Former Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria has expressed openness to participating in additional seasons of Netflix’s WWE Unreal, despite initial reluctance. In a recent interview with ClutchPoints, Valkyria hesitated briefly before admitting she wouldn’t outright reject the idea of filming another season of the behind-the-scenes series, which offers a candid look at WWE Superstars beyond their in-ring personas. Her evolving perspective reflects growing comfort in revealing the real person behind the wrestling character, Aoife Cusack, rather than just Lyra Valkyria.
Reflecting on her feelings, Valkyria shared,
“Beforehand, I don’t know how I [felt] about peeling the curtain back; I don’t know if I’m a fan of that,”
but she acknowledged,
“but I completely get the demand for it and why people want to see who we are.”
The Emotional Impact of SummerSlam 2025
No amount of preparation could have readied Valkyria for the intensity of filming WWE Unreal, particularly during her memorable and turbulent match against Becky Lynch at SummerSlam 2025. The bout, held on August 3, 2025—the second night of WWE’s inaugural two-night SummerSlam—became one of the most authentic and emotionally charged moments of the season. Valkyria’s raw reaction to the fight’s outcome featured prominently in the show, as the match did not unfold as planned, leaving her feeling personally responsible and deeply affected.
She explained,
“I thought when the cameras [were] following me the day of SummerSlam [that] it would be a lovely story of me talking about how great the final match between Becky [and I] was,”
but she admitted,
“Obviously, it was very different. I didn’t plan to be speaking the way I was. It’s definitely Aoife that’s on Unreal Season 2 and not Lyra.”
This moment exposed the internal struggle between her desire to maintain her wrestling persona and the vulnerability of her true self, Aoife Cusack.
“It’s Lyra that I want people to know,”
she stated,
“but also, like people say, you should be yourself.”
Her openness during such a difficult time helped forge a deeper connection with her audience.
“People seem to be connecting a lot with how I felt after my match, and at the end of the day, that’s what we’re trying to do: connect with people,”
Valkyria reasoned.
Audience Reaction to Valkyria’s Candidness
Following the launch of WWE Unreal Season 2 on Netflix, Valkyria reported receiving numerous heartfelt messages reacting to her candid emotional display after SummerSlam. The genuine nature of her post-match interview resonated deeply with viewers, many of whom reached out to share how her feelings reflected their own experiences.
She revealed,
“I’ve had a lot of people message me and say that it really made them feel something and connect with me,”
adding,
“So, I guess [that’s] a good thing.”
Despite being aware that cameras would document her day, Valkyria described the challenge of noticing the filming amid the chaos typical of a WWE Superstar’s routine. Still, she knew she had to participate in post-match interviews, no matter the outcome, and although she considered avoiding the interview after the match didn’t go well, she ultimately faced the moment with honesty.
She reflected, “I could have turned away,” but chose to take a little risk by sharing her true feelings instead.
Waiting for WWE Unreal Season 2’s Debut
The five months between SummerSlam and the release of Unreal Season 2 on January 20, 2026, meant an anxious wait for Valkyria. During this period, she contemplated how the audience would receive her vulnerable moments. While nervous, she came to appreciate the positive responses after the show’s debut.
About this anticipation, Valkyria confessed,
“I didn’t know how it would be received. It was a little scary for me, but I think I’m glad; I don’t know,”
delivering the line with a laugh. However, she admitted she has not yet mustered the courage to watch her own appearance on the show. She explained,
“I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch it because it was so hard at the time, and I don’t really wanna feel that way again.”
How Vulnerability May Influence Valkyria’s Career
Valkyria’s emotional breakdown presented on Unreal has sparked thoughts about how showing her true self might deepen her career opportunities and fan connections. Wrestling features characters that range from purely fictional to personifications interwoven with real traits, and Valkyria has traditionally maintained a clear boundary between her wrestling persona and her personal identity.
Now, she considers breaking down those barriers. She reflected,
“You know what, maybe it’s a good thing that this moment on Unreal broke down the walls a little bit from the Lyra that I show the world on RAW and Aoife; maybe it’s a good thing,”
although she remains uncertain.
“Maybe it’s gonna help me kind of fuse the two and connect with people more. Maybe it’s not a bad thing to bring more of Aoife to TV.”
She conceded, “I don’t know,” underscoring that only time will tell if integrating her persona with her authentic self will enhance her presence in WWE.
Experiences Touring Europe and Matches with Liv Morgan
At the time of our conversation, Valkyria was traveling with WWE on their European tour, an experience she described as exciting and personally meaningful, especially since she hails from Dublin, Ireland. The tour included countries like Denmark, Poland, and Germany—places Valkyria had never visited before—which added moments of exploration and awe to the grueling schedule.
She shared,
“I got to wrestling in Copenhagen and Poland, [I had] never been to either,”
emphasizing the thrill of new environments. She also praised Germany’s winter scenery, saying,
“the snow over there [is] so pretty, [and] just exploring those places has been so fun.”
Another high point of this period was competing against Liv Morgan, who was recently returning from a shoulder injury sustained in June 2025. WWE evidently places great confidence in Valkyria as Morgan’s first opponent after her recovery, with multiple matches scheduled during the Holiday Tour winding down 2025 and continuing into the European leg of the 2026 campaign.
Regarding her encounters with Morgan, Valkyria remarked, “It’s been amazing,” adding,
“She’s one of the top women in the company, so to have been wrestling her all around Europe has been [a] pretty great start to 2026.”
Looking Ahead: Embracing Complexity and Growth in 2026
Moving forward, Valkyria’s objectives include exploring her complex relationship with fellow wrestler Bayley, described as a frenemy characterized by dynamic and contrasting personalities. This rivalry promises to reveal new dimensions in Valkyria’s character development and fan engagement.
Unreal’s behind-the-scenes look pushed Valkyria to begin breaking down the layers of her identity for audiences, and Bayley provides an ideal counterpart for this evolution. She humorously noted,
“She brings out my inner idiot a lot,”
and promised fans that they can
“expect to see more of that”
throughout 2026.
Ultimately, the experience with WWE Unreal underscored the value of vulnerability for Valkyria. As she reflected,
“Unreal has really shown me [that] breaking down the wall between Aoife and Lyra might not be such a bad thing,”
and she plans to
“maybe just try explore being me and evolving that way.”
