April Hunter, born on September 24, 1976, is an American retired professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, boxer, actress, writer, fitness model, and glamour model.
April Hunter
Hunter debuted in professional wrestling in 1999 after training with Killer Kowalski in Boston, becoming the only woman in her class. She quickly rose in promotions such as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Ring of Honor (ROH), Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW), and international circuits in Japan, Mexico, and Europe.
Hunter attended college in Philadelphia, majoring in English, Biology, and Chemistry, but dropped out after several years. At the age of nineteen she began working as an erotic dancer. Hunter's aspirations evolved when she became inspired by female wrestlers, whose blend of athleticism and performance captivated her and offered a path to more dynamic roles beyond static modeling.
Early Career and Training
April Hunter entered the modeling industry in the early 1990s, starting with work for local clothing designers and stores before joining an agency at age 17. She quickly transitioned into glamour, fitness, and swimsuit modeling, building an extensive portfolio that included over 10,000 photographs by her early 20s. As one of the few women breaking into these fields, Hunter encountered substantial barriers in the male-dominated fitness and entertainment sectors.
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In the late 1990s, Hunter began training at Killer Kowalski's wrestling school in Malden, Massachusetts, becoming the only female student in her class.
Wrestling Career
Hunter made her professional in-ring debut in 2000 on the independent circuit, initially excelling as a valet in early matches that highlighted her presence and charisma.
World Championship Wrestling (WCW)
In 2000 Hunter was hired by Terry Taylor on behalf of World Championship Wrestling (after they saw her layout in Playboy). Along with four other models (Tylene Buck, Pamela Paulshock, Midajah O'Hearn and Kim Kanner) she accompanied members of The New World Order to ringside for their matches.
Independent Circuit
Following the closure of World Championship Wrestling in 2001, April Hunter returned to the independent wrestling circuit, leveraging her prior experience as a valet to transition into more active in-ring roles across various regional promotions.
In 2001 she moved to Boston, Massachusetts to train under the venerable Killer Kowalski. She began working on the independent circuit. Hunter also formed a tag team with fellow Kowalski graduate Nikki Roxx in World Xtreme Wrestling known as The Killer Babes.
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Hunter's work in 3PW highlighted her versatility, including participation in high-stakes events such as the 5-Star 4-Way match on August 21, 2004, where she and Slyk Wagner Brown emerged victorious in a tag team royal rumble-style bout against multiple opponents. On that date, they also won the 3PW Tag Team Championship.
She also competed in singles matches, such as a bra and panties match against Talia on January 15, 2005, at 3PW's The Show Must Go On event, showcasing her athleticism and appeal in the Northeast indie scene. Concurrently, Hunter appeared for USA Pro Wrestling, engaging in multi-woman contests that emphasized technical prowess and storytelling. A pivotal moment came on May 14, 2004, when she won a six-way women's match to capture the USA Pro Women's Championship, her first major singles title in the independents. Earlier, in 2003, she won the WXW Women's Championship.
One of Hunter's notable rivalries during this era was with Sumie Sakai, culminating in several intense matches in 2004.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
April Hunter debuted with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, then operating under the NWA-TNA banner) on August 28, 2002, during the promotion's weekly pay-per-view series. Hunter returned to TNA in January 2003 amid the ongoing weekly PPV format, participating in backstage segments and in-ring action that highlighted alliances and rivalries in the nascent women's division.
After a six-year hiatus, Hunter made a brief comeback to TNA in late 2009, aligning with the established Knockouts division. On the December 31 episode of Impact!
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April Hunter in TNA
Hunter appeared for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). She was introduced (and defeated) by then-Miss TNA Bruce as part of his Miss TNA Challenge. On the December 31, 2009 "New Year's Knockout Eve" edition of Impact, Hunter appeared as a villainess and teamed with Lorelei Lee in a losing effort against Knockouts Tag Team Champions Sarita and Taylor Wilde.
Championship Success and International Tours
Following her appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Hunter continued to build her reputation on the independent circuit, securing several championship victories that highlighted her versatility as both a singles competitor and tag team specialist.
The following year, Hunter expanded her title portfolio in North America by defeating Miss Danyah to win the Great Canadian Wrestling (GCW) W.I.L.D. Championship on April 13, 2007, in Oshawa, Ontario, though she held the belt for only one day before dropping it to Cherry Bomb.
Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, she maintained an active schedule across various promotions, including tours in Europe and Canada that showcased her experience against international competitors.
Shine Wrestling
On September 21, 2012, Hunter debuted in SHINE Wrestling at SHINE 3 as the manager of Made In Sin (Allysin Kay & Taylor Made). All three women would align with Rain and Ivelisse to form the Valkyrie faction at SHINE 6. At SHINE 7, Hunter made her in-ring debut for the promotion, teaming with Made In Sin in a victorious outing against Mia Yim, Su Yung, and Tracy Taylor.
Retirement
Hunter's demanding schedule took a toll, as she accumulated severe injuries including six bulging and herniated discs in her neck, three in her tailbone (one torn), and ongoing knee issues from years of high-impact maneuvers. These ailments, compounded by prior wrestling-related trauma, increasingly limited her in-ring participation.
Hunter's decision to retire from full-time professional wrestling came in 2014, directly following her participation in the High Impact Wrestling Canada's "Tour De Rumble" events across Central Canada, where the cumulative strain prompted her to prioritize long-term health over continued competition.
Modeling Career
April Hunter began her modeling career in the early 1990s as a fitness and swimsuit model, building a portfolio through competitions and photo shoots that emphasized her athletic physique. She competed in regional fitness events, achieving notable placements including Ms. Fitness Philadelphia and the Ironwoman Tri-Fitness competition in Tampa, Florida, where she demonstrated skills in posing, strength routines, and overall presentation.
Her modeling profile elevated significantly with a nude pictorial in Playboy's Hardbodies (1999), which featured her alongside other models like Kimberly Page. The exposure from this publication circulated within wrestling circles, prompting World Championship Wrestling (WCW) officials to recruit her as a valet, where her visual appeal and poise enhanced the on-screen presentation of wrestlers.
Hunter's print work extended to covers and features in prominent fitness publications, such as Flex, Ironman, MuscleMag International, and Muscular Development, often portraying her in dynamic poses that blended athleticism with aesthetic appeal. In the late 2000s, Hunter re-engaged with competitive fitness through the National Physique Committee (NPC), focusing on the bikini and figure divisions to maintain her physical conditioning. At the NPC Kentucky Muscle contest in November 2009, she secured third place in the tall open figure category, earning qualification for the NPC Junior Nationals in Chicago the following June.
Acting Career
April Hunter has pursued acting roles primarily in independent films, often leveraging her athletic background from professional wrestling to portray physically demanding characters. Her screen debut came in the 2004 Japanese horror-comedy Oh! My Zombie Mermaid, where she played the role of Lady Eva, a seductive antagonist in a story blending wrestling and supernatural elements.
In 2006, she appeared as Diamond Piedra in Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy, a low-budget film that satirized the wrestling industry and featured her in comedic fight scenes. Hunter's performance as Jade, a tough survivor, in the 2012 horror thriller The Meat Puppet. She continued with the role of Marie Spiegel, a resilient fighter, in the 2013 action-horror Gravedigger.
Writing and Blogging
In her writing endeavors, Hunter maintains a personal blog titled Putting The Clothes On, Taking The Gloves Off, launched in 2013, where she shares candid essays on wrestling experiences, mental health, and industry insights, amassing a dedicated readership through raw, introspective posts.
Personal Life
April Hunter married Canadian professional wrestler Jordan Danyluk, professionally known as J.D. Maverick, on August 30, 2006, in a small private ceremony at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their marriage, which spanned nearly nine years, ended in separation around 2013, with Hunter filing for divorce in 2014 citing irreconcilable differences, co-dependency, and conflicting visions for their future amid the rigors of their wrestling careers. Since the divorce, Hunter has maintained a single status, emphasizing her independence and personal growth.
After retirement, Hunter shifted her focus to biohacking techniques and holistic recovery methods, establishing herself as a health expert through her advocacy for mental and physical wellness.
Championships and Accomplishments
April Hunter held several championships throughout her professional wrestling career on the independent circuit.
| Championship | Times | Date Won |
|---|---|---|
| USA Pro Wrestling Women's Championship | 1 | May 14, 2004 |
| 3PW Tag Team Championship (with Slyck Wagner Brown) | 1 | August 21, 2004 |
| WEW World Tag Team Championship (with Talia Doll) | 1 | April 6, 2005 |
| TNT Women's Champion | 1 | September 23, 2006 |
| Queens of Chaos International Championship | 1 | November 12, 2006 |
| GCW W.I.L.D. Championship | 1 | April 13, 2007 |
Among her non-title accomplishments, Hunter trained under the legendary Killer Kowalski at his wrestling school in Boston, where she was the only female student in her class. She is noted for her extensive international tours, performing in Japan, Europe, Mexico, and Canada, which helped establish her as one of the leading female wrestlers on the independent circuit during the 2000s.
In fitness competitions, Hunter placed third in the Tall division of the open Figure category at the 2009 NPC Kentucky Muscle contest, qualifying her for national events.