The Irish eyes might be smiling today, but sometimes those green eyes turn black and blue after receiving a flying elbow.
Today is St. Patrick’s Day and WWE has a storied history of Irish competitors going back decades. There’s been several superstars who embraced their heritage in the squared circle from their ring attire, their finishing move, or to their overall aesthetic. Ireland itself has a rich legacy of competitive sports, so it makes sense that some of the toughest wrestlers in WWE were bred with Irish blood.
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These are the true fighting Irish, so let’s raise a pint to the superstars who hail from the Emerald Isles and represent their country proudly.
Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch’sย fiery passion can only be matched by her scorching-red locks. The Dublin native made a name for herself while in WWE’s NXTย branch, quickly rising to the tops alongside the likes of Charlotte and Sasha Banks. Lynch had earned her stripes working in independent wrestling promotions in the United Kingdom before coming to America where she also participated in Shimmer and New England Championship Wrestling.ย
While her hair might be red, the Irish Lass Kicker was drafted to Smackdownย late last year and eventually became the inaugural Smackdownย Women’s Champion. She remains ever popular and makes no bones about where she came from.ย
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Vincent Kennedy McMahon
While not an in-ring competitor per se, WWE’sย Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon made part-time appearances in the ring – should the occasion arise – to go against the likes of the Rock, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart…just to name a few.
Vince prides himself on his Irish heritage and although not born in the country itself, the McMahon family goes back to the late 19th century with professional sports. His grandfather, Roderick McMahon, was first-generation American after his parents moved from Ireland and was a boxing and wrestling promoter.ย
It was this McMahon though that brought wrestling out of the bars and dimly lit gyms to the worldwide phenomenonย it is today with the WWE.ย
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Finn Balor
From Bray County, Wicklow, Ireland, Finn Balor has performed all over the world but finally taking on the best that the WWE has to offer. Although he’s been sidelined for almost a year, this former NXT and Universal Champion is ready to once again take the throne and reclaim his spot at the top of the food chain.ย
Known for having a flair for the dramatic, Finn Balor’sย entrances have helped this world champion stand out in the cavalcadeย of WWEย superstars and has become one of the biggest stars of the New Era.ย
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Sheamus
Originally billed as “The Irish Curse” Sheamus O’Shaunessy in FCW, this Celtic Warrior quickly ascended to the top of the WWE within a year of his debut beating John Cena for the WWEย World Championship at TLC.ย
Sheamus’ WWEย career is one of the best of his generation: a 4-time World Champion, two-time United States Champion, former Raw Tag Team Champion, and the second person to win the Royal Rumble match, the King of the Ring tournament, and the Money in The Bank ladder match.ย
The Celtic Warrior started his wrestling career in Ireland’s Irish Whip Wrestling, where is also a former International World Champion, as well as several other British promotions having gone against the likes of Drew McIntyre.ย
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Fit Finlay
Known as the “Belfast Brawler”, Dave “Fit” Finlay already made a name for himself overseas before coming into Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling. There, he would be one of the cornerstones of the mid-card and one of the greatest Television Champions of all time. He’s also the guy that used to come out to U2’s Pride (In The Name Of Love)…that’s incredibly Irish by itself.ย
Finlayย has established himself as one of the genuinely toughest men in the sport of professional wrestling and he is passing on his wisdom and experience to a new generation as a trainer for the WWE.ย
He has held more than twenty championships across the globe and his David is currently signed with New Japan.ย
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