In PWPonderings latest exclusive interview, Kaia McKenna (@KaiaMcK) sits down with Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) to talk about her career, thus far, including her time at Focus Pro, becoming the inaugural Focus Pro Women’s Champion, working with Gypsy Mac, Lena Kross, Brittnie Brooks, Nixi XS, her upcoming defense on Sunday, February 15th against Alice Crowley, PoderMania, her goals, and more. Watch it in its entirety below.

You became the inaugural Focus Pro Women’s Champion back in November when you defeated Gypsy Mac in a Ladder match. What did this moment mean for you?

“As someone who has probably lost more title matches than they won, but I have been through the wringer. I have been through the trenches. I’ve worked fair shows, brewery shows, carnivals, slept in my car for five years, and I’ve watched people jump over me time-and-time again. I was never the name on the marquee. When people make those lists of who they want to wrestle, my name was never on those. I was never that person. I was always in the shadow, but working hard. So to win a championship as prestigious as the Focus Pro Women’s Championship, and to come out of the shadows and into my own, has been amazing. It’s a very good feeling to know all the hard work you’ve put in over the past five years, everything you’ve come back from, everything you’ve fought against, everything you’ve just tolerated because you knew that your time wasn’t denied, just delayed, to have that come full circle is incredible. I am a very, very proud champion. I think it’s a testament to what I’ve done in my career, so far.”

In your inaugural championship win for Focus Pro, you worked with Gypsy Mac in a ladder match. What was it like to work with her?

“She’s somebody I respect a lot in this business, too. She’s always been a person who works hard, and I felt like, for the longest time, she’s just been in the shadows grinding away. She wasn’t getting those big-name matches, she wasn’t getting to work the big-name promotions, she wasn’t getting the big shots and opportunities. So, to be able to share the ring with her and have a phenomenal high-level match like that, and see how she really put herself on the map and how her hard work is paying off, is incredible. I’m so happy for her, too. I relate to that journey and feeling like the underdog, too. I can’t wait. She’s coming back in April from some time off, so definitely have a rematch whenever you want, baby girl. Let me know. I respect someone who works hard. I always have. It’s not easy to put your nose to the grindstone and be focused, dialed, and block out all the bullsh*t. It’s very difficult, and a lot of people fail at it, which is why they’re out of this business in three years. So to me, anyone who can put their nose to the grindstone and do it the way she has will always have my respect as an opponent, win or lose.”

One match in particular I wanted to highlight was your match with Lena Kross in a qualifying match for the Focus Pro Women’s Championship Tournament. What was this match like for you to work with someone who’s been taking over the world like Kross?

“Oh my gosh. I’m 5’9 and 170 pounds. I don’t wrestle many people bigger than me, but she made me look tiny. She’s a true Goddess. What’s she say? Is she like the ‘biggest b*tch in the ring’ or something? No doubt. That was different for me, too, because I’m used to having the height advantage and a little bit of the size advantage, but I was the smaller person in that match. That really pushed me. It came at a good time, too, because I was kind of in one of those post-injury valleys that I’ve had. I was like, ‘Man, I feel like I’m not able to get back to where I was, and I don’t know what to do.’ So, to have that match with her, be able to hang, and to be able to have a performance like that, just really reinvigorated me as a professional wrestler. I owe a lot to Lena to be able to pull that out of me when I was lost and gone for a little bit.”

Your road didn’t get any easier, as you faced off with Brittnie Brooks in the first round of the Focus Pro Women’s Championship Tournament. What was it like to work with her?

“Brittnie just goes. Like, she moves. There’s not a dip in her offense at all. The pace is consistent and quick. You’ve got to be looking over your shoulder all the time when you’re in the ring with her. You don’t know where she’s going to come from, what she’s going to hit you with. She’s never down for long. It takes a lot to incapacitate Brittnie Brooks. Just having to work with someone whose pace is off the charts was a great experience. Not that I haven’t worked at a quick pace before, but someone who’s always on the move like that, it’s tough. I’m a little bigger than her, and I’m a little slower than her. So, it’s like trying to catch her; that was tough. Her pacing. It’s crazy how she moves. As I said, she’s never down for long. So, you have to be very smart about those openings and take them when it comes with Brittnie. You aren’t going to many. So you better be smart and pay attention.”

Since winning the title, you’ve defended it once so far against Nixi XS. What was this match like for you, working with a hot, young up-and-comer like Nixi XS?

“I’ve wrestled Nixi before, and with her, there’s always a lot of sh*t. People say wrestling’s a performance; Nixi embodies the performance aspect of professional wrestling to her advantage. It can be very distracting when she’s doing her antics, poses, and all of her grandeur. She dictates the pace of the match by when she wants to go yell at fans. It’s on her terms. It’s very difficult to make her play your game. She is just dialed in on her performance, right? So, when you wrestle Nixi, you have to not let any of that distract you from what the goal is and what the endgame is: to win. You can’t get caught up in the games, the name-calling, or the antics. You have to be very focused and take your openings when they come. You can’t let her dictate a match; you will lose if you do that. Every time. She’s very cerebral. She really thrives on dictating the pace of a match and making everyone play her games. If you fall into that trap, it’s going to be a bad day for you. She’ll beat you mentally. You have to be dialed in. Tunnel vision. You can’t let any of that distract you from what you’re trying to do.”

You will be defending your Focus Pro Women’s Championship on Saturday, February 15^th, against Alice Crowley at Focus Pro’s “All Eyez On Me.” What is your mindset heading into this match?

“Again, I don’t get to wrestle many people taller or stronger than me. I have a height advantage most of the time. But Alice is taller and stronger than me. I’m hoping to take some of what I learned against Lena and put that back into practice, and learn how to work from underneath and fight my way up. I’m the underdog in this match. I’m the champion, but I’m the underdog. Big Al’s a force, we all know it. I’ve seen her launch people, boot people, knock people right in the face. She’s a powerhouse. I’m really hoping some of my past experiences working with larger opponents can come into play. Even like having matches with people like TJ Crawford, who’s bigger and stronger than me. So, just trying to go back and see how to manage some of those opponents. Because my opponents previously have been a little bit smaller in stature, I can be the bigger person, but I don’t have that advantage this time. So, it’s time to watch some tape and figure out how I can pull off that witchy win. I know it won’t be an easy one. It’s going to be hard-hitting because I don’t back down. I can take a hit.”

We’ve already seen you get announced for the biggest women’s wrestling show, making its way back to Las Vegas on April 15^th, “PoderMania.” What does this show and booking mean to you, and what’s your mindset heading into it?

“This is my third Poder show in Vegas. I first wrestled for Ed in 2021, and then last year I tagged with Brittnie Brooks against Joseline Navarro and Gin Sevani. So, I’m excited to be getting a singles match this year against Allie Katch. It’s a first-time match-up, but I’ve been on many shows with Allie. She’s been in this business longer than me. I remember putting the ring up for shows that she was on when I first started. Finally getting to step into the ring with her, that’s exciting. Those single matches on WrestleMania weekend are few and far between. So, to be able to have a singles match on a show like that is an honor. I look forward to what it brings. It’ll be 111 vs. 333. Intuition vs. Support. We’ll see who comes out on top. You always want to think people are excited to see you wrestle, right? But I remember when I shared that when I found out about it. Just the reception and the excitement people built around that match have been very cool to see. We’ll go in there, do a bang-up job, but I’m just going to bring my best and see what we can get done here at WrestleMania weekend in Vegas. Very excited.”

Your 2025 ended in a fun way as you competed in a tag team match, teaming with Judy Lee to face off with The Thirst. What was this match like for you at the big all-women’s event for TWE Chattanooga?

“Twice these b*tches have gotten me with the blood. Twice now. The power of three, I’m coming for your asses, I’m done. I need to go figure out some anti-blood vision spell. Twice, they’ve gotten me. I’m over it. I’m done with it. Judy’s my girl. Thick and Wicked, that’s our tag team. Judy and I tag quite frankly in the southeast, and we’re both just powerhouses. We let people know it. We throw our weight around and throw them around. So, it’s always good to have Judy in my corner. I know she’s a ride or die real one. Notorious BBJ. Judy Lee Taylor. I’m supernatural, I’m a witch, right? So, I get the vibe a little bit, so you know it’s like, for some reason, I’ve just been struggling with vampires, my whole career. That seems to be my witchy kryptonite. It’s, again, these are people who are very theatrical and very performative and want to dictate the pace of a match, much like I was speaking about Nixi earlier. The big thing with vampires, maybe, per se, is they’re going to use that glamour to pull you in and break your focus. Not quite figured out the code here yet, but in 2026, it’s happening. TWE better watch out, this witchy is coming vampire hunting.”

How important is it for you to be a part of the Pro Wrestling Symphony locker room and promotion?

“I want to shoutout Pro Wrestling Symphony. I feel like every show I work on has plenty of women and LGBTQ talent. Like, they’re so inclusive and so diverse with their booking, and I love that. That is very rare in this business, and they are committed fully to the bit. It’s not performative; it’s truly what they’re trying to build there. I’ve seen it because every show has at least two matches that incorporate women… It’s so important to me. I love having another home in the southeast. I love what they’re trying to do there, and I love the concept of music and wrestling meshing together. That’s what sold me on it when they reached out to me. I was like, wait, so you’re telling me that it’s like a concert at a wrestling show? That’s the coolest thing I’ve heard in a very long time. So, I just think that’s so cool. I love to be a part of that. And again, just the diversity in their booking, we’re talking about six-seven matches on their show, they actually keep their card tight and right, dude. They’re good. So, I, just to be a part of that project and see how it’s starting to flourish is special. Whenever they start a new promotion, it just takes time; the community has to learn about you and know you’re there. Sometimes the draw isn’t too great the first two or three shows, but they’re starting to pack it out, and it’s catching on. I’m so happy for them. They’ve worked so hard, and they’re so genuine in what they’re doing there. There’s absolutely a place for them at the top of the professional wrestling mountain.”

Do you have anyone in mind that you’d really love to share the ring with?

“I know Mercedes Martinez is on her farewell tour. I really loved watching her before I even started professional wrestling, so to be able to have a match with her would be really cool if it’s in the cards for this year. That’s one of my personal asks. I’ve wrestled a lot of people on the indies, honestly, I really have. Especially as a girl, sometimes you get stuck wrestling the same 10 people all the time, but I’ve never really had that happen. I would love to wrestle Kenzie or Kylie Paige. I’ve yet to have a match with either of them, and I think that they are phenomenal professional wrestlers and phenomenal performers. I’d love to get into the ring with them. I’ve not had a match with Vert Vixen yet; I’ve been on shows with her. I think she’s incredible. Oh my God, she’s so good. She does a little bit of everything. She’s a true wrestler who’s so well-rounded. She’s very truly well-rounded. I’d love to get into the ring with her at some point. There are matches out there that I’ve not had yet that I’d like to have this year for sure. I would love to wrestle Lindsay Snow. I’ve never had a singles match with her, and again, I love everything about her. I love how she works; she’s super technical and very sound with her submissions. I think it would be a fun challenge. I have a lot of respect for Lindsay as well and would love to get in the ring with her.”

What are your future goals for 2026 and beyond?

“To just keep having fun, because it’s been so good for my career to reframe my mental space to ‘This is fun.’ I used to be so goal-driven, and it used to stress me out. I’d get stuck, wouldn’t make progress, then I’d get angry, upset, and then I’d go through all the stages of grief. For me, the big thing this year is to continue to really have fun entertaining the fans. That’s my sole focus. Anything that comes, any opportunity that comes out of this is a bonus for me. But I have to prioritize having a good time this year, and I want all of you guys to have a good time with me. That’s my goal, just have a good time.”