WWE’s first girls’s Intercontinental Champion, Lyra Valkyria, is on a mission to defend her title in opposition to mentor-turned-enemy, Becky Lynch, for a decisive second time at Cash within the Financial institution. However relating to getting ready to punish her opponents, Valkyria (whose actual identify is Aoife Cusack) tells M&F that CrossFit has been the “final gamechanger” for her profession. Fortuitously, she not too long ago shared her favourite strikes.
Now a part of WWE’s Monday Night time Uncooked roster, Valkyria has come a good distance since taking two buses to get to her Irish professional wrestling college. Now 28, the beautiful grappler has not solely shared a ring with her hero Becky Lynch, she’s even pinned her shoulders to the mat.
On June 7, they’ll face off as soon as once more in a important title rematch at Cash within the Financial institution 2025 in Inglewood, CA. However, whereas Valkyria could also be thought-about a brand new face on Netflix, she first made her ring debut in 2015, earlier than signing with WWE’s NXT UK division in 2020. Working her approach as much as superstardom on Monday Night time Uncooked, her loyal followers have observed that this combating Irish lady isn’t simply dedicated to studying her professional wrestling abilities, because the star has additionally steadily honed her health, and toned her physique alongside the best way.
WWE’s Lyra Valkyria Loves CrossFit For Wrestling Health
“I found CrossFit, and that’s been an final gamechanger for me,” the IC champ tells M&F, explaining that the fixed grind of touring with WWE implies that her exercises might happen early within the morning… “even at 1am,” if her schedule calls for it. Valkyria was first launched to CrossFit by WWE wrestle, Ivy Nile, and says she is now on a “CrossFit journey.”
For Valkyria, sustaining a bonus within the squared circle is all about making the time to coach, and CrossFit is an environment friendly approach to do that as a result of it builds muscle whereas burning fats and bettering endurance ranges all on the similar time. “I completely like it when my coronary heart is pounding and I really feel like I simply can’t give any extra,” Valkyria tells M&F.
Earlier this yr, the gutsy gal demonstrated her intense coaching type with fellow Dubliner, Sheamus, in an episode of YouTube’s Celtic Warrior Workouts. It’s simple to see why she’s dominating the professional wrestling ring.
Lyra Valkyria’s Lyra’s Raise’ CrossFit Exercise
Warmup:
- Skipping Double Unders 20 reps
- Handstand Pushups 6 reps
‘Wrestler’s Warmup’ Exercise:
- Body weight Squats 50 reps
- Lion Pushups 20 reps
- Conventional Pushups 20 reps
- Diamond Grip Pushups 5 reps
CrossFit Part x 2 Rounds
- Wall Ball’s 10 reps
- Hanging Leg Raises (toes to bar) 10 reps
- Barbell Entrance Squat 10 reps
- Burpees (over the barbell) 10 reps
The Finisher
- GHD Machine 3 units, 12 reps
Exercise Breakdown
Inspiringly, Valkyria explains that she couldn’t do Double Unders till not too long ago. That is the place the rope has to go beneath your ft twice. “How did you do this?” requested an impressed Sheamus, struggling to become familiar along with his personal rope.
The fiery feminine shares that the trick right here is to maintain the leaping tempo the identical however to extend the wrist velocity. Subsequent up, Valkyria demonstrates handstand pushups. Nevertheless, she’s virtually taken out when Sheamus finds out simply how robust this transfer actually is. Inspiringly, Sheamus leaves his ego on the door with a purpose to be taught, as Valkyria makes it look simple — finishing six strong reps. “That’s insane” commented Sheamus.
The primary exercise part is body weight based mostly, with a purpose to put together for the trials of the ring explains the champ, blasting by way of a circuit that features Lion Pushups, requiring the grapplers to hit a large grip and pushup right into a downward canine type pose earlier than decreasing themselves again right down to the mat and repeating. This transfer alone will tax virtually each muscle in your whole physique, together with the core.
Valkyria is hardly even out of breath right here, whereas Sheamus is understandably gasping for oxygen. “No person’s left behind,” encourages Valkyria whereas Sheamus offers it his all. “I’m so impressed by what you’re doing,” stated the previous WWE Heavyweight Champion.
Valkyria explains that this exercise additionally makes for the proper “wrestler’s warmup” as a result of it improves respiration management and mobility. “I’ll undoubtedly, be humbled, however the extra you do it, the simpler it will get, proper?” concluded Sheamus. His exercise companion stated she felt the identical approach about CrossFit, and that this journey is humbling her too. “Within the ring, we do a number of getting down, getting again up once more, so these items is nice.”
Spent however not defeated, Sheamus proved that we are able to all push ourselves past our limits and with time can turn into simply as adept as Valkyria, who was as soon as a beginner herself, studying from Ivy Nile.
For the finisher, Valkyria makes use of the GHD machine for some critical situps that require a deep stretch on the backside. She then contracts her core to assist construct these bulletproof abs. Sheamus as soon as once more demonstrates his ethos that the final units ought to be the perfect units. He matches his Irish pal rep for rep. “And that’s the finish of Lyra’s raise,” says WWE’s first girls’s Intercontinental Champion. “You’re killing it,” says Sheamus.
“In case you’ve any ideas on attempting something that appears utterly out of your character, one thing that nobody will perceive, it solely has to essentially make sense to you,” enthused Valkyria because the session got here to a detailed. “Simply completely give it a go since you actually don’t have something to lose.”
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WWE Cash within the Financial institution airs reside on Peacock in america, and Netflix in every single place else on June 7, 2025.
