Izzy: Dealing With Backlash Was Difficult, But It Helped Me Become A Strong Young Woman In Wrestling

Izzy talks about learning to become a wrestler.

The super-fan turned wrestler only made her in-ring debut back in August 2023, and many fans are already impressed with her skills at this point in her career.

Before Izzy’s career in the wrestling industry began, her desire to be a wrestler was well documented, which allowed for many fans to root for her in the process.

While speaking to Fightful for a recent interview, Izzy highlighted the fact that she was eight years old when she decided that she wanted to become a wrestler.

“Yeah. I think that’s something I really want to highlight about my story, as I have truly done everything besides be a pro wrestler. I was eight when I decided I wanted to become a pro wrestler. I’m 16 now. I had my debut this last August. I think, for me, it was really hard doing everything but be a professional wrestler in the ring because this is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I would say the main thing that really kept me from doing that was the naysayers. It was honestly really hard being 10 years old and going on Twitter or Instagram and seeing all the stuff that people wrote about me. It did wonders for my self confidence.”

Izzy went on to talk a bit more about dealing with backlash and how it ended up making her stronger as a woman in professional wrestling.

“Oh, yeah. It was rough and it was hard seeing it from people who I looked up to, people who I watched weekly on national TV. It was really difficult. Even people who I used to train with. It was really difficult for me. But I think, for me, it made me such a stronger woman, a young woman in pro wrestling. ‘Cause this business is really cut throat, as we all know. I think, looking back, also at times, it’s like, ‘I’m proud and I’m happy those people wrote all that crap about me because look at me now.’ I’m at WrestleCade, I’m sitting with Sean Ross Sapp. I’m gonna be on Ladies’ Night Out tomorrow. I just went down and looked at the ring. There’s a crap ton of seats. I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m working in front of this many people?’”

In a Fight Size Update earlier this year, Fightful covered how Bayley wished Izzy good luck in her debut match. Fans can learn more here.

Fans can see Fightful’s full interview with Izzy in the video linked at the top of this article.