Billie Starkz

Last updated

Billie Starkz
Billie Starkz AEW House Show Corbin, KY (cropped).jpg
Billie Starkz in May 2023
Birth nameLillian Bridget
Born (2004-12-08) December 8, 2004 (age 20) [1]
New Albany, Indiana, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Billie Starkz
  • Pizza Cat Jr.
Trained by
  • Raul LaMotta
  • Rudy Switchblade
DebutOctober 13, 2018 [1]

Lillian Bridget (born December 8, 2004), better known by the ring name Billie Starkz, is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She also appears in AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where is she a former one-time and the inaugural ROH Women's World Television Champion. She has also wrestled in numerous promotions such as Game Changer Wrestling, Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, and Major League Wrestling.

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2018–present)

Starkz began training in wrestling at age 13 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, [2] making her professional wrestling debut in October 2018. [3] [4] According to a 2023 story by local TV station WDRB, during her first weeks at Atherton High School in Louisville, Kentucky in 2019, "a caring teacher pulled her into the hall to ask questions about her parents and home life" because she showed up with bumps and bruises resulting from wrestling. [2]

In 2020, she began working for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) and on October 10 of that year, she competed in a 30-person battle royal at Joey Janela's Spring Break 4. [5]

On June 25, 2022, Starkz won the H2O Hybrid Championship. [6] On November 12, at BLP Slamilton, Starkz defeated Calvin Tankman to win the BLP Heavyweight Championship. [7] [8]

All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2022–present)

Early appearances (2022–2023)

On the December 27, 2022, episode of AEW Dark , Starkz made her debut, losing to Red Velvet. [9] [10] On April 7, 2023, at Battle of the Belts VI, Jade Cargill defeated Starkz to retain the AEW TBS Championship. [11] Four days later, it was reported that Starkz had been signed by AEW. [12] [13]

On the March 9, 2023, episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling , Starkz made her Ring of Honor (ROH) debut, where she lost to Trish Adora. [14] [15] Two weeks later, she had her first win in ROH when she defeated Miranda Alize. [16] On June 25 at Forbidden Door, Starkz competed in the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament, losing to Athena in the quarterfinals of the tournament. [17]

Storyline with Athena (2023–present)

In late 2023, Starkz along with Lexy Nair became 'minions' to ROH Women's World Champion Athena. On the November 23 episode of ROH Honor Club TV, Starkz and Athena lost to Ronda Rousey and Marina Shafir. [18] On the following episode of ROH Wrestling, Starkz defeated Shafir in a one-on-one match, with Starkz proceeded to attack Shafir after the match. Athena and Nair come out and feigned announcing that Starkz had graduated from 'minion training'. Athena then announced that only Nair was the valedictorian. Starkz then got upset and attacked Athena. Starkz then met Tony Khan backstage and requested a championship match with Athena, which Khan accepted. At Final Battle, Starkz was unsuccessful at winning the ROH Women's Championship from Athena. After the match, Starkz and Athena made amends. [19] [20] In December 2023, Starkz was confirmed to be in the tournament to crown the inaugural ROH Women's World Television Champion. [21] She defeated Robyn Renegade in first round, Diamante in the quarterfinals and Mercedes Martinez in the semifinals to advance to the final at Supercard of Honor. [22] [23] [24] At the event on April 5, 2024, Starkz defeated Queen Aminata to become the inaugural ROH Women's World Television Champion by feigning an injury and choking out Aminata, turning heel in the process. [25] On July 26 at Death Before Dishonor, Starkz lost the ROH Women's World Television Championship to Red Velvet, ending her reign at 112 days. [26] On the October 25 episode of ROH Wrestling, Starkz walked out on Athena during Athena's record setting title reign celebration, teasing a face turn. [27]

Major League Wrestling (2023)

On the February 28, 2023, episode of MLW Underground Wrestling , Starkz made her MLW debut, defeating Kayla Kassidy. [28] [29] On the March 21 episode of Underground Wrestling, she faced Taya Valkyrie for the MLW Women's Featherweight Championship but lost the match. [30] Starkz then faced B3cca twice at SuperFight [31] and War Chamber, both in a winning effort. [32]

Personal life

Shortly before her 2023 graduation from Atherton High School in Louisville, she had maintained a 4.0 grade point average while taking several honors courses, despite her frequent travel for wrestling shows. [2]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

  1. 1 2 "Billie Starkz". Triller TV . Triller. March 3, 2024. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Corsey, Gil (March 24, 2023). "Louisville high school student becomes pro wrestling sensation". Louisville, KY: WDRB. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (July 26, 2021). "Billie Starkz Files Trademark On In-Ring Name". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Louisville high school student signs national wrestling contract". Louisville, KY: WDRB. April 14, 2023. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ Toro, Carlos (October 7, 2020). "Best Of WWE Special Airing On FOX, One-Hour Iron Man Deathmatch Announced For ICW NHB-Fight-Size Update". Fightful. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Guzzo, Gisberto (June 25, 2022). "H2O Wrestling 6 F'N Years Night One Results (6/25): Billie Starkz, EFFY, Colby Corino, And More". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (November 13, 2022). "BLP Slamilton – Part 1 Results (11/12): New BLP Heavyweight Champion Crowned". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Black Label Pro Slamilton Parts 1 & 2 Results". 411Mania. November 13, 2022. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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  10. ↑ Defelice, Robert (December 27, 2022). "AEW Dark (12/27) Stream & Results: Billie Starkz, Daddy Magic, Angelico, More Set For Action". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ McGuire, Colin (April 7, 2023). "4/7 AEW Battle of the Belts VI results: McGuire's review of Orange Cassidy vs. Dralistico for the AEW International Title, Jade Cargill vs. Billie Starkz for the TBS Title, Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Powerhouse Hobbs and QT Marshall for the ROH Tag Team Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ Nason, John (April 11, 2023). "Tony Schiavone: AEW has signed Billie Starkz". Wrestling Observer. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ Tessier, Colin (April 11, 2023). "Tony Schiavone Says AEW Has Signed Billie Starkz". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ Pulido, Luis (March 9, 2023). "Ring of Honor TV (3/9/2023) Results: Samoa Joe Returns to ROH, Eddie Kingston, Athena, More Compete". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Malkasian, Mike (March 9, 2023). "Ring of Honor TV Results 3/9/23". Wrestling Headlines. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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  17. ↑ Powell, Jason (June 25, 2023). "AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP U.S. Championship, MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the AEW World Championship". prowrestling.net. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ Robinson, Sam (November 24, 2023). "ROH on HonorClub results (11/23): Robinson's review of Ronda Rousey and Marina Shafir vs. Athena and Billie Starkz, Katsuyori Shibata vs. Trent Beretta for the ROH Pure Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ Robinson, Sam (December 1, 2023). "ROH on HonorClub results (11/30): Robinson's review of Komander vs. Gringo Loco, and Evil Uno vs. Dalton Castle in Survival of the Fittest qualifiers for the vacant ROH TV Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
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  21. ↑ Wilkinson, Nick (December 28, 2023). "Several Names Confirmed For ROH Women's TV Title Tournament". diva-dirt.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
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  23. ↑ Ravens, Andrew (March 8, 2024). "**SPOILERS** From Thursday's ROH TV Tapings In Duluth, GA (3/7/24)". Ewrestlingnews.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
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  27. ↑ Robinson, Sam (October 25, 2024). "ROH on HonorClub results (10/24): Robinson's review of Brian Cage vs. Komander for the ROH TV Title, Athena's celebration, Lee Johnson vs. EJ Nduka, Gates of Agony vs. The Infantry". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
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  30. ↑ "Underground Recap: Alex Hammerstone vs. Jacob Fatu 2, Billie Starkz Battles Taya Valkyrie". Major League Wrestling. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  31. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (February 5, 2023). "MLW SuperFight 2023 Spoilers (2/4): Multiple Title Bouts, Matches Taped For REELZ Debut". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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  42. ↑ DeFelice, Robert (October 8, 2023). "Billie Starkz Wins Wrestling Revolver Women's Grand Prix; Praises Trish Adora and Marina Shafir". Fightful. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
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