Exclusive: Allie Galvin Interview

Dave Harding sits down to talk to Tasmanian Championship Wrestling’s popular and only women’s wrestler Allie Galvin to talk all things women’s professional wrestling and her journey so far.

Dave Harding: First question I’d ask is, how did you get into the world of professional wrestling? Did any of the women’s wrestlers in the world inspire it, or just a love for professional wrestling?

Allie Galvin: My brother was a big professional wrestling fan, so I knew about it through association but never really was interested until my parents took me and him to a WWE live event in 2014 (I think) and I ended up just falling in love especially while watching the women’s tag match which I think was Emma and Nikki Bella vs Layla and Alicia Fox.

Then I started going to school telling people that I was going be a professional wrestler Emma (Tenille Dashwood) is an obvious idol of mine as I saw her wrestle live and she’s from Australia as well as AJ Lee was also one of my favourites as she never let her setbacks hold her back from anything she did and never let anyone tell her what she could do.

Dave Harding: Has it been hard being the only woman on the TCW roster?

Allie Galvin: It has had its moments, but I think for the most part I have been extremely lucky to be a part of such a supportive community like TCW where everyone genuinely treats me as an equal and hits me just as hard as if I was one of the guys. The only thing I’ve ever struggled with are those internal conflicts of knowing that some people out there are never going see me as a legitimate wrestler just because I’m a girl and sort of just see me as the token TCW girl.

But at the end of the day the guys at TCW have helped me realised I am much more than that, I have my own strengths in the ring and just because I am a female wrestler in TCW that doesn’t have to be my identity

Dave Harding: What’s one misconception people have about women’s wrestling?

Allie Galvin: I think the main one that I struggle with personally is that women wrestlers must look a certain way to be liked or taken seriously in this business. I think for such a long time there was this stigma of women’s wrestling where we were just divas, tall thin eye candy and while I think there can still be a place for that within wrestling same for the men.

It’s just hard when all my life on screen you’ve seen like only really one body type represented and even now it’s better but still not as diverse as it should be. As someone who has been and is more on the bigger side, I find that because of this I feel like I have less value as a women’s wrestler because I’m not conventionally attractive but at the same time that has nothing to do with what I can do in the ring and the character I portray. Like I don’t want to be defined by my body, I want to be seen for my wrestling ability. I hope that makes sense.

Dave Harding: That makes a lot of sense. How much do you think it’s changed since the women’s revolution? Or do you think the stigma is still there?

Allie Galvin: I definitely think it’s a lot better, like know at least I think some people can see women as quite credible wrestlers as they should. But I think in the Australia indies especially at the moment there’s still the stigma that you have to look a certain way and if you don’t fit into that box people won’t sort of give you the time of day or won’t take you seriously. Even if you are training your ass off every day and putting your blood sweat and tears into this

Dave Harding: Do you think it’s a lot different in Tasmanian wrestling since Tasmania far removed from the wider wrestling community?

Allie Galvin: I think so yeah, we’ve had a few instances where fans have said things during my match’s but I think for the most part our crowd and people love seeing that diversity in the ring and love seeing me in there kicking the guy’s ass no matter what I look like, which was a hard concept for me to grasp to begin with.

I had a conversation with a young girl after Annihilation last night that despite not being on the show she had told me that she always loved seeing me out there unapologetically being myself and that’s it quite inspiring for her to see someone up there that looks like her doing amazing stuff which was really, really heartwarming and to be honest if I’ve been that person to just one person I’ve done my job in trying to make the wrestling community feel more safer for women.

Dave Harding: And how amazing would it be if that one girl became a future TCW wrestler like her hero Allie Galvin?

Allie Galvin: Heroes a strong word but that would be very, very cool

Dave Harding: Has it been hard being the only woman’s wrestler working TCW?

Allie Galvin: I feel like it, kind of hasn’t felt like I have been the only woman’s wrestler working TCW because I have been extremely lucky where people like Caity Luxe, Skylar Cruize and Violet Blitz have come down multiple times and I have been able to wrestle a few show program with them.

So, they have all been amazing to work with and truly like older sister roles to me, who I’ve learnt so much off and have really pushed me to better myself as a wrestler and put myself out there more. So I feel like it’s the best of both worlds I have the incredible support of all my friends and peers within TCW who treat me no different as well as also having that female support from people coming into the state that I build a different connection with because they know what it’s like to be a woman’s wrestler and have all these stereotypes placed around you.

Dave Harding: That’s always good to have! For those who are unaware of TCW what would you like them to know who Allie Galvin is?

Allie Galvin: Allie Galvin has always been a fan of TCW turned wrestler, years before I started, I sat in the front row of nearly every show and then as soon as I was 14 years old, I started training. I am the heart of TCW, and no matter how many setbacks I have faced (both in and out of the ring) I always get back up and give it a crack no matter how long it takes.

Dave Harding: And it’s seemed like over the journey you’ve become a bit of a fan favourite as well in TCW

Allie Galvin: I guess you can say that yeah (laughs)

Dave Harding: Without there being a Women’s Title in TCW, could you ever see yourself being the first woman to wear the TCW Title?

Allie Galvin: Charlie Rose was actually the inaugural North Esk Champion so I would love to follow in her footsteps and win the North Esk championship as well but also aiming as high as I can to also win the TCW Championship to not only be the first women to hold it but to show people that I’m not just a women’s wrestler. I am a women’s wrestler who can also be the face of the company

Dave Harding: Now that Aaron Lynch is TCW Champion maybe a chance to ask for a favour! Kidding!

Allie Galvin: I mean I would be down for some good old friendly competition (laughs)