Tessa Armstrong On Her Start in Wrestling, The Growth of Women’s Wrestling & The Physical and Mental Aspects of The Business

Tessa Armstrong is one of Queensland wrestling’s fastest rising stars, who’s currently on a journey to take the entire country by storm. Being one of the state’s most prominent female wrestlers, I thought that it would be a great idea to celebrate International Women’s Day by securing an interview with the “Queen of Queensland” herself and potentially get some insights into her career and her experience in the industry.

Lachlan Andrews: What sparked your interest in professional wrestling?

Tessa Armstrong: My brother grew up watching wrestling, but it wasn’t until I was about 10 that we started watching it together. I was instantly hooked on the athleticism and stories that took place inside and outside of the ring. 

LA: How long were you a wrestling fan before deciding it was what you wanted to pursue?

Armstrong: I had been a fan of WWE for just under 10 years when I decided I wanted to pursue wrestling. When I began watching WWE, I had no idea that indie wrestling was even a thing. It wasn’t until my brother and I, living in Melbourne at the time, had stumbled across PCW and decided to go check out a show of theirs that I realised wrestling was something I could be a part of in Australia. I fell in love with watching wrestler’s I had connected with as a fan, live and in person; and would go watch every weekend. Growing up as a young teenager watching women like Erika Reid, Aysha, Indi Hartwell, etc. I knew I wanted to be involved with wrestling. However, due to Covid in 2020, I didn’t start training until I moved up to Queensland in 2021.

LA: Did you think there were going to be many opportunities for you as a woman when you started? Do you think there are more now than there were when you started out?

Armstrong: Honestly, women’s wrestling still has a long way to go in terms of opportunities, especially in Australia and ESPECIALLY in Qld. But I definitely think it’s improving. People like Rhea Ripley and Zaria are bringing eyes to Australian women and it is pushing us all to work to a higher standard. Compared to when I started, which was only a few years ago, there has already been an increase in opportunities available to us. We’re not always taken as seriously as the guys. But I believe this has improved a lot from when I started and is continuing to improve every day. 

LA: You initially came up through United Pro Wrestling’s Training Academy. Give us a quick rundown of what their training regimen was like and how you feel you fared compared to a lot of your peers?

Armstrong: UPW’s training works on a competency based, level system. Level 1 being basics through to practice matches in Level 3. Honestly, when I started in level 1, I was really intimidated. Wrestling is really difficult, and I was a lot slower to learn than others in my group. But as time went on, I began to improve and understand wrestling more and rose in status very quickly. 

LA: Now, I’ve done a little bit of digging before our interview and managed to find that you actually got your start in UPW as a referee, something that you don’t really see a lot of women in the scene doing, shortly before debuting as the Tessa Armstrong that everyone knows and loves to hate today. Did you ever envision or contemplate the idea of being in a consistent, non-wrestler role or did you only ever see yourself as a professional wrestler?

Armstrong: I never imagined doing anything other than being a wrestler. I always knew I was destined to be the best female wrestler in Queensland. However, I did learn a lot from my short time as a ref. I was able to feel out the crowd and the ring during a match before even debuting as a wrestler. 

LA: Shortly after your debut, you paired up with The Hired Guns in UPW. What skills or knowledge do you think you picked up during your time in the group? 

Armstrong: Andre Irons and Tommy Winslow taught me very early on that nice guys finish last. In order to win a match and make money, sometimes you need to bend the rules in your favour. Andre and Tommy also both helped me hone my in ring skills, teaching me new moves and providing me with some amazing wisdom and feedback.

LA: Do you believe that a lot of their teachings have come in handy throughout your career?

Armstrong: Being alongside those boys is absolutely the reason I am where I am today. I still reflect on their teachings to this day and am so grateful to have learnt and grown with them. 

LA: What has it been like to witness the Australian Women’s Wrestling scene begin to blossom over the last few years and to even be involved in some landmark moments for the Queensland side of this blossoming (e.g. first ever all women’s show, first ever women’s triple threat, first ever women’s hardcore match, first ever women’s battle royal) and, of these moments, which one do you feel the most proud to have been a part of?

Armstrong: It has been incredible to see women’s wrestling grow in our country. I’ve definitely been part of some amazing milestones. I feel most proud to be the winner of the first Women’s Battle Royale in Queensland. To share the ring with such a large group of women was truly incredible. We’re often left wrestling the same person for multiple matches due to there not being many of us. So, seeing a large group of women in one ring together was exciting. It was proof we were growing as a division. And most importantly, I went and beat all of them.

LA: Over the last few months, you’ve popped up in quite a few different companies across Queensland, making your debuts for Pro Wrestling League, Atomic Pro Wrestling and shortly Wide Bay Pro Wrestling. Does it feel like you’re back to square one in terms of being in unfamiliar territory or do you feel that being an established name in the scene has made the jump much easier?

Armstrong: Sometimes it feels like I’m back to square one as I need to prove myself to unfamiliar fans and new opponents. But wrestling feels natural to me. It doesn’t take long before I slip back into what I know and I show why I’ve gotten where I have in the first place. 

LA: You’ve recently been travelling interstate quite a bit, making a statement in companies such a AWS, NHPW and even your first love, PCW. Tell me a little bit about your experiences with these interstate promotions; Have you found them to be much different to the ones you’ve been a part of in Queensland? Is there anything you’ve learnt on your interstate that you’ll be using in Queensland?

Armstrong: I love travelling interstate. I love proving what I can do to people who underestimate QLD wrestling. They’re very different to promotions in Queensland, but it gives me a challenge to navigate, learn and subsequently, improve. I’ve learned a lot of things from going head to head with a wide variety of opponents. The women in Queensland should be worried about what I have in store for them. 

LA: On top of travelling interstate, you’ve also had the opportunity to work in close proximity to and compete against some pretty big, international names such as AEW & ROH’s Diamante. Do you find it daunting at all to be in the ring with big names, or do you approach it the same as you would any other match.

Armstrong: At first it is daunting. They’re more experienced than me. Diamante, for example, has been wrestling since 2008, she has experience against a wide variety of opponents. But the minute I step into the ring, they just become another number on my list of wins and losses. Worrying too much about their ability only hinders my own focus. 

LA: (At the time of this interview) It was recently announced that you would be competing in the main event of Aus Pro Wrestling’s second ever event, Reaching the Brass Ring, going one on one with Erika Reid, a woman you’ve stepped into the ring with before, for the Oceania Pro Wrestling Women’s Championship. What are your thoughts on being hand picked to be a part of such a big match?

Armstrong: I put in the work and effort every single day to be the best and achieve some incredible things. As I said earlier, I grew up watching Erika. She inspired me to get into the ring, so it is surreal to be part of such a big match. But I think Erika underestimates me and my skills. She sits at the top of the mountain and I think she has gotten too comfortable. I’ve been watching her long enough to know what to look out for. I know her tricks. I just hope she puts up as much of a fight as I will, because I plan on going to war.

LA: We always hear about the physical aspects of professional wrestling, but I’d like to get into the mental aspects of it for a second. In a business that can be very demanding on a person. Are there days that you find it quite difficult? 

Armstrong: Injury and loss do play a huge factor in professional wrestling and your mental health. Without getting into detail, I have often wondered if wrestling is right for me or if I should just quit it altogether. But I continue to push through because I have had amazing support from people who understand my situation and want to see me continue this dream. 

LA: Do you have any words of advice or anything to say to our readers who may be going through something similar to what you’ve gone through in the past? 

Armstrong: Talk to someone! There is always someone who has either experienced what you’re going through and can give you advice or is willing to just listen to you. You never need to go through something alone.

LA: With 2025 only just beginning, you’re sure to have a lot of different goals, aspirations and, of course, opportunities lined up for you. Can you share with our readers just what’s in store for Tessa Armstrong in 2025??

Armstrong: 2025 is the year you will see Tessa Armstrong EVERYWHERE. Connor K. and I intend to show up and show out every single place we go. If you don’t know us just yet, I promise you soon will.