The Rate Tank: The Career of Kellie Skater
The Rate Tank: The Career of Kellie Skater
(Images: Left Kellie Skater as Shimmer Tag Team Champions with Tomoka Nakagawa, right Skater as Shimmer Champion)
Early Training and Debut
Kellie Skater, known as “The Rate Tank,” is one of Australia’s most pioneering female wrestlers. Hailing from Victoria, she began her wrestling training under the guidance of veteran George Julio. She would make her debut at New Age Wrestling just a few short months since beginning her training. Early in her career, she made a strong impression when she competed in a battle royal at PWA Unleashed II on July 28, 2007, in New South Wales. Skater emerged victorious, marking the beginning of a groundbreaking career that would see her become a prominent figure for Australian women’s wrestling.
PWWA and Australian Success
Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA) would prove to be a significant promotion in Skater’s career. She made history by becoming the inaugural PWWA Champion, defeating Vixsin in a Lumberjack Match. Skater held the title for 63 days, solidifying herself as one of Australia’s top female wrestlers. Over the next few years, she competed across various Australian promotions, facing some of the country’s best talents and gaining a reputation for her tenacity, technical ability, brawling and resilience.
International Breakthrough – SHIMMER and IndyGurlz
Skater’s career gained further momentum when she took her talents overseas. Her first international tour took her to the United States, where she made her debut for SHIMMER Women Athletes, a promotion known for featuring the world’s top female wrestlers. In her debut weekend alone, she wrestled four matches in two days, showcasing her endurance and skill. Throughout 2009, Skater continued to wrestle in the U.S., appearing regularly for SHIMMER and IndyGurlz, further elevating her status. That same year, she won the IndyGurlz Australia Championship at New Horizon Pro Wrestling, defeating Bombshell Bo. This title reign would go on to last an impressive 412 days, making it one of the longest of her career.
Japanese Expansion and Global Green Gangsters
By 2013, Skater expanded her international resume by debuting in Japan, one of the world’s most prestigious wrestling scenes. Her time in Japan would become particularly significant when she formed the tag team Global Green Gangsters alongside Tomoka Nakagawa. Together, they became a dominant force in women’s tag team wrestling. On April 13, 2013, Skater and Nakagawa captured the SHIMMER Tag Team Championship, defeating Nicole Matthews & Portia Perez in a grueling 17-minute match that ended in a count-out victory. Their reign lasted an incredible 727 days, making it the second-longest title reign in SHIMMER’s tag team division history.
Retirement and Legacy
After an illustrious career spanning a decade, Skater made a surprise appearance at a Stardom event in February 2017, where she announced her retirement. Just three days later, she participated in a retirement ceremony, officially closing the chapter on her in-ring career.
Kellie Skater played a crucial role in opening doors for Australian female wrestlers on the international stage. Her success in SHIMMER, Stardom, and numerous independent promotions helped showcase the high level of talent coming out of Australia. More than just a champion, Skater is remembered as a trailblazer, breaking barriers for future generations of Australian women in professional wrestling.
Championships & Accomplishments: Artist of Stardom championship, IndyGurlz Australia championship, PPW Pacific Women’s championship, PWWA championship, SHIMMER championship, SHIMMER Tag Team championship, PWI Top 50 Females 2010 ranked 37, PWI Top 50 Females 2011, ranked 37, PWI Top 50 Females 2012, ranked 26, PWI Top 50 Females 2013, ranked 15, PWI Top 50 Females 2014, ranked 21, PWI Top 50 Females 2015, ranked 35.
Our deepest gratitude to Kellie Skater for her invaluable contributions to the wrestling industry. Thank you, Kellie, for your years of hard work, passion, and for helping shape the future of Australian wrestling. Her dedication and influential career have paved the way for countless wrestlers who have followed in her footsteps.
My name is Lachlan Andrews, I’m based in Brisbane, QLD and I’ve been a fan of professional wrestling fan for as long as I can remember and even spent a very short time as a professional wrestlerYou can find me right here as the sole contributor to the “What’s On This Weekend” feature, detailing all of the upcoming events taking place across the country each and every weekend, with articles dropping every Thursday.
