BLAIR ONYX MADE her first appearance on any annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranking in the 2024 “Women’s 250.” For those who have followed her path to success since she debuted in 2018, the recognition seemed not only well-deserved, but a long time coming.
Kristen Ashly of PWI is an avid Midwest wrestling aficionado, and took the opportunity to speak with Blair on her remarkable year.
ASHLY: This year you ranked on a PWI list for the first time! Congratulations! What made this year different from others?
ONYX: Thank you! I feel like this year I did a lot more focus on inner work, and trying to focus more on keeping a consistent routine and actually enjoying the work I put into it. When you enjoy the journey, it becomes easier to be more consistent. I also made more of an effort to ask for help from different people and take more charge in communication with my coaches and mentors.
ASHLY: You had an extremely busy year, wrestling for nearly 20 different promotions. When it comes to indie promotions, which was your favorite to work with? Is there a certain way you approach choosing bookings?
ONYX: Some of my favorite promotions to work for include Freelance Wrestling, Glory Pro Wrestling, 2econd wrestling and many more. The main thing I look for in a company that I work for is that I enjoy the work I do there and I feel like I am able to play my role well. In regards to choosing bookings, I feel as though I try to fill up my calendar, always, to have more matches under my belt and more experience! I love wrestling in front of different crowds; it teaches me a lot.
ASHLY: You’re one of the talented women who have broken through from the Midwest scene. I live in Wisconsin, and I know the wrestling scene here is often slept on. In what ways do you think the Midwest scene is special?
ONYX: I think the Midwest scene is special because we have so many prominent names that have come out of here like Cora Jade, Kylie Rae, Billie Starkz, and many more. I wouldn’t even say we are slept on. I think the Midwest girlies are making some ruckus!
ASHLY: What did wrestling in the Midwest teach you, compared to other areas?
ONYX: I feel like I mostly learned all I know from the Midwest, so I think it’s not really for me to say that I learned better here than another place because I didn’t have those experiences. I think success comes from within.
ASHLY: Also out of the area aew Laynie Luck, Sierra, Missa Kate, and so many others. Do you think the women of the Midwest hold special attributes?
ONYX: I think the Midwest girlies definitely hold their own, but I wouldn’t say we’re above any other region, because I feel as though women’s wrestling as a whole is killing it.
ASHLY: While ROH was in Iowa, you made an appearance facing Billie Starkz. How did the opportunity come about?
ONYX: I got a message two days before [asking] if I could make it out to Cedar Rapids. I was available, and two days later I debuted on ROH! It happened pretty quickly.
ASHLY: You had your fair share of matches with Billie in the past. Was this one different?
ONYX: Yeah! I never faced her on such a grand stage, and it felt like the biggest opportunity I’ve ever had. So, it was very full-circle to face someone I was a little familiar with in the ring.
ASHLY: Glory Pro is a well-respected promotion, and you recently competed in their Women’s Crown title tournament. Laynie Luck eventually won the tournament against Shazza McKenzie in the final submission match. Any plans to go after a friend for the title?
ONYX: Absolutely! No matter who holds that title, friend or not, Glory Pro has been a fundamental part of my development as a performer in general, and there would be no bigger prize there for me than the Women’s Crown title. My mind is absolutely on how to advance myself in the ranks at Glory Pro. I recently picked up a singles win against Aminah Belmont, so I should be on their radar for a future title opportunity … and if not, I’ll make some noise.
ASHLY: Now that you’ve debuted, what are your plans to rank higher next year? What’s in store for you?
ONYX: I think I might have done something right in the past year with how my career has gone, so I am grateful to see the upswing. But now that I’ve gotten a taste of that, my mind is on how to continue this momentum. The work never stops, it just gets harder.
