Tenille Dashwood
An Australian wrestler who blended athletic glamour with in-ring grit, paving the way for a more global style in women's wrestling.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Australian professional wrestler·Birthday: March 1·Millennials
Biography
Tenille Dashwood, first known to WWE audiences as Emma, brought a unique blend of Antipodean charm and technical skill to the wrestling world. From Melbourne, she honed her craft on the independent circuits of Australia, North America, and Japan, developing a sharp, submission-based style. Her WWE debut, accompanied by a playful 'Emma-dance', initially cast her in a bubbly light, but she quickly proved her depth in hard-hitting matches that helped redefine the potential of the women's division at the time. After her WWE tenure, she became a globe-trotting standout, performing under her real name in Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling, where she challenged for top titles. Dashwood's career reflects the modern wrestler: athletic, socially savvy, and determined to be taken seriously as a performer.
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.
Tenille was born in 1989, 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 Tenille Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Tenille's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
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
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Australian woman to wrestle in a main-roster match for WWE at a pay-per-view event.
- Competed in the first-ever women's match in Abu Dhabi for WWE in 2017.
- Was a top contender for the Impact Knockouts World Championship in Impact Wrestling.
- Held the WWE NXT Women's Championship #1 contender's spot and was central to several landmark NXT women's matches.
Did You Know?
She was a professional dancer before pursuing wrestling full-time.
She is known for being an early adopter of social media in wrestling, building a large following as a 'social influencer'.
She trained at the Storm Wrestling Academy in Canada, run by former WWE star Lance Storm.
She has a tattoo on her side that reads 'Everything Happens for a Reason'.
“I worked hard to show that technical wrestling has a place here.”
