Rain (wrestler)
A pioneering force in women's wrestling, she helped build the Shine promotion from the ground up and became its first-ever champion.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: September 10·Millennials
Biography
Bonnie Maxson, performing as Rain, won the inaugural Shine Championship, symbolically crowning a wrestler who represented the promotion's ethos. Trained by Eddie Sharkey, she emerged as a technically sound and intensely charismatic performer on the independent scene. She had runs in TNA and Mexico's AAA, but her most profound impact came as a cornerstone of Shine Wrestling, helping establish its serious athletic credibility. As part of tag teams like The Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew, she showcased a brutal side of women's wrestling long before it became mainstream. Her career shows how wrestlers can shape an entire ecosystem outside the major leagues.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Rain was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rain Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Rain's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the inaugural Shine Champion in 2012, defining the title's early prestige.
- Won the SHIMMER Tag Team Championship twice with different partners (Lacey and Jetta).
- Competed internationally for Mexico's AAA promotion, expanding her style and reach.
- Was a featured competitor in TNA's Knockouts division during its formative years.
Did You Know?
She was trained by Eddie Sharkey, who also trained notable wrestlers like Road Warrior Animal and Sean Waltman.
Her tag team with Lacey was famously called The Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew.
She retired from in-ring competition in 2015 to focus on coaching and running a wrestling school.
“I wrestled for the love of the craft, not for the spotlight.”
