When I first got into independent professional wrestling, women’s wrestling was often an afterthought. The local Missouri scene had many pioneers, such as Miss Wendy, Ms. Natural, and Stacey O’Brien, who paved the way for future generations of female athletes. However, many companies still largely ignored women’s wrestling (Thank you WLW for being awesome!). Times have definitely changed, and good, competitive women’s wrestling is here to stay and gets better every year. On both a global and local scale, the pool of talent is impressive and constantly growing. With that in mind, you won’t find a more accomplished and dominant competitor, male or female, than the subject of this article—Kansas City’s own Shooter Shylynn!
I first saw Shylynn wrestle at a Trailblazer show in early 2023, and since then, she has been a highlight of every event she’s participated in. Her feud with Aminah Belmont even made my list of top feuds of 2023! She also had a solid series of matches against Stormie Renee later that year, and while I only got to see the blow-off match, it was fantastic. In this interview, we discuss how Shylynn got started in the business, her accomplishments, a significant setback, and what the future holds for her.
I generally ask a few of the same questions in these sorts of interviews, so don’t be surprised if you’ve seen me repeat a few before. As I build up a format that I like, I figure this makes it fun to compare how different people answer on a few of these.
Note: This interview was conducted electronically in May/June of 2024.
Any Images used are a combination of my photos from various shows or fair use/public domain images.
For more Interviews I’ve done, click HERE
Would you mind telling my readers a bit about yourself?
“My name is Shooter Shylynn, I’m 21 years old. I started training at 17. My favorite current wrestler is Seth Rollins. I’m from Kansas City Missouri and I love cows lol”
How did you get started in professional wrestling?
“I started and continue to train in Raytown Missouri at the Xtreme Wrestling Center. I used to go watch their sister company KCXW all the time and wound up talking to the Marksman who eventually convinced me to go to the center for a try out. I passed my try out February 20th 2020 and have my first day of practice February 28th and went almost every day for a year straight!”
Were you always a lifelong fan?
“I started watching wrestling as early as I can remember. My dad was also an avid wrestling fan growing up so when I fell in love with it as a kid it rekindled his love for it. I got to go to my first WWE live event when I was 9 years old. The short answer is yes I’ve been a lifelong wrestling fan.”
Who do you look up to, who are some of your inspirations?
“When I was young, growing up in the early 2000s, there wasn’t a lot of female wrestlers for me to look up to. Of course, you had Lita and Trish, but they were on their way out when I really started watching. So, I had the divas to watch. So as a kid my inspirations were Edge, Randy Orton, and John Cena. now as I’ve gotten older, I’ve always loved the strong buff female look. So having quite a few women represent my body type (and goal body type
) it’s made me love wrestling even more. Because now I can look up to Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Bailey, etc…”
What is the biggest tip you’d like to give to up-and-coming wrestlers?
“The biggest tip I can give you up and coming wrestlers is to train, train, and train! So of course I mean in the ring, but I also mean in the gym, in their nutrition, and I also mean in their day-to-day life. The only way to get better at wrestling is by wrestling so you need to be in a ring (not including shows) at least 2-3 times a week when you’re first starting out. If you can’t manage that because of money and/or work, make it a priority at least once a week. Go to the gym 5 times a week. Wrestling is a looks game, not everyone can be Kevin Owen’s or Keith Lee, so lifts weights and do cardio. I know people don’t like cardio but that’s what wrestling match is, if you can’t do high knees for 30 seconds, I’m not running a 10-minute match with you.”
What is a big mistake others often make?
“Not taking care of their bodies. Take it from someone who is currently out with a knee injury. Knee pads are necessary! But also stretching before and after a match and practice will do wonders for your body. What we do in that ring is not easy and it takes a toll, as a wrestler you need to be doing some major self-care if you want longevity in your career.”
I’ve seen you wrestle basically everywhere around here like Trailblazer, TSW, and KCXW, are there any other groups that people should be looking out for that you participate in?
“As of this moment and for quite a while, sadly you won’t be seeing me wrestle anywhere because of my injury. Which is getting better and I’m on the road to recovery. As of right now you might see me helping out with KCXW, New Breed Wrestling, TSW, and Fountain City Pro, or just there watching my boys and gals killing it!”
You mentioned your injury from late 2023, are there any updates you can share?
“For those that don’t know I tore my ACL and meniscus and sprained my LCL in my left knee, I had surgery back in January. But like I mentioned, I’m on the road to recovery. I am doing physical therapy and regular checkups with my doctor. Everything is looking good and staying on track, although knee injuries especially those like mine take a good while to heal. I don’t want to share my return date for two reasons, 1. I don’t know the exact date, and 2. I’d like to make it a surprise
What are your goals going into your post-recovery career?
“Goal number 1 is no more injuries! On a serious note, though I really want to travel. Don’t worry I still plan on working in the Missouri and Kansas areas, but I also plan on getting out to Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Iowa, Michigan and more. Another goal is to get some gold back on my waist. Right before my injury I had 3 titles, I’m down to one and I’m not sure how long they’re gonna let me hold onto her. So, once I’m back I’m looking to regain my titles and seek out some new ones.”
Are there any wrestlers you definitely want to face?
“There’s so many talented wrestlers all over the Indy scene some I haven’t had the pleasure of crossing paths with yet. But some names that I’d really like to wrestle would be Atlas Armstrong, Camaro Jackson, Heidi Howitzer, Gary Jay, and Shaza Mackenzie just to name a few.”
Looking back at 2023, what are you most proud of?
“I got to wrestle a lot of talented women last year. I’ve never had a problem stepping in the ring with anyone, but I believe last year I wrestled the most women out of all my years wrestling so far and I think that’s amazing because that means that women’s wrestling is growing in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Nebraska! I was also super proud to be able cross off having a ladder match and going through a table of my wrestling bucket list.”
What would you say was your biggest feud so far in your career?
“I think Stormi Renee will forget be my biggest rival, we’ve wrestled so many times in so many companies in multiple states. So it’s gotta be her!”
What match of yours should everyone rush out to see?
“That’s a really good question sadly some of my favorite matches I don’t have the footage for
What is your favorite part of the current wrestling scene around here?
“I love that we constantly have new talent coming to the area and I also love that there are so many promotions around here!”
Do you feel that indy wrestling is doing better or worse than it was even a decade ago?
“Oh gosh, this is difficult because I knew Indy wrestling existed for a long time, but I never really watched any until 4ish years ago. But just in the time that I’ve been involved with it I’d like to think it’s improved. So hopefully we can all agree that wrestling is and will always be a continuous growing industry and it is constantly finding ways to improve and be more inclusive to everyone.”
What is the weirdest place you’ve ever wrestled in?
“wrestling in a boxing ring, that was set up in a parking lot!”
What is your favorite wrestling match of all time?
“Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels”
If you could wrestle anyone, who would it be?
“Seth Rollins or AJ Styles!”
Do you have any recommendations for books, TV shows, movies etc.
“Supernatural is my all-time favorite show ever and I love it so if you haven’t seen it go watch it! I’m also currently reading Twisted Sisters by Jen Lancaster and it’s also really good!”
Finally, I ask this question to everyone – if you could travel back in time, to any point in history, when would it be?
“The wrestling fan in me wants to say the attitude era but that wasn’t a great time for women!
Honestly, I’m okay being right here because wrestling is such a beautiful thing right now and I love that I’m involved and get to be Shooter Shylynn for all of you lovely people!”
For More about KCXW, check out their Facebook Page HERE, Their YouTube HERE. KCXW is also on Cagematch, HERE (although missing a few years). If you are a fan, make sure to drop likes, and reviews, or join their social media pages!
You might just see Shylynn at their next show!
For More about Tri States Wrestling, check out their Facebook Page HERE, their Twitter (or I guess X) page HERE, or YouTube HERE. TSW is also on Cagematch, HERE.
For more pro wrestling content, click HERE.
[…] in the other last fall. I actually discussed this with her in a recent interview that you can find HERE. Unfortunately, she announced that she would be relinquishing the belt right then and there. […]
[…] Sidelined since late 2023 with a severe knee injury (read more about that in my exclusive interview HERE), Shylynn’s comeback has been a hot topic in the local wrestling scene. Will she come back? […]