Sabrina Hartson (Born April 28th, 1991) is American professional wrestler and promoter. She is currently signed to ZION Wrestling, competing on their Fusion brand. Prior to ZION, she had a brief stint in EAW, before announcing her sudden departure due to her real life pregnancy. She is a former ZION World Heavyweight Champion. Throughout the spring and into summer of 2022, Riot branded herself "The One-Off Queen," making appearances for promotions such as DWA, CU:LT, Thunder Pro, All Fight Wrestle and more. She is the daughter of former wrestler Nick Riot.
Hartson in 2019.
- Early Life
- Professional Wrestling Career
- EAW Voltage (2019)
- ALPHA Wrestling (2021)
- ZION Wrestling (2021-Current)
- Indy Appearances (2021)
- Fight Championship Wrestling (2021-Current)
- Personal Life
- In Wrestling
Early Life
Riot was born April 28th 1991. Her father Nick is a former wrestler in his own right. Her mother passed away during the birthing process. Riot has been very open about having a spiritual connection with her mother everywhere she goes. Growing up, she had an interest in cheerleading and basketball. At one point, Riot served as both a halftime cheerleader, and the starting Point Guard for her high school basketball team.
On June 11th, 2005 Hartson was arrested for attempted arson. She was 15 at the time. She was found guilty, and sentenced to 5 years of combined juveniles and prison sentences. Hartson stated she committed the crime due to the person selling drugs to her best friend, which caused her untimely death. While no one was hurt, the defendant was later convicted of armed robbery, and sentenced to life in prison.
Due to a fight between herself and her father, she abruptly ran away to Honolulu Hawaii to live with a friend. She briefly worked as a librarian for the Honolulu State Public Library. While in Hawaii, she also trained to wrestle at the Hawaiian Pro Wrestling Academy. She trained for 2 years and described it as "The most painful two years ever."
Professional Wrestling Career
EAW Voltage (2019)
On July 7th 2019, it was announced on EAWNetwork.com that Serena Riot had signed a contract, and would be debuting on Voltage.. In the first week of the show, promos were aired depicting her as an arsonist. The package ended by saying she would make her debut next week. She did, however fell short to a debuting Katheryn Wicked. Shortly thereafter, she would find herself in the midst of a feud between The Woogieman and Shortfuse PAKA. The feud would come to an end at Bloodsport 2019, with a match between the three as well as Paul Joshua, Bethany Blue and Kai Zolomon in a "Ultimate Opportunity" Barbed Wire Ladder match, with the latter two winning.
Riot would again feud with Shortfuse PAKA, however this time without Woogieman in the picture. This eventually led to them becoming a short lived Tag Team, however it quickly ended after 3 weeks when Shortfuse PAKA turned on Serena. She would then go on to qualify for Team Voltage for Territoral Invasion, however they would lose to Team Dynasty. It was reported that Riot had threatened to (Legitamately) leave EAW, however worked out a new deal with Kassidy Hart.
Following the feud with Shortfuse PAKA, she would engage in forming an unlikely alliance with Shawn Sturgis. Although not an official Tag Team, they have teamed a few times throughout the fall of 2019 .While occasionally teaming, she also found herself aligned with Veena Adams in her plans to dethrone Andrea Valentine. This set up a match between Adams and for the EAW Specialists Championship. Despite coming up short, it set up an Extreme Elimination Chamber qualifying match between herself and Terry Chambers. Chambers won, however the referee didn't see Serena's foot under the ropes.
Due to this, Captain Charisma announced that at Road To Redemption, Riot would be entered in the Extreme Elimination Chamber match for the EAW Specialists Championship featuring herself, Kensington, Sarah Price, Joy Cassidy, Candice Blair Ava and Champion Darcy May Morgan. However she came up short.
ALPHA Wrestling(2021)
At ALPHA Wrestlings' Break or Be Broken 2021, Riot made a shock return to wrestling competing in their Womens Division Battle Royal to determine a new no. 1 Contender for the Womens Championship. Despite lasting until the final 5, she got tossed out by the eventual winner Titan.
At Gods Among Us III, vignettes were aired, hyping a woman seen in a black dress at a graveyard. The following Wednesday Night Warfare in the second vignette, it was confirmed to be Serena Riot, holding a mask and saying goodbye to it. The package would end announcing her debut the following week against Titan, in a winning effort via The Demon Drop. However, the following week she lost to Selena Harrison.
On July 25th, 2021 it was reported that Serena Riot was on a pay-per appearance for ALPHA, and that her last match would be a Tag Match on the August 3rd edition of Valor featuring herself teaming with Kirby Midas against Victor Price and Capri Midas. Shortly after, it was announced that Riot was on a Pay Per Appearance deal, with the match being her last with the company.
ZION Wrestling (2021-2022)
On July 29th, 2021 it was announced Riot had signed a contract with ZION Wrestling. A week later, she made her debut against Eddie Charismo, defeating him via The Demon Drop. The next week on Bloodsport, she defeated Agnus McFife in similar fashion. She would then start a feud with Victoria McKenzie, the first match being on the Fallout Preshow, with Riot getting the win.
The following week, they had a rematch, which Riot won due to disqualification. During the match, a debuting Delilah Hill knocked Riot off a turnbuckle, costing her the match. This would setup a match between the two on the following Fusion, with Hill getting herself counted out. The feud however, came to an abrupt end when Victoria McKenzie (Legitimately) walked out of ZION Wrestling. After weeks of being off TV (Due to a legitimate knee sprain), Riot made a suprise return on the September 17th Fusion, by assaulting Delilah Hill, only for Jayden King to get involved, taking down Riot. This would lead to a match at ZION Wrestling's Takeover event, seeing Riot when a handicap match against Delilah and Jayden.
World Championship pursuit
The following week on Fusion: Homecoming, she cut a promo, showing a darker side than what was present in recent weeks. She ended the promo by declaring she would "Take down everything "You" stand for. While never directly mentioned, it was largely indicated that she was making reference to ZION Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Legion. This was confirmed the following week on Fusion: Arrival, when Legion caused a distraction in her match against Katie Powell, costing Riot the match. In the coming weeks, both Legion and Serena Riot would take shots at one another, with a match scheduled at Hardwired for the ZION World Heavyweight Championship. At Hardwired, Serena Riot became ZION World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Legion.
She cut a promo which is now referred to as the "I Remember" promo. The promo is heavily sited as being one of the best promos ever on Fusion, as well as ZION's history. The promo itself detailed how girls like herself (As well as a little girl sitting ringside) are different, and to embrace it. The promo ended with Serena debuting a new "refreshed" look to the ZION World Heavyweight Championship.
Open Challenges
The following week, she competed in her first title defense against a returning Quinn Costa. She retained, but not after receiving multiple bruises and cuts. On November 10th, she made her Mayhem debut at "Mayhem:Worlds Collide". She fought her (real-life) best friend Ashlynn Cassidy for the first time in what was billed as a "Dream Match". Although a non-title match, Riot defeated her best friend. Her next title defense came November 27th 2021 at War Games against Solomon Graham and Zachary Porter (Ashlynn's boyfriend). Although Riot won that match, Zachary Porter was attacked by a debuting Xander Fillmore. Fillmore was fresh off a deal with NWE, where he had feuded with Porter previously.
After successfully defending her Championship against THORA, she started a feud with Scott Dunn. Dunn, who attacked Riot after their match would hold up her title, signifying a future match between the two. The following week, she teamed with THORA in a match against Scott Dunn and Mai Blackman, with Dunn picking up the win over Riot. at New Years Evil 2021, Riot defeated Dunn, however Daria Dorsey (Who won the Chance Briefcase earlier in the night) declared her intention to cash it in the following week on Fusion.
Departure
The following week, after a back-and-fourth verbal spat on Twitter, Daria defeated Riot in her hometown of Rochester to become the new champion, ending Riot's reign. Shortly after, Riot found herself in the midst of the ZION/NFW invasion. Shortly after, Riot would be used sporadically before suddenly not being used. Riot confirmed her exit from ZION on Twitter, stating that she was released, citing "creative differences," as well as wanting to take time off to heal.
Return to the company
At Destiny: Night 1 on April 30th, 2022 Riot would be revealed as the final participant in the Chance Infinity Briefcase Battle Royale. She quickly reignited her rivalry with Legion, however it was short lived. She was eliminated by an already eliminated Penelope. She would cut a promo later in the night sparking a potential feud between the two. However, her attention would turn to Angel Kash of the Privileged Elite. Kash would take offense to Riot for "leaving the company behind" while she was out doing other outside projects. This in turn caused Riot and Ashlynn Cassidy with Eden Sterling (Known as The Crown) to team up against The Privileged Elite (Kash, Summer Page and Kassie Lopez). The trio would win the match. In turn, this set up Riot versus Kash at Invasion: Steel City.
At Steel City, Riot was about to defeat Angel Kash, however was thwarted by Fusion GM Katrina Lopez, by pinning her down while Kash got the victory. This lead to her trying to get answers, however to no avail. Shortly after, it was announced Serena would take part of the Victory Series Tournament, with the winner earning a Championship opportunity. She was "eliminated" in the first round after Fusion GM Katrina Lopez unexpectedly costed her the match against her real life partner Jordan Majors. This would eventually lead to Riot constantly getting cheated out of wins by Lopez. Riot would then go in a downward spiral, pushing her friends and family away and even teasing a heel turn.
Indy Appearances (2021-Present)
Riot would make her debut for Pro Wrestling Valor at their inaugural show entitled "Ascendance." She teamed alongside Queen Machine Jenny in a losing effort. However, after the match, they attacked Jenni Fenix, setting up a Tag Team Match at next month's "WrestleVania" show, however in a losing effort. After tensions boiled between the two, it was announced they would face each other at the next show.
Riot announced on October 29th 2021 a charity event titled "Be The Fight :Autism", where all the proceeds go to families with autistic children. The event featured Riot defending her ZION World Heavyweight Championship against Azurine Vebbins successfully. She will be taking part in FIGHT! NYC's Blood Money 2, and the Denzel Porter Invitational, a show dedicated to the eWrestling reporter, made up of primarily XWF talent. On January 25th, 2022 it was announced that Hartson had signed on part-time for AWPO. On the debut episode of APWO Power Trip, she reignited her feud with Azurine Vebbins in a winning effort. She would then team with Yuriel Destiny in a Tag Team Gauntlet tournament to determine the first ever APWO Tag Team Champions. They were eliminated in the finals. Her last appearance came at APWO's first Streaming event entitled "Absolution: The Price of Power". She lost to Ash Cameron in a Hardcore match for the APWO Hardcore Championship. Due to a conflicting schedule, APWO opted not to use Serena. Riot would then make appearances for All Fight Wrestling (AFW). Her debut match against Yennifer Filth was a no DQ finish. The following week she challenged June Song, however lost.
At CU:LT Wrestling's debut show "Manson Family Values," it was announced that Serena Riot would be a surprise opponent for Ace Sky (Who's opponent got injured the night before) She would use her trademark barbed wire baseball bat named "Lucy" to win the match. Shortly after, it was confirmed that Riot had agreed to a lengthy deal with CU:LT, appearing on their monthly Supershows. Due to Samantha "The Titaness" Hamilton announcing her pregnancy, she was revealed as the mystery opponent for her lifelong friend Matt "Raven" Knox.
She put together a show for her birthday entitled "Serena Riot's Big Ass Vegan Birthday Bash." The even served purely vegan food and featured the FCW FIGHT! Championship and the FCW Great Lakes Championship on the line was last time. The event saw Jordan Majors defeating Ashlynn Cassidy for the Championship, with Maki Megumi retaining. Riot would take on her 7 year old son Jack (albeit a comedy match), in a losing effort. However, after the match, Blair Jackson came out, and challenged her to a Falls Count Anywhere Match, with Blair winning after she hit Riot's own finisher Psychosis through 3 tables, ending their feud.
Riot would team with Holden Ross at What Happens in Vegas for CU:LT wrestling, this time donning the team name of "The Hate Skwad". However, they were unsuccessful at capturing the Double Homicide Tag Championships from Three-Ring Barney. She then began a crusade against Vhodka Black, and the Black family, setting up a match at Massacre in Miami. She has been announced for HAVOC Wrestling's tournament to crown a new world champion.
She began a brief feud with Motor City Wrestling Champion Callie Buchannan for the Womens World Championship. She will be taking on Ollie in the first round in a tournament to declare the new PWV Champion at Viva La Valor.
FCW (2021)
Shortly after Be The Fight, Serena announced on her Twitter the creation of her own monthly wrestling promotion, entitled Fight! Championship Wrestling. The shows feature an all-women roster, with 4 shows a year being charity-driven. FCW has two titles as well. The Fight! Championship and The Great Lakes Championship, which is to be defended at every FCW show.
At "New Year, New Fight" 2022, she challenged Eden Sterling to a match (On short notice, as Rhea, who was scheduled to face Eden was legitimately fired for misconduct). Although unsuccessful, a debuting THORA came out, signifying a match between THORA and Sterling in the future. Riot then made a save to her real life girlfriend, Jordan Majors in a match against Ashlynn Cassidy, who is Riot's real life best friend.
Personal Life
She is the niece of wrestling star Hardcore Highflyer and the daughter of Nick Riot. Riot briefly ran away (While her father was out of town on the HFWL roster) to Honolulu. She made her way back home a year later. She has a few tattoos: One that reads "Violence" across the knuckles. Another one that is a picture of a GOAT (Her nickname) on her left collarbone. One that says "She keeps me sane" on her right ribcage (A reference to Ashlynn Cassidy, who in turn has one that reads "She keeps me crazy"). And a Jolteon tattoo on her leg. In her spare time, she gives back to local animal shelters and is a noted "Food Fatty".
She identifies as being Bisexual, although during a Twitter Q&A said she prefers women. On Feburary 4th, 2015, she gave birth to her son Jack Elliot Hartson through artificial insemenation. She is a vegan. On January 23rd 2022, she participated in a charity event gaming stream for NFW star Katie Anderson's father, who was diagnosed with cancer. The benefit raised 100,000. She was joined alongside Stacy Lawson-Jones, Jordan Majors, Ashlynn Cassidy and others.
Riot is an avid Pokemon player. She is close friends with Ashlynn Cassidy and Stacy Lawson-Jones. Since December 2021, she has been in a relationship with fellow ZION Wrestler Jordan Majors. The two announced their engagement during the APWO Absolution show in Italy. She collaborated with Ring Rust Cafe to create a Vegan burger for their menu. The burger, entitled "The Jack" is named after her son and 25% of the proceeds from the burgers sold benefit The Best Friends Animal Society, a charity that aids animals in need.
She announced on July 9th 2022 the launch of her own clothing company, "Riot Gear." The designs will be graffiti theme and retail for 20 dollars USD.
Championships/Accomplishments
-ZION Wrestling
-ZION Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion(1 time)
-Competitor of the Year (2021)
-Moment of The Year (2021)
In Wrestling
Psychosis(Piledriver)-Signature
Wicked Ways (Curb Stomp)-Signature
The Demon Drop (Shooting Star Press)-Finisher
Theme Songs
"We Own The Night" by Hollywood Undead (Voltage, 2019)
"Coming Thru The Stereo" by Hollywood Undead (ZION Wrestling, 2021-current)