Hello, wrestler fans! If you love following the WWE and admire world-class, Lyra Valkyria is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Lyra Valkyria, whose real name is Aoife Cusack, is an Irish professional wrestler signed to WWE and performing on the Raw brand as a fast-rising singles and tag-team star. As of early 2026, she is best known for her NXT Women’s Championship reign and for becoming the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion after moving to the main roster.
Lyra Valkyria’s Biography
| Category | Details |
| Real Name | Aoife Marie Cusack |
| Nickname | “Bird Lady,” “Lady of the Opera” |
| Date of Birth | October 23, 1996 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 29 years old |
| Birthplace | Clarehall, Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Height | 5’3″ (160 cm) |
| Weight | 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| College/University | Dublin City University |
| Degree | Irish and Journalism |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Turned Professional | 2015 |
| Fiancé | LJ Cleary |
| Relationship Status | Engaged |
| Relationship Duration | 10 years together |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $1 Million |
| Annual Salary | $350,000 |
| Instagram Profile | @real_valkyria |
Early Career
Lyra Valkyria’s wrestling career began on May 2, 2015, when she made her debut with Celtic Championship Wrestling in Cork, Ireland at just 18 years old. Growing up in Dublin, she was inspired by watching Becky Lynch’s NXT debut in 2014—a moment that lit a fire within her to pursue professional wrestling seriously. She trained at Fight Factory Pro Wrestling under Phil Boyd and Katey Harvey, becoming part of a male-dominated wrestling school.
During her college years at Dublin City University, she balanced her studies with wrestling on the independent circuit, even missing exams to pursue matches. She worked part-time at CeX video game store while attending college and writing articles for Green New Ireland on environmental topics during her final year. Her dedication was unwavering; she chose wrestling over a traditional career path, earning respect from her family who eventually understood her passion for the sport.
Professional Wrestling Career
Lyra Valkyria’s professional journey has been marked by steady progression and remarkable technical abilities. Before joining WWE, she competed extensively across Irish and European promotions. She won the Irish Junior Heavyweight Championship, the OTT Women’s Championship, Pro Wrestling Ulster Women’s Championship, and partnered with Debbie Keitel to win the Pro-Wrestling EVE Tag Team Championship.
When WWE contacted her for a tryout in late 2019, she was performing in Germany with Westside Xtreme Wrestling. On January 20, 2020, she officially signed with WWE, initially performing as “Aoife Valkyrie” on NXT UK. Her early WWE years were spent primarily in developmental, facing setbacks including an ACL injury that sidelined her for a year. However, her perseverance paid off when she was moved to NXT in late 2022 under the ring name “Lyra Valkyria.” Her big breakthrough came on October 24, 2023, when she defeated her idol Becky Lynch at NXT Halloween Havoc to become the NXT Women’s Champion, a victory she described as an out-of-body experience.
After being drafted to Raw in 2024, she immediately made an impact by becoming the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion in January 2025, defeating Dakota Kai in the championship tournament. Her reign lasted 144 days, during which she successfully defended the title against top competitors like Ivy Nile, Alba Fyre, and Raquel Rodriguez.
Engaged
Lyra Valkyria and LJ Cleary have been together for an impressive ten years, having met and trained together at Fight Factory Pro Wrestling in Dublin. LJ Cleary is himself an accomplished professional wrestler who has performed in promotions across Ireland, Japan, and Europe, including Pro Wrestling NOAH and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
On September 13, 2024, Cleary proposed to Valkyria, announcing their engagement on Instagram with a romantic caption: “Yes 10 years together celebrated by getting engaged to the person I will be spending the rest of my life with, and she is the love of mine 13/9/24 The couple shares a pet dog together and maintains a supportive relationship despite their demanding wrestling schedules.
While they have announced their engagement, there has been no public information about their wedding plans or timeline. Neither Valkyria nor Cleary have any children at this time, keeping their focus on their respective wrestling careers.
Lyra Valkyria’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Lyra Valkyria’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $1 million. This wealth accumulation is primarily sourced from her WWE salary of $350,000 annually, which includes base pay, bonuses, travel allowances, and commission from merchandise sales. Additional income streams include endorsement deals with various lifestyle and fitness brands, social media promotions, PPV appearance fees, and special event compensation.
Fight Purses and Championship Matches
| Event/Match | Date | Opponent(s) | Title/Type | Result | Notes |
| NXT Halloween Havoc (Night 1) | October 24, 2023 | Becky Lynch | NXT Women’s Championship Match | WIN | Championship-winning debut |
| NXT Vengeance Day | February 4, 2024 | Roxanne Perez & Lola Vice | NXT Women’s Championship Triple Threat | WIN | Successful title defense |
| NXT Stand & Deliver | April 6, 2024 | Roxanne Perez | NXT Women’s Championship Match | LOSS | 165-day championship reign ended |
| WWE Raw (Queen of the Ring) | May 6, 2024 | Dakota Kai | First Round Tournament | WIN | Main roster debut |
| WWE Money in the Bank 2024 | August 2024 | Multiple competitors | MITB Ladder Match | Participation | Mid-card positioning |
| WWE Raw Raw (Tournament Final) | January 13, 2025 | Dakota Kai | Women’s Intercontinental Championship Final | WIN | Inaugural championship won |
| WWE Raw | January 20, 2025 | Alba Fyre | Women’s Intercontinental Championship | WIN | First title defense |
| WWE Raw | February 24, 2025 | Dakota Kai | Women’s Intercontinental Championship | WIN | Successful defense (3-0 vs Kai) |
| WWE Backlash | May 10, 2025 | Becky Lynch | Women’s Intercontinental Championship | LOSS | Title lost to Lynch |
| WWE Money in the Bank | June 7, 2025 | Becky Lynch | Women’s Intercontinental Championship (Last Chance Match) | LOSS | Career vs title implications |
| WWE SummerSlam | August 3, 2025 | Becky Lynch | Women’s Intercontinental Championship (No DQ Last Chance) | LOSS | Feud conclusion |
| WWE WrestleMania 41 | April 20, 2025 | Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez | Women’s Tag Team Championship (with Becky Lynch) | WIN | 1-day title reign with Lynch |
| WWE Raw | January 5, 2026 | Liv Morgan | Singles Match | LOSS | Recent significant loss |
Endorsements
- WWE Shop – Official merchandise sales and branded apparel
- WWE 2K24 Video Game – Featured as a playable character in the Global Superstars DLC pack (her first WWE video game appearance)
- Maybelline New York – WWE’s official cosmetics partner featured during Evolution event 2025
- Fitness and Lifestyle Brands – Multiple partnerships with wellness and fitness companies
- WWE Entertainment Properties – Various brand collaborations and social media integrations
- Professional Wrestling Media – Appearances in promotional content and feature stories
- Social Media Brand Deals – Instagram sponsored content and influencer partnerships
Career Records
| Opponent | Total Record | Significant Matches/Context |
| Becky Lynch | Multiple encounters | Defeated Lynch for NXT Championship (Oct 24, 2023); Lost Women’s Intercontinental Championship; Extended 2025 rivalry |
| Dakota Kai | 3-0 (Valkyria favored) | Won inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament final; Multiple successful title defenses |
| Roxanne Perez | Notable rivalry | Lost NXT Championship to Perez; Multiple NXT encounters |
| Liv Morgan | Mixed record | Recent loss on Raw (Jan 5, 2026); Tag team appearances |
| Raquel Rodriguez | Multiple matches | WrestleMania 41 tag team championship match; Various Raw encounters |
| Xia Li | Successful defense | First NXT Championship defense (Nov 21, 2023) |
| Alba Fyre | Multiple victories | Multiple successful title defenses |
| Ivy Nile | Championship defense | Intercontinental Championship defense (March 2025) |
| Bayley | Recent encounters | 2025 storyline involvement; Tag team partnership attempts |
| Tatum Paxley | Complex storyline | NXT partnership and subsequent betrayal storyline |
| Lola Vice | Multiple victories | Various NXT and Raw matches |
| Shayna Baszler | Victories | Multiple competitive matches |
| Zoey Stark | Mixed encounters | Various matches throughout careers |
| Kairi Sane | Multiple matches | Various Raw and NXT encounters |
| Indi Hartwell | Several matches | Triple threat championship matches |
FAQs
1. What is Lyra Valkyria’s real name?
Her real name is Aoife Marie Cusack. She was born in Dublin, Ireland on October 23, 1996, and grew up in the Clarehall neighborhood. She chose the ring name “Lyra Valkyria” when she moved to NXT in late 2022, though she previously wrestled as Aoife Valkyrie and Valkyrie Cain in various promotions.
2. How did Lyra Valkyria become interested in wrestling?
Valkyria became interested in wrestling through her younger brother, who was a huge WWE fan. When he stopped watching, she realized she loved wrestling even more. At age 17 in 2014, she watched Becky Lynch’s NXT debut, which inspired her to pursue wrestling professionally. She trained at Fight Factory Pro Wrestling in Dublin, the same school where Lynch trained.
3. What championships has Lyra Valkyria won in her career?
Lyra has won seven major championships: the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship (1 time), NXT Women’s Championship (1 time), WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (1 time with Becky Lynch), OTT Women’s Championship, Pro Wrestling Ulster Women’s Championship, Fight Factory Pro Wrestling Irish Junior Heavyweight Championship, and the Pro-Wrestling EVE Tag Team Championship with Debbie Keitel.
4. Who is Lyra Valkyria engaged to?
She is engaged to LJ Cleary, a professional wrestler from Ireland who also trains at Fight Factory Pro Wrestling. They have been together for ten years and got engaged on September 13, 2024. Cleary performs in various promotions including Pro Wrestling NOAH and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
5. How much does Lyra Valkyria make annually?
Lyra’s annual WWE salary is approximately $350,000, which includes her base pay, bonuses, travel allowances, and commissions from merchandise sales. Her overall net worth is estimated at $1 million, with additional income coming from endorsement deals, social media partnerships, and PPV appearances.
6. What is unique about Lyra Valkyria’s character?
Lyra is known as “Bird Lady” or “Lady of the Opera” for her entrance and character presentation. She incorporates bird-like movements and aesthetics into her wrestling persona, including wing-themed attire. Her high-flying wrestling style and aerial maneuvers complement this gimmick perfectly, creating a unique and visually distinctive character.
7. How does Lyra Valkyria’s height compare to other female wrestlers?
At 5’3″ (160 cm), Lyra is among the shorter female wrestlers in WWE, similar to wrestlers like Rey Mysterio’s era positioning but in the women’s division. Despite her smaller frame, she competes effectively against larger opponents through her agility, technical skill, and high-flying abilities.
8. What is Lyra Valkyria’s educational background?
She graduated from Dublin City University with a degree in Irish and Journalism. During her college years, she balanced her studies with wrestling on the independent circuit, often missing exams for wrestling events. She even wrote articles for Green New Ireland during her final year of college.
9. When did Lyra Valkyria become the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion?
Lyra became the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion on January 13, 2025, by defeating Dakota Kai in the championship tournament final on Monday Night Raw. She held the title for 144 days before losing it to Becky Lynch at Money in the Bank on June 7, 2025.
10. What is Lyra Valkyria’s current status in WWE 2026?
As of 2026, Lyra Valkyria is a member of the Monday Night Raw roster and is expected to participate in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. She is being positioned as a rising star in WWE’s women’s division with significant plans for 2026, potentially including WrestleMania involvement. She remains a featured performer despite losing the Intercontinental Championship to Becky Lynch earlier in 2025.