When the house lights dim and the roar of the crowd echoes through an arena, the spotlight usually swings toward towering athletes and scripted heartbreak. But every arena has its unseen architects—the ones who build momentum, catch partners mid-flight, and stand tall when the tag is pulled. Few exemplify that as vividly as Rachael Ellering.
At 30, she’s already worn more colors than a locker-room locker—WWE black, Stardom red, AEW violet, Impact gold. Underneath it all, she’s always been the same: a daughter of resilience and lineage, forging her own path without surrendering to the shadows.
From Prairie Wrestling to Proving Grounds
Training under Lance Storm at the Storm Wrestling Academy isn’t for the faint of heart. When Ellering graduated in December 2015, she had already bled through enough sessions to understand wrestling as a statement, not entertainment. Her early matches—debuting in Prairie Wrestling Alliance with Storm by her side—aren’t archival footnotes, they were baptism by fire. By Shine Wrestling 34, she faced Tessa Blanchard, lost; at Shine 35, she won. That arc—pain followed by the smallest victory—is pro wrestling distilled to its purest form.
It’s a story Bukowski would nod to: punch first, learn later; minimize regrets, maximize punches.
NXT & Mae Young: Dreams and ACL Nightmares
WWE’s NXT is a gladiator’s treadmill—athletic excellence, in-season drama, and the nightly pressure of proving you belong. Under the ring name Rachael Fazio, then Rachael Evers, she walked it well. She earned a place in the 2017 Mae Young Classic, beating Marti Belle before falling to Abbey Laith. She returned in 2018, only to run into Hiroyo Matsumoto’s blade.
It was promising work tempered by a season-ending ACL injury in July 2019. That, more than any WrestleMania angle, defined the grind: long stretches on the shelf, watching others fight past the tape. When WWE cut her in May 2020 amid pandemic layoffs, Ellering didn’t retreat—she reset.
Impact Redemption: Tag Team Glory with Jordynne Grace
Sometimes you’re handed a lifeline—and other times you build it yourself. On April 22, 2021, on Impact, Ellering debuted mid-ring fracas, saving Jordynne Grace from Fire ’N Flava’s assault. When they teamed for Rebellion a few days later and won the Knockouts Tag Team titles, it wasn’t just a victory—it was defiance.
Their reign was short—just days before dropping the belts—but it burned bright. They weren’t just partners; they were a reflection of Ellering’s shift: from spotlight seeker to tag-team pillar. Their synergy earned Knockouts Tag Team of the Year honors in 2021, proof that grit and timing can beat polish every time.
A Global Wrestler: Stardom to ROH
In Japan’s Stardom promotion, Ellering proved she could win on foreign soil. Teaming with Scarlett to beat AZM and Momo Watanabe in December 2017 wasn’t tourist play—it was earned respect. Her run in the 5 Star Grand Prix scored nine points against the world’s top fighters, again driving home that her athletic spirit speaks all languages.
2023 saw her challenge for the ROH Strong Women’s Championship and enter the ROH Women’s World TV title tournament. Though defeated, she showed up—yet again—where reinvention thrives.
AEW Appearances: Back with a Bang and a Bruise
In August 2020, Ellering returned to televised wrestling via AEW’s women’s tag tournament and Dark appearances. In July 2024, she squared off with Thunder Rosa on Rampage. Each bout wasn’t about wins and losses—it was about her presence. She carried near four years of ring time, setbacks, and reboots into those matches, and you feel that weight.
The DNA of a Warrior
Ellering’s ring résumé is only half the story. Daughter of legendary manager Paul Ellering, she carries a surname that closed promotions and opened locker rooms. But she didn’t inherit that legacy—she built it herself. Engaged to Chris Hero, another storied fighter, she shares both love and battle scars.
On top of all this, she’s a powerlifter: a 2014 World Powerlifting Federation bronze medalist. She might carry someone into the ring, but her own strength could lift worlds.
Human Truth Beneath Sequins and Oak
This isn’t just a career recap—it’s a portrait of someone who bends but doesn’t break. Who knows what it’s like to tear an ACL, get released during a pandemic, and still show up in the ring hungry. Who laughs when someone says, “Why keep going?”—because she’s already answered that question.
Here’s what the stats tell you:
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2015–2018: WWE developmental fighter, Mae Young Classic two-time competitor.
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2021: Impact Knockouts Tag Champion with Jordynne Grace, Tag Team of the Year.
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Global circuit: Stardom (Japan), AEW appearances, ROH contender.
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Off-ring: Bronze in world-level powerlifting.
But stats don’t whisper at 2 a.m. when you’re staring at crutches. Her resilience is what you see in her eyes when she raises her hand after a 50/50 match, and wins nothing—or loses everything—but keeps moving.
The Edge of Reinvention
Striking isn’t permanent. Struggles shift—from injury to pandemic to the ever-turning tide between spotlight and undercard. But Ellering? She just keeps building. Like a Bukowski protagonist staking claim to a burned-out bar stool, she’s always got one foot on the next stage.
At 31, she’s not a career-limiter—she’s a career sculptor. There’s a long road ahead—AEW, ROH, maybe another Impact run or a walk down old WWE corridors. But whichever door opens next, she’ll walk through it with the same promise: steel-curved heart, unbreakable voice, and enough story to fill 10 rings.
Final Scorecard
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Skill & Athleticism: Elite. From powerlifting to high-flying ring action.
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Character & Heart: Undeniable. She brings emotional investment to every ring.
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Potential: Massive. Championship-ready, voice-ready, legacy-ready.
Rachael Ellering may not be the face of wrestling’s mainstream… yet. But she’s the kind of fighter Sports Illustrated roots for: unpolished and real, worn scars and all, with sky still high over the rafters—waiting for her to crack it.
