Irish WWE star thinks Conor McGregor "doesn't have what it takes" for wrestling
Speaking to the Irish Mirror after becoming the first ever Women's Intercontinental champ in WWE, she said it felt "amazing" and that she was "on top of the world."
Valkyria, known as Aoife Cusack at home, also lauded the bond between the many Irish figures in WWE. She told the Irish Mirror: "I always think about how small our country is, with WWE, this massive international, huge company.
"The amount of Irish on RAW alone is incredible. It's such a talented bunch to have come from our country, so I'm really proud to be a part of that."
The Dubliner made her WrestleMania debut last month, with her rapid rise taking even herself by surprise. She explained: "I just had just had my one year on RAW date on May 1st, and I can't believe how much I had managed to do in that time.
"It really hit me when I was coming up to facing Becky [Lynch] at Backlash. I was watching back when she wrestled Rhea [Ripley] at WrestleMania last year, and I was in the stands watching that match!
"I had just done NXT Stand and Deliver and I was sitting in an NXT box, watching from way way up, - thousands of people and the ring - great view but the ring was small from where I was at and you're always thinking how do I get there?
"So to go from sitting in the NXT box watching WrestleMania last year, to tag teaming with Becky one year later is insane."
UFC fighter McGregor has been tipped by some as well suited to the showmanship of WWE, but when asked about his prospects in the sport, Lyra was emphatic. She said: "He doesn't have what it takes."
The Dubliner refused to comment on McGregor's chances on becoming President of Ireland in the upcoming elections.
But she hopes the Irish crowd will bring the volume when SmackDown comes to the 3Arena in August.
"I can't believe this is happening while I'm a part of it.. I'm really, really hoping - I know I'm at RAW - that I'm going to be a part of that," said the 28-year-old.
"I really really need Dublin to be on par with [the European crowds], so if there's one thing I can get across with this, I hope the Irish doesn't disappoint me now when we come there!"
Lyra praised the wrestling system here in Ireland, saying, "I think wrestling in Ireland is doing just fine, we've got OTT, we've got FIght Factory, those promotions are still putting on the best shows and continuing to do so.
"We get shows in the National Stadium outside of WWE, Fight Factory is more of a grungy, underground feel, you've got a promotion in Cork, a promotion in Belfast, there's always been a good scene there.
"And because I still know everyone that's on the mats I still go down training with them when I'm home, I can confidently say that there's no shortage of Irish talent either and I won't be the last Irish person to get to WWE."
WWE returns to the U.K. & Ireland this August for the Road to Clash in Paris Tour - featuring SmackDown in Dublin on 22nd August and Raw in Birmingham on 25th August. Tickets are now available here: https://www.wwe.com/events
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
37 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Oasis set for two sold-out nights at Croke Park
Oasis bring their Live '25 reunion tour to Dublin this weekend for two sold-out concerts at Croke Park, tonight and Sunday. The shows are part of the band's first tour since their 2009 split. The reunion tour began in Cardiff last month and has already taken in multiple stadium dates across England and Scotland. Demand for the Irish dates was huge, with both nights in Croke Park selling out within minutes when tickets went on sale last year. Many fans were left disappointed, with a surge of re-sale listings and criticism of the dynamic pricing model used by the ticketing platform, which saw some seats increase significantly in price during the sale. Speaking recently about returning to the stage, Noel Gallagher said recently: "None of us can wait." Fans can expect a setlist similar to earlier tour dates, opening with Hello and featuring Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Fade Away and Live Forever, followed by an encore of Don't Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova. Liam and Noel are joined by long-time bandmates Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, who has been taking in the sights around Dublin over the past few days, Gem Archer and Andy Bell, and American musician Joey Waronker on drums, with Richard Ashcroft and Cast as the support acts. Event information Gates for the band's Croke Park gigs open at 5pm each night, with Oasis due on stage at around 8.15pm. Promoters have urged fans not to arrive before gates open, as queuing or camping outside the venue is not permitted. Public transport is the easiest way to get to the stadium. Dublin Bus, DART and commuter train services will be running additional capacity, with Drumcondra and Connolly stations a short walk from the venue. Road closures and parking restrictions will be in place around Croke Park. Health officials have advised concertgoers to be mindful of a recently emerged Covid-19 variant and reminded people to take precautions if symptoms develop after the event. A long Irish history Oasis made their Irish debut in 1994 at Dublin's Tivoli Theatre and have since played venues including the Point Depot, Slane Castle and Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. The Croke Park dates will likely be their biggest headline stadium appearances in Ireland, with more than 160,000 people expected over the two nights. Economic and cultural impact The two-night run is forecast to generate more than €60 million for the Dublin economy through ticket sales, hospitality, accommodation and transport. The Oasis reunion tour as a whole is projected to gross over €1 billion across its 41 scheduled dates. For many fans, this weekend will be about more than music. It is a chance to see one of the most influential bands of the last 30 years in full flight once again, sharing the moment with thousands of voices singing together under the lights of Croke Park.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Choice Prize winner Jape: ‘There's so much ADHD now. It's insanely high. There's this constant stimulation into your face and ears'
Jape on why winning the Choice Music Prize twice didn't impact his career, living in Sweden and coming home for the NCH's Landmark series Richie Egan has long created music in splendid isolation, locking himself into his home-studio, and keeping workman-like hours. For more than a decade, the Dubliner has lived in Malmö with his Swedish wife and three young children and, often for days on end, he doesn't leave home. When he's not crafting new compositions, he's immersed in the minutiae of family life, Sweden's third largest city little more than a backdrop. It's the way he likes it and it has served him and his art very well indeed.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
‘I'm part of the community as much as the postman or the milkman' – Ireland's ice-cream vans as beloved as ever despite changing tastes
The epitome of Irish summer is still going strong, despite the eternal distractions of the digital age Meandering through the summer streets while blaring tunes out through a speaker, the ice-cream van still has the allure to propel you out your front door for a taste of summer. 'I'd say 60pc are probably kids and 40pc are adults,' says Dan Clement (38) from Crumlin in Dublin, speaking about the beloved customer base of his ice-cream van.
