Every time Harley Cameron appears on camera in AEW, she steals the spotlight, making herself memorable and leaving the audience wanting more. Throughout 2024, various wrestlers in AEW and WWE have made every second of screen time count, both in and out of the ring.
Through their words and body language, countless wrestlers have found ways to make every moment impactful, building their characters and forging strong connections with the audience. Since she debuted in February 2022 for WrestlePro, Cameron has wrestled only 47 matches (as of the time of writing). Considering her second match was on AEW Dark, it tells you there’s something special about the Gold Coast native.
If you don’t believe me, listen to one of the voices of AEW. Tony Schiavone, after Cameron’s debut with QTV, said she is “one of the most talented people we have” on his What Happened When podcast.
What Can’t Harley Cameron Do?
It seems like there is nothing Harley Cameron cannot do. Cameron appeared on my radar prior to her time in AEW three years ago when, alongside NXT wrestlers Scarlet Bordeaux and Shotzi, they recorded and released the song “Indestructible” (video on Youtube here).
A year later, the trio recorded and released a cover of “I Put a Spell on You”, which was released on WWE’s YouTube page (here). At the time, it made me question if WWE had finally recruited the Australian native.
As a solo singer, she also sang the entrance song for The Iinspiration’s Impact/TNA Wrestling entrance music (here). Cameron can also rap, both in a pre-tape and then live on Rampage in 2023. Considering this was early into Cameron’s run and she stood opposite one of the most popular acts in AEW at the time with a booing crowd, her confidence and composure were strong – the girl had no fear.
Cameron can act. Transitioning from an airhead blonde with QTV to the questionably crazy wildcard member of the Outcasts could easily have been stereotypical and lifeless. Her obliviousness to Anthony Bowens being gay made the moment more impactful.
Morphing into Saraya’s sidekick/lackey became a weekly treat. Never boring, whether it was wielding a knife or a spoon.
An added dash of sexual ambiguity was humorous and teased that there were layers. Gears clicking and turning inside the character.
Few wrestlers have made being choked so memorable. Her acting opposite Jamie Hayter when she was confronted with a kendo stick to the throat obviously had tribalists apoplectic.
Yes, Cameron could have stepped back and she would have been fine. But the joy of Cameron’s character is the combination of ditziness and lacking sanity. What is illogical for real life wasn’t illogical for the character.
Life is a Cabaret
Perhaps it’s not too surprising that Cameron has been able to elevate her segments considering her background. Prior to wrestling and moving to the States, Cameron worked in theatre – cabaret specifically.
Previously, Cameron worked for Dracula’s Cabaret in Gold Coast Australia. Performing under the name Luna, Cameron performed in a “fangtastic” vampire-inspired show called Retro Vampt. Singing, dancing, and camping it up, Cameron understands how to overdeliver and overact.
More than a triple threat, Cameron has drip-fed her other various talents into her segments. Speaking Mandarin, ventriloquism, and she can play the guitar.
More of Cameron’s personality, skill set, and continual progression have helped her become one of the more fully rounded characters in AEW’s women’s division. Each week it feels like only more additions and talents become apparent.
A Dream Realised
Success hasn’t come quickly or easily. Cameron is one of nine siblings and grew up so poor that she revealed on Hey! (EW) that she slept in a pantry as a kid.
Her previous experiences have helped make the transition to wrestling easier. Although innately, there’s a clear drive, determination, and ambition that’s allowed Cameron to stand out.
Cameron is married to former international rugby league player and now wrestler, Daniel Vidot. Better known to wrestling fans as NXT’s Xyon Quinn. Moving to the US, Cameron initially sought to further her modeling and acting career in 2018.
Although Cameron did not want to get in her husband’s way, he noticed Cameron’s intrigue. Cameron told The Sun’s website:
“When we first came here, I kept it to myself, because I didn’t want to step on his toes. It was his pursuit, and I was mainly more in music at the time… I just became so immersed in it. Eventually the conversation arose where he was like, ‘you want to do this, don’t you?’ And I was like ‘yeah.’”
This is not work for Cameron. Her fitness and entertainment background provided a strong base for getting into wrestling. As Cameron told Fitness Gurls, her decision to take up wrestling wasn’t just for career progression:
“Once I was able to relocate to America and was immersed again in the wrestling culture as an adult, I knew this was my opportunity to mix my passions in entertainment and athletics and follow a dream I thought was never possible! It’s by far the most difficult yet fulfilling thing I’ve ever done and I’m so grateful to be where I am today.”
This Matters
Training at Flatbacks Wrestling School under Shawn Spears and Tyler Breeze, Cameron fell in love with wrestling. She told Fitness Gurls how her trainers “really inspired me and pushed me to learn and find a real passion in the sport.”
Early on, while waiting for her green card, Cameron would wrestle for free. She wrestled for the experience and the love of wrestling. Never put off by hard work, she told Fitness Gurls:
“I’ve always thrived in a busy and demanding environment. I feel I’m my vest version of myself when I’m consistently on the go, and trying to grow and improve on my results. I think people find time for things that matter most to them, and I care about what I do- so it never feels like work, which makes it easier than it sounds” I love what I do, and I feel lucky to be where I am, so I never want to take that for granted.”
Given Cameron lived in Orlando, and her collaborations and relationships with various wrestlers associated with WWE NXT, it’s surprising Cameron slipped through their net. On Talk is Jericho, Cameron revealed how plans to bring her into WWE were halted when several key figures were released from the company.
In her own words “[WWE] missed the boat!”
Rising Above Material
QT Marshall helped bring Cameron into AEW as part of QTV. From a subjective standpoint, Cameron was perhaps the biggest benefactor of the faction. Perhaps Cameron’s biggest achievement is that she has always been able to elevate the material.
Ultimately, Cameron has found ways to take her assignments and twist them into showcase moments. It’s easy to imagine and there have been in wrestling history plenty of examples of wrestlers not committing to the bit.
Considering those two character tropes Cameron has combined are cliches. The ditzy blonde and the psychotic woman. Done to death in and outside of wrestling with dull acting that wouldn’t make it into a low-budget horror film.
Cameron’s enjoyment and enthusiasm come across on the screen. Like Alan Rickman in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, she’s committed to chewing the scenery.
Literally chewed and ate paper during one Rampage segment. Instead of canceling Christmas, we get a new gift each Friday or Saturday night.
Throughout this year, Cameron has earned more opportunities in the ring. Each time, she gets more comfortable.
It won’t be long until Cameron as a wrestler and character is so entertaining that the fans will turn her into a face. Given that AEW is coming to the Gold Coast for the Grand Slam on PPV next year, there’s little doubt Cameron will have a well-deserved spot on the card.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
