In PWPonderings’ latest exclusive interview, Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) sits down with Canadian independent wrestling star, Leah Sparks (@leahsparkssss), where she discusses her background in the circus, how that helped her into wrestling, the Lodestone Seminar hosted by WWE’s Bayley, C4 Wrestling, Alexia Nicole, her upcoming match at IWS against Dani Leo, her goals, and so much more. Check out the full interview in its entirety below.

Something I found interesting about you and what drew me to your character is that you actually have a circus background. How did you get into that, and what did that entail?

“I went to a conservatory acting program for three years. It was in classical theater. I graduated with 12 people. It was six days a week for three years, 9 am to 10 pm, every day, Saturday’s was 9-6. In our last year, people in our program, we can do a one-person play. Someone in my year was doing their performance, and they had a pole set up in one of their studios for months. I would just kind of play around on it. Theater school ended, and I had so much time. Three years of 9 am to 10 pm, six days a week, you’re now in the real world, and you have so much time. So, I said maybe I’ll try that pole thing that I was joking around on. That kind of led to going into a competitive circuit in acrobatic pole. That took me around Canada. I won national championships, and then it started to transition to what my discipline is now, which is aerial hoop. I stood on the competitive circuit, internationally, and I ended up winning a world championship on the aerial hoop. From there, I retired from the competition scene and started performing. That’s kind of how that all happened. It was just something to fill my time, and then as an artist and a storyteller, I’ve always connected with sharing my stories through physical, whether in acrobatics or wrestling or clown, those are the things I like to use to kind of tell stories. So, it was a few years of that competition, circus performing, and now I balance both circus and professional wrestling at the same time.”

I know it’s two very different things, but did your time as a circus performer help you at all get ready for professional wrestling in a performance aspect?

“There are so many ways that it does, and then there are so many ways that people would assume it would, but it doesn’t. Where the circus has really helped me, well, theater in general, before wrestling, 1, I’ve already dealt with a lot of rejection and that aspect of it. Me going into things and try to get something, but I don’t get it right away. I’m not saying I’m not human; I’m going to be affected, but I feel like I have certain tools to navigate that more healthily. So, I have more of a trust in my abilities and my talent behind the scenes of it all. If it’s not now, it will happen. I’m very confident in that, as long as I keep working. If I stop working, no. But, if I keep working, stay disciplined, and stay true to who I am, I know that I’ll always shine through, whether it’s today or someone notices it in a month, a year, whatever, but they will. Another aspect that’s really helped me is that I have performed in front of thousands. The same venues that WWE would go to, when they’re doing their shows in Toronto or Montreal, I’ve performed at those venues for the circus. So, I have that comfort level there. It’s healthy nerves when I’m in those environments. I don’t feel burdened by anxiety. I channel that performance anxiety in terms of excitement. But where it differs is in the circus, you’re constantly training and repping the same thing. In wrestling, you are doing that to an extent. But you could be meeting someone for the first time, learning how they move, trying to be as adaptive as possible. But for me, I am someone who will pick things up, but it does take me that extra step. I will be honest about that. So, as long as people don’t give up on me and give me a little bit of patience, I am someone who will always do my best to make it happen. But, I am someone who requires a little extra practice or to be walked through that a little more. People may not assume that because you can look at my capabilities in the air, but what they don’t see is what I put into it to make it look effortless. I am very good at knowing how I work, knowing how I learn, and approaching my work with the need that I do need. But when you’re meeting someone for the first time, they might not know that. It’s been hard to just jump right into things, but I always try to be as adaptive as possible and communicate my needs as best as I can. If it’s not something I can do in that match, it’s something I can work on, so that if I wrestle them again, I can do what I can to meet them where they want me. I’m always continuously doing that work. They are very different in that sense. I do feel you’re kind of thrown into it more with wrestling, with circus, there’s a bit more of everyday, I just do the same thing.”

You took part in “Lodestone,” which was hosted by WWE’s Bayley. What was this whole experience like for you?

“It was really special. I love women’s wrestling. I really do. I’m happy when I get mixed gender matches, but there’s something so beautiful about women’s wrestling. I just feel it’s our own style. Going to a seminar where you’re with people who get you on a different level is just a really special thing. We all shared something that nobody outside of us could have experienced. We are now endowed with sharing all the best we can. We want to take what we learned and take how we felt and share it with other people so that this thing that Bayley started, which is so important, can continue to grow.”

What was it like to learn under Bayley at “Lodestone” after all she’s accomplished in her career?

“Definitely, when you’re learning under them, obviously, you’re like, I see why you are where you are today. You already know that before going into the seminar, but it’s cool seeing it put into practice. Just the amount of knowledge, I do feel I came out of that seminar, and I think all of us are very changed. I wrestle differently. I just feel like I breathe differently out there. I don’t know how to explain it. Being able to learn from people whom you admire, respect, and who are in positions you aspire to be in, is just truly career-changing. Definitely coming out of that seminar, I felt very changed in the best way. It came at a really good time in my wrestling journey. Being able to learn from people like Bayley and John Cena, and have their feedback, and honestly receive some validation and reassurance, it just sticks with you and makes you have something you can just go back to and realize, I got this.”

Was there a piece of advice you got from “Lodestone” that you take with you to this day?

“Definitely. There are a lot of takeaways that have stuck with me in terms of what was said. We got constructive feedback, we learned a technique, we did the drills, but I think the biggest takeaway is not even new information because I’ve been speaking about it already, and I said before, wrestling was a rule I made for myself, but it was just validated on a high level, storytelling over everything. That’s what matters the most. There was a moment where, after John Cena saw all of our matches and asked if we had any questions or anything, before he started talking, I put my hand up first. I didn’t have a question; I just had a reflection. But, I just reflected on what I saw and from what we learned that week, and I ended it off with storytelling over everything. Then, he shook my hand and told me that’s the most important piece of advice. I do think that’s the biggest takeaway for me and for probably a lot of people there and a lot of people who weren’t there. I think people forget sometimes that’s what it’s about, and they get wrapped up in the wrong things. It’s about telling a story, it’s about connecting, it’s bigger than ourselves, genuinely. I think that’s my biggest takeaway.”

Last week, you took part in the Winner’s Choice Contendership 11-person Gauntlet match at C4 Wrestling. What was this experience like for you to work with some of the absolute best talent C4 has to offer, yourself included?

“Really fun. I’m such an in tune with my emotions person. C4 is so big in my eyes. They were the first fed that took me under their wing. They didn’t wait for someone else to give me validation or to put me up for them to see something in me. I’ll always just be grateful for that. This match we just had was a lot of fun. You’re going to have to go back and check the replay. The whole show is just outstanding. If you want to deep dive, we just did a women’s show before that. That whole show was fantastic. So, watch the show that just happened and don’t stop. Go back and watch more. It really is such an amazing place, and a place that’s helped me flourish. A lot of the connections I’m making or some of the achievements I’ve had, I do thank C4 for. If it wasn’t for them, maybe that person wouldn’t have noticed me, or I wouldn’t have had that match to send to whatever it was to get me another opportunity.”

Recently, you got to work at C4 Wrestling’s all-women show, which crowned the first-ever C4 Women’s Champion. What was this like for you, and what was your mindset when C4 Wrestling introduced a women’s championship?

“I love it. I’m not scared to share my opinions, so I’m just going to do it. I know some feds might not have a women’s title, but they’ll have a women’s championship, and that is a huge nod and a wonderful thing. But, I also think having a women’s championship too is very important. I like both for different reasons. I like seeing a woman win a title that was predominantly held by men; that’s amazing. That’s a huge feat in itself. But, having our own championship, our own official division type of thing, there’s something beautiful in that as well. Like I said, women’s wrestling. I think it’s our own style. I think it’s very unique. So, as much as I loved the mixed gender stuff, there are other things we’re able to do when we’re in there with all women. I wouldn’t say one or the other stuff, but I’m very happy when places like C4 and other feds are bringing in both concepts, where we have that mixed gender, but also a strong women’s division and an all-women’s presence. I need more of that.”

Alexia Nicole ultimately got the win and the C4 Women’s Championship. Despite coming up just short, what did it mean for you to see this moment?

“I think it was wonderful. I couldn’t picture two better people in the finals with Kristara and Alexia Nicole. I think it speaks to the history of C4 with Alexia, and Kristara is this newer generation who’s doing big things in Canada, big things at C4, and Kristara is someone I really look up to. She always looks out for the people around her. She’s a great wrestler, and she works so hard. So, seeing her fight for the title alongside another person I respect and look up to, Alexia, who has coached me a few times when I go to Toronto, and it was just the best match ever. Two mentors going at it, and really deserving that moment. I do think as hard as they both fought, it was a great win by Alexia and a wonderful, inaugural champion for us women at C4.”

You’ve had some amazing matches and moments at C4 Wrestling, but are there any that really stand out to you that you recommend people go check out?

“I always bring up my first match with Dreya Mitchell. It was our first singles match there. It all happened kind of crazy. We weren’t on the card, a card didn’t show up, and we were both there and ready. That singles match started the trajectory of where we are now with C4. Right now, my matches in C4, I’m having a lot of fun in them. I’m in a good place, and I’m enjoying my time. I’d love to see myself just keep going as hard as I can and maybe find myself in those positions of if I’m in that four-way elimination, winning it, and fighting harder and getting better, so I can take home that win and see myself in those championship opportunities. I know I’m capable of it, I know the fans know I’m capable of it. I’m in it. I’m okay to play the long game. I work hard every day. I know it’s going to pay off. I’m going to keep having fun and making the most of every moment, whether it’s little or big, I’m there for all of it, and I’m loving every second of it.”

You also have an upcoming match at IWS against Dani Leo. What is your mindset heading into that one?

“Honestly, I’m just going to try and do my best. Dani is a great competitor, and I’m looking forward to this one a lot.”

What are your future goals for 2026 and beyond?

“I love this question. I feel like the first time I was asked about my goals, I was just like, I don’t know. I was still so new. The second year, I set little goals for myself, and I achieved them. This year, I think, where I want to see myself grow is I want to understand psychology more. If I can really understand that my ability to tell is only going to get better. I think me as a person, am what sets me apart. So, if I can just learn more about how to do things, why to do things, when to do them, against whom, how to adapt, and how to change. That’s what my goal is: by the end of this year, to crack the code. That way, I can just soar so far. I really think it’s game over when I crack that code. For real. The way my brain works, once I know, I’m off. I’ll always continue to ask questions and dig deeper. But, once I get a little understanding more, oh baby. That’s my goal, just to learn more on the psychology level.”

Do you have any dream opponents or any opponents you’d like to square off with in the ring?

“Honestly, I want to wrestle people who are better than me, obviously, and learn from them. I want to get signed, I want to be on TV, so if I can wrestle more people already in those positions, or on the way to being in those positions, I’m going to be able to learn how that scene works so that if and when that opportunities, I have tools in my toolkit that I can use to feel comfortable and confident there. Honestly, I’d love to wrestle anyone who’s anyone, as long as they are a good person. Anyone who loves this, anyone who wrestles, and they’re just open to going out there, telling a story, having a good match, sign me up, I’m ready.”