Taya Valkyrie Bio
Kira Renée Magnin-Forster, better known by her ring name Taya Valkyrie, is a Canadian professional wrestler, fitness competitor, and model born on October 22, 1983, in Victoria, British Columbia. Standing 173 cm tall and competing at a listed weight of 84 kg, she has worked across major wrestling promotions in North America and Mexico since 2002. She is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a member of the MxM TV faction, and also competes in Ring of Honor (ROH), Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), Major League Wrestling (MLW), and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Across her career, Taya Valkyrie has held several championships and is recognized for record-setting title reigns in two different promotions.
Over more than two decades in the ring, Taya has performed under multiple ring names, including Taya Valkyrie, Franky Monet during her WWE stint, and Taya Mundo. She is a four-time AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and the inaugural MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion. Her longevity, athleticism, and adaptability have made her a fixture in lucha libre and American professional wrestling.
Early Life and Background
Kira Renée Magnin-Forster was raised in Victoria, British Columbia, where she developed an early interest in physical performance. She trained in gymnastics and studied dance from the age of four, eventually studying at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as a classically trained ballerina. This strong foundation in dance and body control shaped the agility that would later define her in-ring style.
In 2005, she transitioned into fitness competitions and fitness modelling. She placed first at the CBBF Canadian Championships in 2010 and finished second at the Arnold Amateur in 2011. During this period, she appeared in multiple fitness magazines and calendars, building the conditioning and stage presence that helped her shift toward professional wrestling.
Path to Professional Wrestling
In 2010, Taya began formal training at Lance Storm’s Storm Wrestling Academy in Canada and graduated in September of that year. She appeared on Storm’s Canadian reality series World of Hurt, including a second season featuring Roddy Piper, which gave her early television exposure. She then began competing across Canadian independent promotions, most notably Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW), under the ring name Taya Valkyrie.
Her career expanded internationally when she moved to Mexico early on, originally planning a six-week stay. El Hijo del Perro Aguayo convinced her to remain and offered her a place in the Los Perros del Mal stable. She debuted with Perros del Mal on April 1, 2012, and went on to work with promotions such as Legend Promociones, Universal Wrestling Entertainment, Invasion RCH, and International Wrestling League before joining AAA.
Taya Valkyrie Career
Early Career (2010–2015)
Taya made her in-ring debut for AAA on November 3, 2012, in a six-person mixed tag team match alongside Gran Apache and Mari Apache. She spent her first year balancing tag team work and singles opportunities, gradually establishing herself as a reliable performer. On March 3, 2013, she defeated Jennifer Blake to reach the final of a tournament for the vacant AAA Reina de Reinas Championship.
Her persistence paid off on August 17, 2014, when she defeated Faby Apache at Triplemanía XXII to capture the Reina de Reinas Championship for the first time. She went on to defend the title against a deep field of contenders, including Goya Kong, Lady Shani, La Hiedra, and Maravilla, building a reputation as a hard-working and dominant champion in Mexico.
Lucha Underground (2016–2018)
Taya debuted in Lucha Underground on February 24, 2016, as the on-screen partner of Johnny Mundo. Her first televised match came on March 9, 2016, a no-disqualification loss to Cage. She competed in Aztec Warfare II later that season, entering at number nine and briefly eliminating Cage before being pinned by Fénix.
Her work in Lucha Underground helped raise her profile in the United States and further developed her persona as Mundo’s partner and a serious singles competitor. The AAA-Lucha Underground relationship also introduced her to future husband John Hennigan, known as Johnny Mundo and later John Morrison.
Impact Wrestling Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Taya debuted in Impact Wrestling on September 7, 2017, attacking Rosemary to establish herself as a heel. A week later, she defeated Amber Nova in her first match, debuting the Road to Valhalla finisher. Her rivalry with Rosemary carried through late 2017 and into 2018, capped by a demon’s dance match in April 2018.
At Homecoming on January 6, 2019, Taya defeated Tessa Blanchard to win the Impact Knockouts Championship, with special referee Gail Kim playing a decisive role. She defended the title against Jordynne Grace, Rosemary, Su Yung, and Havok, and later surpassed Taryn Terrell’s record to become the longest-reigning Knockouts Champion. Her reign of 377 days ended in Mexico City when she lost the title back to Grace.
WWE Run (2021)
On February 14, 2021, it was reported that Taya had signed with WWE, where she was repackaged as Franky Monet and assigned to NXT. She challenged Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women’s Championship during her run. On November 4, 2021, she was released as part of a seventh round of pandemic-related WWE layoffs.
AAA Reina de Reinas Reign (2018–2021, 2021–2023)
On September 15, 2019, at Lucha Invades NY, Taya defeated Tessa Blanchard to win the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship for the third time. Upon signing with WWE, she vacated the title on February 24, 2021, ending a 528-day reign. She returned to AAA at Triplemanía Regia II in December 2021, challenging Deonna Purrazzo, and on April 1, 2022, at Rebellion, defeated Purrazzo to capture the title for a record-tying fourth time.
Her fourth reign included a successful defense against NWA World Women’s Champion Kamille at Triplemanía XXX on October 15, 2022. The reign ended on August 12, 2023, at Triplemanía XXXI: Mexico City, when she lost the title to Flamer in a no-disqualification match after 476 days.
MLW and NWA Stints (2022–2023)
At MLW Kings of Colosseum, Taya defeated Holidead to become the inaugural MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion. She defended the title against Brittany Blake, Lady Flammer, Trish Adora, Zoey Skye, and Billie Starkz before losing it to Delmi Exo at War Chamber on April 6, 2023.
In the NWA, Taya debuted at Alwayz Ready on June 11, 2022, and earned a number one contendership by defeating KiLynn King at EmPowerrr. She challenged Kamille for the NWA World Women’s Championship at NWA 74 and again at Hard Times 3 but came up short in both attempts.
All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor (2023–Present)
Taya debuted in AEW on March 15, 2023, confronting TBS Champion Jade Cargill. She picked up her first AEW win on Rampage on March 17, defeating Ava Lawless. She challenged Cargill twice for the TBS Championship, on April 26 on Dynamite and at Double or Nothing on May 28, 2023, but lost both matches. She also unsuccessfully challenged Kris Statlander for the TBS Championship and Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship at Battle of the Belts VII.
On December 12, 2023, Taya made her ROH debut, defeating Rachel Ellering. She entered the inaugural ROH Women’s World Television Championship tournament in February 2024, defeating Sussy Love in the first round before falling to Queen Aminata. In late 2024, she formed an alliance with Deonna Purrazzo known as The Vendetta, and in August 2025, she joined MxM TV with her real-life husband Johnny TV and the MxM Collection.
Style and Strengths
Taya blends classical dance and ballet training with lucha libre fundamentals, giving her agility, balance, and strong in-ring timing. Her conditioning background supports a power-based style highlighted by the Road to Valhalla finisher, and she has shown adaptability across Mexican, Japanese-influenced, and American wrestling formats.
Notable Events and Milestones
Taya holds the record for the longest reign as both Impact Knockouts Champion and AAA Reina de Reinas Champion, with reigns of 377 and 945 days respectively. She is also a two-time Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champion, capturing the titles with Rosemary and Jessicka as part of The Death Dollz.
Taya Valkyrie Career Wins
Across more than two decades, Taya has captured major titles in AAA, Impact Wrestling, MLW, and ROH, along with tag team championships and tournament victories. Her championship résumé is anchored by her record-tying four Reina de Reinas reigns and her historic Knockouts title run.
AAA Highlights
Taya is a four-time AAA Reina de Reinas Champion, winning the title in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2022. Her 2014–2017 reign lasted 945 days, the longest in the championship’s history. She also won the 2017 Women’s Lucha Capital tournament.
Impact Highlights
Taya won the Impact Knockouts Championship at Homecoming in January 2019 and held it for 377 days, the longest reign in the title’s history at that point. She later won the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship twice, in 2022 with Rosemary and in 2023 with Jessicka.
Other Wins and Performances
In MLW, Taya became the inaugural Women’s Featherweight Champion in 2022. In ROH, she won her debut match and advanced in the Women’s World Television Championship tournament. In NWA, she earned two title shots against NWA World Women’s Champion Kamille. In CMLL, Taya and Lady Frost reached the finals of the 2025 CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.
Taya Valkyrie Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available details about Taya’s parents and extended family are limited. Her upbringing in Victoria, British Columbia, and her early immersion in dance and fitness shaped her athletic path, but no public wrestling lineage has been documented.
Personal Life
On June 1, 2018, Taya married fellow wrestler John Hennigan, known by the ring names Johnny Mundo and John Morrison. The pair met through the affiliation between AAA and Lucha Underground, where Forster became Hennigan’s on-screen partner before their real-life relationship developed.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Taya continues her work with AEW and ROH while expanding into Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. She teamed with Lady Frost in the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament, defeating Hera and Olympia, Skadi and Kira, and Zeuxis and India Sioux before falling to La Jarochita and Lluvia in the March 21, 2025 final at Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.
On the AEW side, Taya remains part of the MxM TV faction, formed in August 2025 alongside her husband Johnny TV and the MxM Collection. The group has brought a renewed entertainment-driven focus to her presentation, complementing her ongoing singles work in ROH.
Looking ahead, Taya’s 2025 outlook centers on her alliance with Deonna Purrazzo as The Vendetta in ROH and her work as part of MxM TV in AEW. Her wrestling experience, championship pedigree, and cross-promotional flexibility position her as a steady veteran presence across multiple major wrestling brands.
