| Rhio | |
| Birthname: | Rhianna McDonnell |
| Birth Date: | 20 June 1996[1] |
| Birth Place: | Preston, England[2] |
| Trainer: | PCW Wrestling School |
| Debut: | 2016 |
Rhianna McDonnell better known mononymously by her ring name Rhio is an English professional wrestler, currently working as a freelancer. She currently performs for Progress Wrestling, where she is the current Progress Wrestling World Women's Champion in her first reign; and with other promotions from the British independent scene, such as and Pro Championship Wrestling.[3]
McDonnell made her professional wrestling debut in her native hometown of Preston promotion Pro Championship Wrestling at PCW PCW Vs. PCW Academy Show, a house show promoted on June 25, 2016, where she teamed up with Iestyn Rees to defeat Jennie B and Jimmy J.[4] During her two-year tenure with the promotion, McDonnell won the PCW Women's Championship on two separate occasions.[2]
McDonnell briefly competed for WWE's NXT UK branch as indie developmental talent. She made her only appearance at WWE NXT UK #47 on June 14, 2019, where she competed in a number one contendership battle royal for the NXT UK Women's Championship won by Kay Lee Ray and also involving Candy Floss, Isla Dawn, Jazzy Gabert, Jinny, Kanji, Killer Kelly, Nina Samuels, Piper Niven, Rhea Ripley and Xia Brookside.[5]
McDonnell made her debut in at EVE Aim To Misbehave on December 4, 2021, where she fell short to Laura Di Matteo.[6] She rapidly moved to the title scene. At EVE Fuck It, We're Going Out on January 8, 2022, she competed in two round-robin bouts, first successfully against Chantal Jordan, then coming short secondly to Emersyn Jayne in a bout disputed for the latter's .[7]
McDonnell competed in one of the promotion's signature events, the "SHE-1" tournament in which she made her first appearance at the 2022 edition where she placed herself in the Block A and scored a total of two points after competing against Alex Windsor, Skye Smitson and Veny.[8] At the 2023 edition, she fell short to Nina Samuels in the first rounds.[9]
McDonnell is best known for her tenure with Progress Wrestling. She made her debut in the promotion at PROGRESS Chapter 124: Cakehorn on October 16, 2021, where she defeated Lana Austin in the first rounds of the "Revelations Of Divine Love" tournament.[10] She continued her work at PROGRESS Chapter 126: Behold The Turtle on November 27, 2021, where she defeated Skye Smitson in the second rounds of the competition.[11] Rhio won the tournament at PROGRESS Chapter 127: And The Word Was PROGRESS... on January 23, 2022, where she defeated Mercedes Blaze in the finals.[12] The victory in the tournament earned her a shot to the Progress Wrestling World Women's Championship which occurred at PROGRESS Chapter 128: Technique on February 6, 2022, where she fell short to reigning champion Gisele Shaw.[13] After several more unsuccessful attempts of seizing it' McDonnell eventually emerged victorious at PROGRESS Chapter 158: The Long Halloween on October 22, 2023, where she defeated Lana Austin to win the women's title.[14]
McDonnell made two brief excursions to the Japanese independent scene where she made several appearances in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. She made her debut at TJPW Spring Tour '22 on May 29, 2022, where she defeated Yuki Aino.[15] At TJPW City Circuit ~ Hamamatsu Performance on June 4, 2022, she unsuccessfully challenged Maki Itoh for the International Princess Championship.[16] McDonnell made her second excursion to Japan in the last quarter of 2022 as she returned to the promotion at TJPW City Circuit ~ Hamamatsu Performance on December 10, 2022, where she unsuccessfully challenged Yuu for the .[17] She concluded her excursion at TJPW Angel And Rabbit on December 15, 2022, where she teamed up with Maki Itoh to defeat Moka Miyamoto and Yuki Arai.[18]
McDonnell made her return to TJPW at TJPW Live In Philly on April 5, 2024, where she fell short to Shoko Nakajima in singles competition.[19]
McDonnell made her first appearance in Revolution Pro Wrestling at RevPro 11th Anniversary Show on August 26, 2023, where she competed in a 10-woman Battle Royal to determine the #1 contender to the Undisputed British Women's Championship, bout won by Dani Luna and also involving Safire Reed, Alexxis Falcon, Maya Matthews, Skye Smitson, Mercedez Blaze, Chantal Jordan, Rayne Leverkusen and Skye Blue.[20] At RevPro/CMLL Fantastica Mania UK 2024 on May 19, McDonnell unsuccessfully challenged Stephanie Vaquer for the Strong Women's Championship.[21]