TNA star Indi Hartwell talks cardio and confidence as she reveals dream match

EXCLUSIVE: Speaking exclusively to your Daily Star, Indi Hartwell opened up about improving her in-ring cardio and confidence since going solo after leaving the WWE and told us her dream opponent

13:00, 19 Oct 2025Updated 13:14, 19 Oct 2025

[Indi has improved her cardio and confidence ]

Indi has improved her cardio and confidence

Wrestling star Indi Hartwell says she has had to work on her cardio and confidence after splitting with tag team partner Candice LeRae. The Aussie grappler, 29, has forged a singles career since leaving the WWE last year.

And she went 12 minutes with Kelani Jordan for the TNA Knockouts Championship at Bound For Glory last weekend. But Indi admitted: "The thing that I've developed and worked on is being on my own. Cardio and confidence is something I've improved on this year.

"I spent most of my career in a tag team. Being out there with Candice by my side, I always so confident knowing I could turn my head and she would be there. It's different being on my own and I had to spend the first few months of this new chapter getting confident.

[Indi had spent most of her career in a tag team but is now going it alone]

Indi had spent most of her career in a tag team but is now going it alone(Image: TNA Wrestling)

"Going from a tag team to going on my own, that was something I was worried about, especially my cardio in singles matches. It's different, I can't just tag out now. You have to do in-ring cardio to prepare for the ring. Normal cardio just doesn't translate well. Wrestling takes it out of you.

"Even just a three minute match, if I'm in a tag match and I just have a minute and I'm blown up, I can just tag out and I know I can have a break. In a singles match, there's no one to tag out to so you just have to get your cardio up."

Indi, who joined TNA in April, is now a 10-year veteran of the business but admitted she has had to get used to younger wrestlers looking up to her, which she finds "weird."

[Indi says she is much more confident in herself now]

Indi says she is much more confident in herself now(Image: Getty Images)

She added: "I've learnt that people really respect me. It's crazy. Especially going to work the indies and I'm the veteran of the match and they're listening to me and they want to do what I want to do only. That's a weird thing I'm trying to get used to, but it's nice."

Asked if she felt like a veteran, she added: "No not at all. I guess because of the experience I've got and the women I've got to wrestle in WWE and the people I got to work under in WWE, that's not something that everyone gets, so I can understand it."

But the humble star admitted she is constantly working on her game and she even wants to attend WWE star Bayley's free seminar for experienced women wrestlers, which is being held in December. And she urged younger wrestlers to take advantage of it too.

[Indi Hartwell and Candice LaRae ]

Indi Hartwell with her ex-tag team partner Candice LaRae (Image: WWE via Getty Images)

She added: "That is something I would have killed to have when I was coming up on the indies. I would have flown myself to America to try to go this seminar.

"I would say take advantage of these opportunities that come up, because you don't know when they're going to come around again. To work with someone like Bayley, I'm going to sign up for the seminar. Hopefully she accepts me.

"Do whatever you can, get in front of different eyes, get as much exposure as you can. You never know when you're going to be in a position or at a show when the right person is there to get you the next opportunity or get you your big break. Just say yes to all the opportunities that come your way."

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[Indi is now a ten year veteran ]

Indi is now a ten year veteran (Image: WWE via Getty Images)

Indi didn't get the win last week at Bound For Glory, but revealed who her dream Knockouts opponent would be. She said: "Mickie James. She's a TNA legend, also a WWE legend. Getting to wrestle her would be a dream of mine for sure."

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