View source for Velvet McIntyre

{{short description|Irish-Canadian professional wrestler}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name        = Velvet McIntyre
|image       = Velvet McIntyre pins Donna Christenello 1988.png
|caption     = McIntyre (left) pinning Donna Christenello (right), circa 1988
|names       = Velvet McIntyre
|height      = 5 ft 10 in
|weight      = 150 lb
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1962|11|24}}
|birth_place = [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|death_date  =
|children    = 2
|billed      = Dublin, Ireland
|trainer     = [[Sandy Barr]]
|debut       = 1980
|retired     = 1998
|website     =
|}}

'''Velvet McIntyre''' (born November 24, 1962) is a Canadian retired [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. After beginning her career in 1980, she wrestled in American [[Independent circuit|independent promotions]] before joining the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF, now WWE). She had rivalries with both [[The Fabulous Moolah]] and [[Sherri Martel]] and held the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]] and [[WWF Women's Tag Team Championship]]. After the WWF's women's division went on hiatus in the 1990s, McIntyre wrestled in several Canadian promotions, holding several championships.

McIntyre wore wrestling boots for the first four years of her career, but later wrestled barefoot when someone took one of her boots as a joke and she was forced to wrestle without them.<ref name=mem/> Wrestling barefoot subsequently became one of her trademarks, as well as her high flying wrestling maneuvers.<ref name=mem/>

== Early life ==
{{citation needed span|date=May 2025|text=McIntyre was born in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]].}}{{Dubious|reason=reliable, secondary sources needs to state whether McIntyre's supposed Irish background was real or a fictional wrestling backstory similar to that of Roddy Piper's supposed Scottish origin.|date=May 2025}} She had three brothers with whom she wrestled.<ref name="mem2">{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |date=March 26, 2003 |title=Velvet's WrestleMania memories |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/03/26/51393.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101001429/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/03/26/51393.html |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2008 |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref> After finishing high school, she moved to Oregon in 1980 to train with [[Sandy Barr]], under whom she trained with her future opponent and [[tag team]] partner, [[Princess Victoria (wrestler)|Princess Victoria]].<ref name="mem2"/>

== Professional wrestling career ==
=== Canada (1980–1984) ===
McIntyre made her professional wrestling debut in Idaho in 1980, and began wrestling full-time three months later.<ref name="mem" /><ref name="results">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/mcintyre-velvet.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630042406/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/mcintyre-velvet.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 30, 2012|title=Results for Velvet McIntyre|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 2, 2008|date=June 30, 2005|author=Nevada, Vance}}</ref> She then joined Vancouver's [[NWA: All-Star Wrestling|All Star Wrestling]] in 1981, where she feuded with Princess Victoria. She continued to feud with Victoria for the remainder of the year in both singles and tag team matches in Vancouver and the [[Pacific Northwest Wrestling|NWA Pacific Northwest]] under promoter [[Don Owen (wrestling promoter)|Don Owen]].<ref name="results" />

In 1982, she joined the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]], where she began teaming with Princess Victoria, and in March, the duo lost a series of matches against the team of [[The Fabulous Moolah]] and [[Wendi Richter]].<ref name=results/> McIntyre defeated Richter in two separate matches in [[Bill Watts]]'s [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Mid-South Wrestling Association]].<ref name=results/> In November and December 1982, McIntyre worked for [[Stampede Wrestling]], where she teamed with [[Judy Martin (wrestler)|Judy Martin]] against Richter and [[Joyce Grable]]; the feud between the two teams resumed in April 1983 in [[Verne Gagne]]'s [[American Wrestling Association]].<ref name=results/>

In May 1983, McIntyre returned to Stampede Wrestling, where she continued her rivalry with Richter and Grable. This time, she teamed once again with Princess Victoria.<ref name=results/> Victoria and McIntyre won the [[NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship]] on May 13 in Calgary.<ref name=results/><ref>{{cite book|author=Duncan, Royal and Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}} Information also available at [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-wt.html Wrestling-Titles.com].</ref>

=== World Wrestling Federation (1982; 1984–1988) ===
In 1983, the World Wrestling Federation withdrew from the [[National Wrestling Alliance]], and when McIntyre and Victoria rejoined the promotion in 1984, they were immediately recognized as holding the [[WWF Women's Tag Team Championship]].<ref name=results/> The duo defended the championship against the team of Wendi Richter and [[Peggy Lee Leather|Peggy Lee]].<ref name=results/> [[Desiree Petersen]] later replaced Victoria in the team when Victoria had to retire due to a neck injury and the new duo lost the title in August 1985 to Judy Martin and [[Leilani Kai]] (known as [[The Glamour Girls]]) in Egypt.<ref name=results/><ref>{{cite book|author=Duncan, Royal and Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}} Information also available at [http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/wttwwf.html Solie's Title Histories].</ref>

McIntyre then began wrestling as a singles wrestler, immediately feuding with [[The Fabulous Moolah]], unsuccessfully challenging her at [[Wrestlemania 2]] (the referee counted the pin on McIntyre despite her left leg being draped over the bottom rope which should have stopped the count). It was necessary as her wrestling suit's right strap had broken during her failed top rope splash onto Moolah so they had to do this.Some speculated she was promised she'd win the title that night to get her to wrestle Moolah who she hated and cost her the chance to wrestle on an all women's wrestling tour of Syria.<ref name=results/><ref name=wm>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania2.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714062723/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania2.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 14, 2012|title=WrestleMania 2: Caged Heat|author=Powell, John|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 2, 2008}}</ref> She won the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]] on July 3, 1986 when she defeated Moolah at the [[Brisbane Festival Hall]] on the WWF's 1986 Australian tour, but Moolah regained the title six days later at the [[Sydney Entertainment Centre]] (the only two times the WWF Women's Championship changed hands in the [[Southern Hemisphere]]).This title change was never acknowledged by the WWF though some websites like Facebook have a picture of McIntyre wearing the WWF's women title.<ref name=shields87>Shields, Brian. ''Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s'', p.87</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111213|title=History of the Women's Championship: Velvet McIntyre|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-date=February 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208101811/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111213|url-status=dead}}</ref> Years later, Moolah called McIntyre the best female wrestler in Canada.<ref name=mem>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/03/26/51393.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101001429/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/03/26/51393.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 1, 2013|title=Velvet's WrestleMania memories|author=Oliver, Greg|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 2, 2008|date=March 26, 2003}}</ref> In 1987, McIntyre consistently lost matches to Moolah and [[Sherri Martel]].<ref name=results/><ref>Shields, Brian. ''Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s'', p.136</ref> She also competed at the [[Survivor Series (1987)|Survivor Series]], teaming with Moolah, [[Robin Smith (wrestler)|Rockin' Robin]], and the [[Jumping Bomb Angels]] against Martel, Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, [[Donna Christanello]], and [[Dawn Marie Johnston|Dawn Marie]], herself eliminating both Christanello and Martel by pinfall before being eliminated by Kai.<ref name=shields87/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1987/results/|title=Survivor Series 1987: Results|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=November 3, 2008}}</ref> By 1990, the WWF women's division was again on hiatus.

=== Return to Canada (1993–1998) ===
After leaving the WWF, McIntyre continued to wrestle sporadically on the independent circuit.<ref name=results/> At that time, there were not many opportunities for females in the business.<ref name=mem/> She competed in the [[List of women's wrestling promotions in the United States#Women's Pro Wrestling|Women's Pro Wrestling]] organization in the early 1990s.<ref name=women>{{cite web|url=http://womenwrestlingvideoanddvd.yolasite.com/usa.php|title=Women Wrestling Video and DVD|access-date=October 16, 2010}}</ref> In November 1993, she won the Canadian Wrestling Alliance's Women's Championship from Iron Maiden, but lost it to Iron Maiden again in January 1994.<ref name=results/> They continued to feud into 1996, when the two women joined Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, where the two traded the Women's Championship, which McIntyre held for two months.<ref name=results/> In September, they competed in a [[List of professional wrestling match types#Strap match|strap match]]—a match where the wrestlers must compete while connected via a leather strap—in which McIntyre was victorious.<ref name=results/>

In November 1997, as a part of the International Championship Wrestling, she won the WWWA Women's Championship from [[Rhonda Sing|Bertha Faye]].<ref name=results/> She also held the ICW Women's Championship, which she lost in July 1998.<ref name=results/>

== Personal life ==
It is a common misconception that McIntyre is the daughter of professional wrestler Stan Mykietowich.<ref name=hof>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/mcintyre.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116033026/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/mcintyre.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 16, 2013|title=Canadian Hall of Fame: Velvet McIntyre|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 2, 2008}}</ref>

McIntyre retired from wrestling in 1998 after discovering she was pregnant, and she later gave birth to twins.<ref name=mem/><ref name=hof/> In her spare time, she makes and sells crafts.<ref name=mem/>

== Championships and accomplishments ==
* '''Canadian Wrestling Alliance'''
** CWA Women's Championship (1 time)
* '''[[Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling]]'''
** ECCW Women's Championship (1 time)<ref name=results/>
* '''International Championship Wrestling'''
** ICW Women's Championship (1 time)<ref name=results/>
** WWWA Women's Championship (1 time)<ref name=results/>
* '''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
** [[NWA Texas Women's Championship]] (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Women's Championship|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=3751|work=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|access-date=September 3, 2020}}</ref>
** [[NWA United States Women's Championship]] (1 time)<ref name="NWAUSA">{{cite web|title=NWA United States Women's Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/others/us-wm.html|work=wrestling-titles|access-date=September 3, 2020}}</ref>
** [[NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with Penny Mitchell<ref name=results/>
* '''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]'''
** [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]] ([[List of WWE Women's Champions (1956–2010)|1 time]])
** [[WWF Women's Tag Team Championship]] ([[WWF Women's Tag Team Championship|2 times, inaugural]]) – with [[Princess Victoria (wrestler)|Princess Victoria]] (1) and [[Desiree Petersen]] (1)<ref name=results/>

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== References ==
* {{Cite book|author=Shields, Brian|title=Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=978-1-4165-3257-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1310701}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}

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{{NWA Texas Women's Championship}}
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{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McIntyre, Velvet}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Canadian female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:WWF/WWE Women's Champions]]
[[Category:Irish female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:WWF Women's Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:NWA World Women's Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen]]
[[Category:NWA United States Women's Champions]]
[[Category:NWA Texas Women's Champions]]