Iron Willed: The Rise of AEW’s Newest Signing Alex Windsor
Read Time:4 Minute, 22 Second
After going hell-for-leather for over 20 minutes with IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri at Pro Wrestling EVE’s Hit Me Baby One More Time event, Alex Windsor announced that she was officially ‘All Elite.’
The move had been rumored and reportedly in the works for months. Windsor recently appeared for ROH at the Global Wars show in Australia, where she faced ROH Women’s Champion Athena. After years of graft on the independent scene, it seemed the next step was finally within reach.
The Beginning
A true all-rounder, Windsor made her debut in 2009 under the name Liberty. She spent the early years of her career wrestling primarily on the local circuit in her home county of Norfolk. Though often overlooked in the UK and better known for its agriculture, Norfolk has quietly produced some standout talent in the wrestling world. Notably, Saraya hails from the county’s capital, Norwich. Nick Aldis and Kip Sabian also call Nelson’s County home.
In early 2016, around the time she began breaking out beyond the local scene, she rebranded herself as Alex Windsor. Fresh off her U.S. debut with SHIMMER, she started making appearances for the UK’s top promotions. Debuts with PROGRESS Wrestling, RevPro, and WCPW, along with a return to EVE after five years, put her firmly on the path to success. After seven years of hard work, she was finally cementing herself as one of the top names in the UK women’s wrestling scene.
Setback After Setback
Recurring knee injuries suddenly halted Windsor’s rise. During this time, she also stepped away from the ring to give birth to and raise her son. A planned comeback in 2019 was derailed once again when the knee issues were diagnosed as an ACL tear, leading to surgery in November.
She was set to finally return in 2020, but the world had other plans. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown brought UK wrestling to a standstill. During this period, Windsor also endured a life-changing personal tragedy.
Considering everything she has overcome, the nickname ‘Iron Willed’ could not be more fitting. After four years away from the ring—1,358 days—Alex Windsor made her long-awaited return.
RevPro Dominance
It didn’t take long for Windsor’s talent to shine once again. Just three months after her return, she captured the RevPro British Women’s Championship, a title she elevated throughout her impressive 769-day reign. During this time, she defended it in high-profile matches against names like Mickie James, Kylie Rae, Charli Evans, Kanji, and the woman who would eventually dethrone her, Dani Luna.
Her matches with Luna would become the most memorable of her reign. At last year’s Revolution Rumble, following a heel turn in the weeks leading up, Windsor attempted to reclaim the title in a dog collar match for the ages. It was one of the most creative and brutal weapons matches in recent memory, and it’s a must-watch for anyone wanting to understand what Windsor brings to AEW, a promotion known for its extreme women’s matches.
She must have enjoyed the chaos because less than a week later at EVE, she went extreme once more. This time it was a Loser Leaves EVE Match against her best friend turned bitter rival Charlie Morgan. Windsor may have even outdone the brutality of the RevPro match in this unforgettable clash, which is available to watch for free on YouTube. Their 35-minute war is absolutely worth your time.
All Elite
Windsor wrapped up her time on the independent scene with a pair of dream matches that became instant classics at the Big Penny Social in London for EVE. February marked the long-awaited return of Jamie Hayter to the UK, and, incredibly, she and Windsor had never shared a ring before. Their match proved to be a classic and showed that Windsor could absolutely hang with elite-level talent.
It came as no surprise that just a week later, she was in Perth, Australia, wrestling Athena at AEW and ROH’s Global Wars event for the ROH Women’s World Championship. The inevitable seemed to be getting closer.
The official announcement of her signing came after the second of those dream matches in London. This time, it was an IWGP Women’s Championship bout against former UFC fighter and STARDOM icon Syuri. The match was another standout, serving as the perfect independent sendoff for someone who has been at the top of the scene for years.
The intensity, the striking, the submissions, and Windsor holding her own against one of the best in the world all showcased the performer she has grown to become. She is now primed for the big time.
So, what’s next? An official AEW debut could happen at any moment. It is very possible it comes during the Casino Gauntlet at All In. Debuting on a stage that large as an official AEW signee—after previously appearing on Rampage—is a huge moment, but one that Alex Windsor has earned throughout her career. Speaking as a fan, I cannot wait to see what she is capable of on the biggest stage.
Truly Iron Willed.
Happy
57 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
29 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
14 %
About Post Author
