenzie in a phenomenal match, before falling to Amale in the semi finals.

Kate Thorn

Kate Thorn is an extremely athletic young wrestler out of Eastern Pennsylvania. She comes from a dance background and was trained by Afa Jr. Kate had her first match in November 2023 against Valerie Verman in the main event of a Battlefield show. Kate has also battled Vicious Vicki at Battlefield and the likes of Clara Carter, Stevie Brooks and Zoey Cannon at Belle 2 Bell.

Kate’s dance background lets her move smoothly and effortlessly around the ring. She has also said that her work in dance has allowed her to pick up a lot of the moves in wrestling a lot quicker than others. Kate looks like she has learned something and has made improvements every time she enters the ring and says that her ultimate goal is to be signed by a major company and work as a professional dancer simultaneously.

Riley Krowe

Riley Krowe is out of Allentown, Pennsylvania and has been making a name for herself all over Pennsylvania. She started her career in 2016 after training with the Wild Samoans, but her career has really heated up in the past two years.

Riley will fight anyone and anywhere whether it is a man or a woman and whether the match takes place in a ring, a cage or no ring at all. Riley has been faced some of the toughest matches in her career this past year. She has been in the CFU cage, a no ring match against Journey Burke and Zach Xander.

Riley has faced off with some of the best and toughest in the indies, like J-Boujii, Haley J, Notorious Mimi, Holidead, Xia Brookside and Leila Grey. It seems that Riley is at her strongest right now and she is hitting on all cylinders with her promos and her matches.

Nixi Xs

Nixi Xs has one of the most unique looks in independent wrestling and has an attitude to match. Nixi has a very retro vibe, reminiscent of the women at Andy Warhol’s Factory.

Inside the ring, however, Nixi is straight ahead violence, she calls herself the “Versace of Violence.” It is obvious that she does not care what anyone thinks about her. When in the ring, Nixi is not afraid to cut corners and show her attitude to the crowd as well as her opponents.

Nixi is also great on the mic and will tell everyone how great of a wrestler and how attractive she is. Nixi holds the WrestleMax Women’s Championship and has been around the title picture at Memphis Wrestling.

At only two years in wrestling Nixi has already faced stars like Tootie Lynn, Maggie Lee, Shazza McKenzie, and others. With her distinctive style in and out of the ring, Nixi is sure to be showing up a lot more places in 2025.

Shake and Bake

With their vibrant colors, exciting entrance and hilarious promos, Shake and Bake are one of the most entertaining tag teams in wrestling. Shake & Bake is Scotti aka Scotti Sosa and Skai aka Madison Blake, and is sometimes joined by their pinata named Patricia.

Both Scotti and Skai decided to move from Ohio to Florida to train with D’von Dudley. They met at the training school and after a couple injuries set each of them back a little bit, they decided to form a team. Shake & Bake made their name in SHINE, becoming one of the top tag teams in the promotion and challenging for the SHINE tag team championship twice.

They both have had some singles matches in Florida and beyond, but have really excelled as a tag team. They may come to the ring with bubble guns and pool noodles, but their opponents better not underestimate them once the match starts, because they are very tough and talented.

These women are all amazing and are sure to be some of the top stars on the independent scene in 2025, but I have more. Stay tuned to PWPonderings for part 2.