Lyra Valkyria—born Aoife Cusack in Dublin, Ireland—has swiftly risen from the independent circuit to become a history-making WWE superstar on Monday Night Raw. As the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion and a former NXT Women’s Champion, her career is defined by landmark wins and a distinctive Irish identity. This article draws on official WWE profiles, verified biographies, and wrestling databases to give you a fact-based look at her life, championships, and key milestones.
Last checked: 2026-08-02
Real Name: Aoife Marie Cusack · Ring Name: Lyra Valkyria · Birthdate: 23 October 1996 · Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland · Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg) · Current Affiliation: WWE Raw
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-08-02.
Sources reviewed: official WWE website, Wikipedia (English and Polish), Fox Sports, The Irish Times, Cagematch, MoneyLine Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Wiki, Sportskeeda, Khel Now, Starsunfolded, and other wrestling databases.
We did not conduct an on-site visit to WWE events, interview Lyra Valkyria or her associates, or independently verify claims beyond the listed sources. Where databases disagree on match totals, we note the discrepancy.
Lyra Valkyria at a glance
- Born Aoife Marie Cusack on 23 October 1996 in Dublin, Ireland (Wikipedia)
- Performs on Raw; inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion, one‑time NXT Women’s Champion (WWE.com)
- Signed with WWE in 2020, assigned to NXT UK as Aoife Valkyrie (Wikiwand)
- Defeated Becky Lynch for the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc 2023 (Fox Sports)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Aoife Marie Cusack |
| Ring Name | Lyra Valkyria |
| Birthdate | 23 October 1996 |
| Birthplace | Dublin, Ireland |
| Height | 5′3″ (161 cm) |
| Weight | 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Current Affiliation | WWE Raw |
| Notable Achievement | First Women’s Intercontinental Champion |
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Age | 28 years old (born 23 October 1996) |
| Championships | 2 (NXT Women’s Champion, Inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion) |
| WWE Tenure | 2024–present (Raw brand) |
| Cagematch Rating | 10.0 as of 2025 |
| PWI Women’s 150 Rank (2021) | #73 (Famous Birthdays) |
| Career matches (Cagematch) | 278 matches, 167 wins (60.1%) |
| Career matches (MoneyLine) | 304 matches, 173 wins, 126 losses, 5 draws |
| WrestleMania record | 2 matches, 1 win, 1 loss (Khel Now) |
Where is Lyra Valkyria from in Dublin?
Lyra Valkyria’s birth is registered in Dublin, Ireland, according to both Wikipedia[1] and her WWE.com bio[2]. The Irish Times, in a December 2023 feature, identified her as a wrestler “from Clarehall in Dublin,” a residential area in the north of the city. No other source mentions a more specific neighborhood, so Clarehall is the most precise location available. The implication: Lyra’s Dublin roots are well-established, but beyond Clarehall, no further geographic detail is publicly documented.
Which part of Dublin is she from?
Based on The Irish Times report, the Clarehall area is her home community. No other source—whether from WWE, wrestling databases, or fan wikis—specifies a different suburb or county. The phrasing “from Dublin” in most profiles likely refers to the city and county rather than the surrounding countryside.
Is she from Dublin city or county?
Dublin is both a city and a county. The Irish Times article labels her as “from Clarehall in Dublin,” which is part of Dublin city (within the county of Dublin). So the answer is: she is from Dublin city, specifically the northside neighbourhood of Clarehall.
Who is Lyra Valkyria engaged to?
Lyra Valkyria is engaged to fellow professional wrestler LJ Cleary[3]. This information surfaced in a Yahoo article and is corroborated by multiple wrestling news outlets. LJ Cleary, whose real name is also known through wrestling databases, performs on the independent circuit and has been a supporting figure in Lyra’s career. The engagement was announced in early 2024, though the exact date is not publicly recorded. The bottom line: Lyra’s partner is a wrestler, not a public figure outside the industry, and the couple has not yet married as of February 2025.
Who is LJ Cleary?
LJ Cleary is an Irish professional wrestler[4] who has worked on the same independent scene where Lyra began her career. No verified source provides a detailed biography of Cleary, but his wrestling affiliation is confirmed by his association with Lyra and by mentions in wrestling news. The couple’s engagement was widely reported by outlets like Wikipedia[1] (which references the engagement) and several news articles.
Are they married?
As of the latest available information (February 2025), Lyra Valkyria and LJ Cleary are engaged, not married. No wedding date has been announced. This is consistent across all sources.
Is Lyra Valkyria Irish?
Yes, Lyra Valkyria is Irish[1]. Born in Dublin, she holds Irish nationality. Her real name, Aoife Cusack, is distinctly Irish, and she is often described as “Irish professional wrestler” in headlines. She is not the first Irish WWE champion—Becky Lynch (also from Ireland) preceded her—but she is the first to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship[5]. What this means: Lyra’s Irish identity is a core part of her brand, emphasized by WWE and Irish media alike.
What is her real name?
Her real name is Aoife Marie Cusack[2], as confirmed by multiple biographical sources. Some outlets, like TV Insider, have used the on-air name “Aoife Valkyrie,” but this is a stage name, not her legal name. The discrepancy is minor and does not affect her nationality.
Is she the first Irish WWE champion?
No. Becky Lynch, also from Dublin, was the first Irish-born WWE Raw Women’s Champion and SmackDown Women’s Champion[2]. Lyra Valkyria is, however, the first Irish-born wrestler to hold the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship and the NXT Women’s Championship[5]. She also teamed with Becky Lynch to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 41, making them the first Irish tag team champions in WWE history[6].
Is Becky Lynch friends with Lyra Valkyria?
Both are Irish WWE superstars on the same brand (Raw)[1], and they have shared the ring as opponents and as tag team partners. At Halloween Havoc 2023, Lyra defeated Becky Lynch for the NXT Women’s Championship, a match that was framed as a rivalry between two Irish talents. Later, they teamed up to win the Women’s Tag Team Championship. While the sources do not provide a direct statement about a personal friendship, their professional cooperation suggests a respectful working relationship. The pattern: their shared nationality and high-profile matches have created a strong professional bond, but no public evidence confirms a close personal friendship beyond the ring.
Do they train together?
No source indicates that they train together regularly. Both are based in the WWE performance center and on the road, but no verified claim exists about shared training sessions.
Have they teamed up?
Yes. Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch held the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship together after WrestleMania 41[2]. Their partnership was a short-lived but notable alliance.
Career timeline
- 23 October 1996 – Born Aoife Cusack in Dublin, Ireland.
- 2 May 2015 – Professional wrestling debut on the independent circuit, using the ring name Valkyrie Cain[1].
- 2020 – Signs with WWE, assigned to NXT UK as Aoife Valkyrie[2].
- 13 December 2022 – Televised NXT U.S. debut, defeating Amari Miller[3].
- October 2023 – Wins NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Becky Lynch at Halloween Havoc[4].
- 2024 – Drafted to Monday Night Raw; becomes inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion[5].
- WrestleMania 41 (2025) – Wins WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Becky Lynch[6].
“Valkyria spread her wings and soared in NXT by reaching the mountain top to become NXT Women’s Champion by defeating her fellow Irish Superstar Becky Lynch.”
— WWE.com editorial bio
“Born Aoife Cusack, the 27-year-old with her statement jet black locks has risen to global acclaim since signing with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2020.”
— The Irish Times
Notable stat
Lyra Valkyria’s Cagematch rating of 10.0 (as of 2025) places her among the highest-rated women’s wrestlers on the platform. However, note that Cagematch ratings are user-generated and can fluctuate.
pt.wikipedia.org, thesportster.com, ja.wikipedia.org, de.wikipedia.org, wrestlingdata.com, facebook.com, ripped.topps.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Lyra Valkyria’s real name?
Her real name is Aoife Marie Cusack[1].
What brand does Lyra Valkyria wrestle on?
She performs on the WWE Raw brand[2].
How many WWE championships has Lyra Valkyria won?
She has won three WWE championships: NXT Women’s Championship, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship (inaugural), and WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (with Becky Lynch)[5].
Is Lyra Valkyria married?
No, she is engaged to fellow wrestler LJ Cleary as of February 2025[3]. No wedding date has been announced.
What is Lyra Valkyria’s height?
Her billed height is 5 ft 3 in (161 cm) according to Starsunfolded.
Does Lyra Valkyria have any children?
No[1].
Sources cited
- Wikipedia (Polish) – Lyra Valkyria
- Sportskeeda – Lyra Valkyria stats
- Pro Wrestling Wiki – Lyra Valkyria
- TV Insider – Lyra Valkyria
- Khel Now – List of titles
- Draftastic Pro Wrestling – Lyra Valkyria
- WWE.com – Lyra Valkyria Superstar bio
- Wikipedia – Lyra Valkyria
- Fox Sports – Aoife Valkyrie bio
- The Irish Times – Lyra Valkyria feature
- Cagematch – Lyra Valkyria match statistics
- MoneyLine Wrestling – Lyra Valkyria record
- Khel Now – WrestleMania record
- Starsunfolded – Lyra Valkyria
- Famous Birthdays – Lyra Valkyria
- Wikiwand – Lyra Valkyria (Spanish)