May first started in professional wrestling as a ring announcer in 2018 before becoming a wrestler and debuting in 2019, performing in various independent promotions, including Revolution Pro Wrestling, and winning various championships on the independent circuit. She was best known for her time in World Wonder Ring Stardom under alter egos Sexy Dynamite Princess and Fighting Princess from 2022 to 2023, where she was a member of Club Venus as well as a one-time Goddesses of Stardom Champion with Mina Shirakawa.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2018–2022)
Before becoming a professional wrestler, Mead began her career as a ring announcer where she would perform on multiple shows over the course of 2018.[1]
On 2 February 2019, May made her in-ring debut as a professional wrestler under the ring name Mariah May, facing NXT UK's Nina Samuels.[2] While initially unsuccessful in her efforts, the two would have a series of matches crossing over multiple promotions.[3]
As a last minute replacement, May appeared at Progress Wrestling's Chapter 89 show on 26 May 2019 and mark her first appearance with the promotion. With the show playing to an 80s theme, she would perform one time under the fitness instructor-inspired Mariah Eagan persona.[4]
On 29 February 2020, May competed against five other opponents at day two of United Wrestling UK's "I Can Do This All Day" event. In front of a sold-out crowd, she won the United Wrestling Championship in the main event to earn her first championship in professional wrestling.[7]
May returned to wrestling following the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic on 26 June 2021. During the time away, May form a tag team with fellow independent wrestler Zoe Lucas, with the two collectively known as the Dream Dollz. The team had their first match together at TNT Extreme Wrestling.[8]
This partnership would only grow deeper as seen at Revolution Pro Wrestling's "Live from the Cockpit 51" event. After Gisele Shaw defeated Zoe Lucas to reclaim the vacated Revolution Pro Wrestling's Undisputed Women's Championship, May would take to the ring and ambush the new champion during a post-match interview, cementing her arrival on 4 July 2021.[9] A rivalry quickly formed as May challenged Shaw for her newly won title on July 18, 2021.[10] While unable to walk away with the gold, this feud would continue into the promotion's Queen of the Ring tournament later that month. May, along with Shaun Jackson and Kenneth Halfpenny, assisted Zoe Lucas in defeating Gisele Shaw to win the crown and the right to call herself Revolution Pro Wrestling's Queen of the Ring.[11] Shortly after, the newly dubbed Princess of Revolution Pro Wrestling found herself up against the duo of Shaw and Hyan throughout the summer.[12] These bouts culminated in May once again challenging Shaw for the championship on 21 August 2021 at RevPro's 9-Year Anniversary Show in Manchester.[13]
During the remainder of 2021, May continued to find success across multiple independent promotions where she would not only successfully defend her first championship but go on to continue and win two more.[14][15]
At Ultimate Pro Wrestling's 7-Year Anniversary Show on 30 January, May interfered in the main event, deciding its outcome, and being awarded her forth simultaneous title, the Big League Wrestling Women's Championship.[18]
The following month May began, for the first time, a series of appearances in the United States; beginning with a meet and greet at New Jersey's Garden State Trading Card Show, where she appeared alongside other wrestlers such as former WWE superstars AJ Lee and Kaitlyn, Barbi Hayden, Gisele Shaw, Harley Cameron, and more.[19] She would make her American in-ring debut on 26 March 2022 at Battleground Championship Wrestling's "When Worlds Collide", defeating Lady Frost in Philadelphia's 2300 Arena.[20] The next night she appeared on Combat Zone Wrestling's "All Night Long" show, where she would compete again before travelling to Dallas.[21] Over the next three days, beginning on 31 March, she made make consecutive appearances at WrestleCon while also having matches at both Texas Style Wrestling on 1 April 2022 and New Texas Pro Wrestling's "Cowboys from Hell" event, challenging for the latter's Women's Championship against Raychell Rose on 2 April 2022.[22][23][24]
Upon returning to the UK, May travelled across Europe over the following months and wrestle for promotions in both Germany and Italy during April and May, respectively.[25][26]
On 9 August 2022, May and Harley Cameron united and announced the beginning of their new tag team titled Siren's Fury.[27]
In what would be dubbed the Dreamhouse Deathmatch, May faced off with Harley Hudson, at Sovereign Pro Wrestling's premiere event First Reign on 1 October 2022, in a match with only one rule: "if it's pink, it's legal".[28]
Following this match, May travelled to Pakistan, where over the next week she would be part of a media tour, promoting Ring of Pakistan and visiting survivors of the 2022 Pakistan floods.[29]
In a match against Super Strong Stardom Big Machine at New Blood Premium, with Mina Shirakawa in her corner, May officially became the newest member of Club Venus, going by a masked alter ego by the name of Sexy Dynamite Princess, and came out on top in singles competition.[31] The following night on 26 March, May would enter the Cinderella Tournament 2023, picking up a win against Rina.[32] Her time in the tournament would ultimately come to an end in the second round via an over-the-tope-rope elimination from Mai Sakurai.[33] In addition to competing at All Star Grand Queendom, as a last-minute addition to the English language broadcast of the event, May joined the commentary team and provided her insight for the duration of the show.[34][35]
Following May and Mina Shirakawa's victory over Ami Sohrei and Mirai at Korakuen Hall, the two Club Venus members issued a challenge to The New Eras for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[36] Uniting under the name of Rose Gold, May and Shirakawa would receive their championship match at Sunshine 2023. Proving successful in their endeavor, they would bring championship gold back to Club Venus and becoming the 28th Goddesses of Stardom Champions, also marking May's first championship in Stardom.[37] Outlasting 18 other opponents in a last chance Rumble match, alongside Hanan, May qualified to participate in the 5 Star Grand Prix 2023, where she competed as part of the Blue Stars block.[38] On 30 September, she faced her fellow last chance Rumble winner Hanan in her final match of the tournament, which would coincide with and double as May's farewell match from Stardom.[39]
All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2023–present)
Understudy of "Timeless" Toni Storm (2023–2024)
May was introduced on AEW programming in November 2023 as an obsessed fan of "Timeless" Toni Storm. May would later become her "understudy" and played "the part" of Storm's previous persona until May turned on her in July 2024.
On the 8 November 2023 edition of Dynamite, May was announced as the newest signing to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[40] May was introduced in a segment by RJ City as a superfan of AEW Women's World Champion"Timeless" Toni Storm, establishing her as a heel.[40] In the following months, Storm adopted May as an "understudy" and protégé.[41][42] On the 3 January 2024 episode of Dynamite, May made her AEW in-ring debut, defeating Queen Aminata. After the match, May was confronted by the debuting Deonna Purrazzo.[43] At Revolution, May adopted Storm's previous "Rockstar" persona, including wearing Storm's old ring attire and entrance music, and would begin wrestling matches on Dynamite and Collision in this persona as a tribute to her mentor Storm. Despite both Storm and May still being heels, fans started embracing them both with cheers, thus turning them both into tweener. The following weeks, Storm and May started wrestling faces and heels.[44] At Supercard of Honor: Zero Hour, May made her Ring of Honor (ROH) debut, defeating Momo Kohgo. On the 11 April episode of Dynamite, May defeated Anna Jay. Afterwards, she was saved by her former Stardom tag partner Mina Shirakawa, who shared a kiss and champagne, teasing a romantic storyline between the two. Later down the line, May would quietly turn babyface along with Storm.[45] In the weeks leading up to Forbidden Door, May was the centre of a love triangle storyline, which saw her torn between supporting Storm and Shirakawa, who was Storm's title challenger at the event. May ultimately remained neutral as the two competed for her affection. After Storm defeated Shirakawa at Forbidden Door on 30 June, May resolved the conflict with a three-way kiss.[46]
In June 2024, May participated in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, defeating The Outcasts' Saraya in the first round at Forbidden Door: Zero Hour[46] and Hikaru Shida in the semi-final at Rampage: Beach Break on 5 July.[47] May subsequently defeated Willow Nightingale to win the tournament on the 10 July episode of Dynamite. With the victory, she also earned an AEW Women's World Championship match against her mentor Storm at All In. Immediately after winning the tournament final, May turned on Storm and viciously attacked her and Luther (Storm's on-screen butler) with the Owen Hart Foundation title belt at the entrance way, thus re-establishing herself as a heel[48] and dubbed herself as "The Glamour" Mariah May.[49] At All In on 25 August, May defeated Storm to win the AEW Women's World Championship for the first time.[50] On the 4 September episode of Dynamite, May successfully defended her title in her first title defense against Nyla Rose.[51] After winning the title, May yearned for Shirakawa to return and celebrate her title win together. On the 16 November episode of Collision, after successfully defending her title against Anna Jay, May reunited with Shirakawa once again.[52] At Full Gear on 23 November, May held her title win celebration with Shirakawa. However, May turned on Shirakawa, who retaliated by spearing May off the stage.[53] On the following episode of Dynamite, May responded by attacking Shirakawa during her backstage interview with Renee Paquette. It was then announced that May will defend the AEW Women's World Championship against Shirakawa at Dynamite: Winter is Coming.[54]
Other media
Outside of professional wrestling, Mead is also a professional model and has worked with WWE Shop as well as UK fashion brands Misspap, Miss Bardot and more.[55]
On 16 January 2017, Mead launched her YouTube channel, featuring a look into her world of wrestling, fashion, gaming, and fitness.[56] On 14 June 2020, Mead launched her Twitch channel where she live streams, chats, and plays games with her community known as House May.[57]
In October 2021, Mead joined the cast of ITV2's wrestling comedy series Deep Heat and taking on the role of Roxy. The six-part sitcom premiered on 28 March 2022.[58][59]
In July 2022, Mead modelled at Calgary's Cowboys Music Festival 2022, as well as for Freddy by Livify Clothing.[60][61] Later that month she would be cast as the role of "First Smiler" in the Faithful Films production Granny DJ.[62]
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↑ John Pollock, Wai Ting (7 March 2024). AEW Dynamite 3/6/24 Review. Post Wrestling. Event occurs at 1:04:00. It's perfect for the understudy type of character that she's playing
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