From Cougar to Contender
UH alumna Hyaneyoung Olvera trades the research lab for the pro wrestling ring
Hyaneyoung Olvera has a lot of firsts to her name.
Not only is she a first-generation college student, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she’s also the first in her family to travel the world in pursuit of her hobby-turned-career.
Now, after more than a decade of actual blood, sweat and tears, Olvera, better known as Hyan by wrestling fans, can say she’s the first in her family to sign a contract with a major wrestling promotion: All Elite Wrestling, which was named 2025 Promotion of the Year by Sports Illustrated in December.
And although the path from a psychology major pursuing a career in mental health to professional wrestler may seem unconventional, to Hyan the throughline is clear: success in either arena requires discipline, preparation and resilience to meet the moment.
Ring Psychology
When Hyan, who watched wrestling regularly since her childhood, stepped foot onto Student Life Plaza in 2012, the sport had become a distant memory.
She had new experiences to explore, like taking in the view of the fountain at Cullen Family Plaza — well before the Centennial construction project razed it — and grabbing lunch with friends at Cougar Woods Dining Commons and other campus eateries at the time.
At her dorm, rather than tune into WWE and keeping an eye out for Houston shows, she was focused on her studies.
“There was always pressure for me to do really well,” said Hyan, whose uncle co-signed a student loan for her. “My mom was proud of me for going to college. I was always very studious, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise that I wanted to go to college.”
Hyan said it was an easy decision to pick psychology as her major; she had already taken AP psychology in high school and was entranced by the subject.
She came to love the research side, too, and worked as a research assistant alongside Julia Babcock, professor of psychology and co-director of the Center for Couples Therapy at UH.
Babcock recalled conducting research with Hyan on female perpetrators of intimate partner violence, which they presented at Undergraduate Research Day in 2014.
“(Hyan) was a highly motivated and tenacious student. Those skills surely serve her well in her athletic career,” Babcock said. “One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is watching students build meaningful careers.”
Having published a research paper and maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her time at UH, Hyan was well on her way to pursuing her Ph.D., which was the original goal. But first, she had to pass the Graduate Record Examination.
Fortunately for Hyan, life sometimes has a way of making people tap out of those first plans.
“I did not know she became a famous female wrestler,” Babcock said. “Her path may be unconventional, but it’s an example of how a rigorous education can support success across many arenas.”
Hyan celebrates graduating summa cum laude from UH in 2015.
Hyan celebrates graduating summa cum laude from UH in 2015.
When Hyan, who watched wrestling regularly since her childhood, stepped foot onto Student Life Plaza in 2012, the sport had become a distant memory.
She had new experiences to explore, like taking in the view of the fountain at Cullen Family Plaza — well before the Centennial construction project razed it — and grabbing lunch with friends at Cougar Woods Dining Commons and other campus eateries at the time.
At her dorm, rather than tune into WWE and keeping an eye out for Houston shows, she was focused on her studies.
“There was always pressure for me to do really well,” said Hyan, whose uncle co-signed a student loan for her. “My mom was proud of me for going to college. I was always very studious, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise that I wanted to go to college.”
Hyan celebrates graduating summa cum laude from UH in 2015.
Hyan celebrates graduating summa cum laude from UH in 2015.
Hyan said it was an easy decision to pick psychology as her major; she had already taken AP psychology in high school and was entranced by the subject.
She came to love the research side, too, and worked as a research assistant alongside Julia Babcock, professor of psychology and co-director of the Center for Couples Therapy at UH.
Babcock recalled conducting research with Hyan on female perpetrators of intimate partner violence, which they presented at Undergraduate Research Day in 2014.
“(Hyan) was a highly motivated and tenacious student. Those skills surely serve her well in her athletic career,” Babcock said. “One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is watching students build meaningful careers.”
Having published a research paper and maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her time at UH, Hyan was well on her way to pursuing her Ph.D., which was the original goal. But first, she had to pass the Graduate Record Examination.
Fortunately for Hyan, life sometimes has a way of making people tap out of those first plans.
“I did not know she became a famous female wrestler,” Babcock said. “Her path may be unconventional, but it’s an example of how a rigorous education can support success across many arenas.”
Stepping Into the Ring
During a break in studying for the GRE, Hyan found her way back to wrestling.
“I was just scrolling through channels, stopped on WWE and started watching,” she said. “I had forgotten how much I loved wrestling and I started keeping up with it again.”
It wasn’t long before she stumbled upon WWE Superstar Booker T’s wrestling school, Reality of Wrestling.
“I found out he had a school in the area, and he was running a show,” she said. “So, I went and it blew my mind because people are just doing this — you don’t just fill out a job application to do this.”
Following the event, Hyan approached the former star for a photo but wound up asking how she could become a wrestler herself.
“He told me to join his school, so I did,” she said. “I was a poor college student, so I had to save my money up to start training.”
Three Minutes to Fame
Hyan performed at Reality of Wrestling from 2014-2023, which turned out to be serendipitous for her.
The local promotion has trained several popular wrestlers, many of whom have found a home at AEW, such as Sammy Guevara, who signed at the promotion’s inception in 2019, and Bryan Keith, who signed in 2024.
“I’ve known Hyan since her first day of wrestling school,” said Gino Medina, a fellow ROW wrestler who recently launched his own school. “I’ve teamed up with her and trained with her countless times. Now she’s out there with some of the best pro wrestlers in the world.”
“I’ve teamed up with her and trained with her countless times. Now she’s out there with some of the best pro wrestlers in the world."
“I’ve teamed up with her and trained with her countless times. Now she’s out there with some of the best pro wrestlers in the world.
While the work was grueling – competing in small venues, long travel days and unpredictable opportunities – the persistence and discipline that defined her academic career became her competitive advantage. Over the years, Hyan built an international resume, performing in Japan, the United Kingdom and across Europe.
She has also ranked in the Top 50 for Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Women’s 250 four times in the past five years: No. 37 in 2021, No. 33 in 2022, No. 45 in 2023 and No. 35 in 2024. The wrestling magazine reportedly left her off in 2025 by accident.
Hyan was also crowned the 2024 Queen of the Indies, a tournament that pits female wrestlers against each other to decide the best of the best.
The Indie Grind
After years of growing her profile, Hyan’s hard work finally paid off on November 8, 2025, when she would make an appearance on AEW’s Saturday evening show, Collision.
Fifteen minutes before the doors opened, she was relaxing in the extras room at the Bayou City Music Center when fellow indie wrestler and soon-to-be tag partner Maya World informed her they would be on television that night.
Hyan and Maya would be going in for the third match of the night, and had three minutes to showcase their skill.
“I was more stressed out about the fact that we were third because the show had already started,” Hyan said. “So, we talked with our opponents about what they wanted to do, and we did it.”
In the wrestling world, three minutes of television time is a big deal for an indie wrestler. It means a bigger paycheck, an opportunity to win over the crowd and a chance to show the promotion what you’re capable of.
On the Horizon
AEW regularly invites indie wrestlers to shows in case they’re needed to fill a last-minute match, which was the case for Hyan.
When called upon, the rest is on the wrestlers themselves. Luck plays a role in whether talent returns, but, as AEW Host RJ City said, Hyan had a way of “making her own luck.”
“Hyan’s always had a good reputation on the independent scene and the growing fan support to see her on a bigger stage,” he said. “Every time she came to AEW, she gave the same impression, too. It’s just hard, consistent work, a little better every time, and then everyone goes, ‘Why shouldn’t she be here?’”
Hyan repeatedly said she never expected to receive a contract — her only goal was to entertain the crowd the same way she always has.
“Maya and I were standing in the ring waiting,” Hyan said. “When they came out, I grabbed Maya and said, ‘Look, they might be going over, but we’re getting over.’”
One month later, Hyan had a contract.
And that same discipline that earned her a 4.0 GPA at UH is now carrying her into wrestling’s biggest stages.
“(Maya World and my) sights are set on the AEW Women’s World Tag Team titles,” Hyan said. “I really want us to be seen in the same light as well-respected men’s tag teams like FTR. There’s a huge gap in that for women, and we can make that happen.”
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