1. Overview
Cathy Allison Corino, best known by her ring name Allison Danger, is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. Born on March 31, 1977, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she is recognized for her significant contributions to women's professional wrestling, particularly through her pivotal role as a co-runner of Shimmer Women Athletes. Her career highlights include managing various stables in Ring of Honor (ROH), touring internationally in Japan, and a brief but impactful tenure as a coach for the WWE Performance Center. This article details her journey from early sports activities to her retirement due to health issues, examining her influence on the development of women's wrestling and the challenges she faced, including the personal and financial impact of her departure from WWE.
2. Early Life and Background
Cathy Allison Corino's formative years were marked by a diverse engagement in sports and a supportive family environment, which laid the groundwork for her eventual career in professional wrestling.
2.1. Birth and School Days
Born Cathy Allison Corino on March 31, 1977, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, she is the younger sister of professional wrestler Steve Corino. She attended Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. During her school years, Corino proved to be a versatile athlete, participating in a variety of sports.
2.2. Early Sports Activities
Throughout her high school career, Corino was actively involved in cheerleading, field hockey, softball, and track running. Following her graduation from high school, she continued her athletic pursuits by playing ice hockey for two years. These early experiences in team sports and individual sports contributed to her physical conditioning and competitive spirit, attributes that would later prove valuable in the demanding world of professional wrestling.
3. Professional Wrestling Career
Allison Danger's extensive professional wrestling career spanned various promotions, where she excelled as both a wrestler and a manager, contributing significantly to the landscape of women's wrestling.
3.1. Early Career and ECW Debut
Allison Danger's entry into professional wrestling was facilitated by her older brother, Steve Corino, who introduced her to the locker room of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). She befriended Francine, a manager for ECW, and in May 2000, Corino and Francine attended an IWA Reading wrestling show in Reading, Pennsylvania. When The Sandman's wife, Lori, was unavailable to accompany him to ringside, Corino was invited to substitute. Encouraged by Francine, Corino accepted, enjoying the experience enough to work for the same company again weeks later.
The following month, she formally joined the Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF) and began training under Rapid Fire Maldonado and her brother at the IWA Cruel School in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Adopting the persona of Allison Danger, characterized by a tattooed punk aesthetic, her debut match was a mixed tag team match with Rapid Fire Maldonado as her partner in Reading. Danger and Maldonado continued to team, and on March 24, 2001, in Plainfield, New Jersey, they secured the IWF Tag Team Championship in a four-way tag match. After Maldonado sustained an injury, Biggie Biggs replaced him as Danger's partner. They lost the titles to Hadrian and Damian Adams on September 16, 2001, in West Orange, New Jersey.
In 2003, Danger also worked for Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) and IWA Mid-South. Between July and August of that year, she embarked on a tour of Japan, stepping in for her friend Daffney, who had to withdraw. During her time in Japan, she notably participated in promotions such as メジャー女子プロレスAtoZMajor Joshi Pro-Wrestling AtoZJapanese and CHICK FIGHTS SUNCHICK FIGHTS SUNJapanese.
3.2. Ring of Honor (ROH)
Danger joined Ring of Honor (ROH) as the manager for the Christopher Street Connection. At her initial appearance, she experienced her first and only table bump, delivered by Da Hit Squad. Following the departure of the Christopher Street Connection from ROH, she assumed the role of manager for The Prophecy, a heel stable led by Christopher Daniels. This group notably opposed ROH's "Code of Honor" and engaged in a significant feud with The Group, which was led by Danger's brother, Steve.
On June 12, 2004, Prophecy members Dan Maff and B. J. Whitmer underwent a face turn, renouncing the Prophecy name and dismissing Danger as their manager. This led to a prolonged feud between Danger and her former clients. On June 24, she placed a bounty on their heads and, throughout the remainder of 2004, actively hindered their efforts, frequently causing them to lose matches. She also used her control over their contracts to book them in physically demanding matches. Despite her persistent efforts, Maff and Whitmer ultimately defeated the Havana Pitbulls for the ROH Tag Team Championship on February 19, 2005. Following this, Danger briefly feuded with Daizee Haze before her initial departure from ROH.
Danger made her return to ROH at Death Before Dishonor III on June 18, 2005, where she subtly hinted at the impending return of Christopher Daniels to the promotion. Daniels had been pulled from ROH shows in 2004 by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling due to the Rob Feinstein controversy. Upon Daniels' return later that same night, Danger reformed her alliance with him. She continued to manage Daniels from July 2005 until his departure from ROH in April 2007, at which point Danger also left the promotion.
3.3. Shimmer Women Athletes
Allison Danger is deeply involved in the operations of Shimmer Women Athletes, a Chicago-based independent professional wrestling promotion focused on female wrestlers. She co-runs the promotion alongside Dave Prazak, while also actively participating as a wrestler and providing color commentary for the DVD releases. Her notable feuds within Shimmer included matches against Rebecca Knox, Cindy Rogers, and Portia Perez.
During Shimmer's April 26 tapings, Danger sustained a fractured clavicle in the final moments of a tag team match where she partnered with Sara Del Rey against Cheerleader Melissa and MsChif. This injury forced her out of in-ring action for three months, although she continued to attend shows, providing commentary and managing whenever possible. Upon receiving medical clearance to wrestle again, Danger announced her pregnancy, revealing that she and her husband, Ares, were expecting their first child in 2009.
Following her return, she engaged in another significant feud with Portia Perez of the Canadian NINJAs. After re-aggravating her shoulder injury on Volume 20, she made her comeback on Volume 24, losing to Perez in a Street Fight match. Later that same night, on Volume 25, she teamed with Daizee Haze to defeat the Canadian NINJAs in a tag team match, securing the pinfall over Perez. After missing Volume 26, she returned with a victory over the Australian wrestler Kellie Skater. However, later on Volume 28, she lost to Nicole Matthews after Matthews used a belt. On April 10, 2010, at the tapings of Volume 30, Danger decisively defeated Perez in a Last Woman Standing match.
At the Volume 37 tapings, Danger formed a new tag team with Leva Bates, named Regeneration X. Their debut match saw them defeat Jamilia Craft and Mia Yim. Danger subsequently received her first opportunity at a championship in Shimmer when Regeneration X challenged Ayako Hamada and Ayumi Kurihara for the Shimmer Tag Team Championship at Volume 45. Despite their efforts, they were unsuccessful. Regeneration X received additional title opportunities at Volume 48 in a four-way elimination tag team match, and at Volume 52 against Danger's previous rivals, the Canadian NINJAs, but did not manage to win the championships.
3.4. Other Promotions Activities
In late 2009, Danger returned to Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) within their Women's Division. Initially scheduled for a comeback match against Daizee Haze, Danger instead attacked Haze backstage, rendering her unable to compete. Portuguese Princess Ariel served as a replacement, but Danger still secured the victory. On January 9, 2010, Allison lost to Sassy Stephanie, but after the match, she brutally attacked Stephanie, causing an injury.
In mid-2011, Danger joined Adrenaline Unleashed Pro Wrestling (AUPW) in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she served as a weekly instructor for both women's training and general men's, women's, and teen wrestling, as well as core training. She had a memorable match with Allie Parker during this period, prominently wearing her trademark spandex tights with her name "Danger" printed vertically on the left side.
On October 8, 2021, it was reported that Corino had been signed by WWE as a Performance Center coach, following a stint as a guest coach at the facility in May of the same year. Joining her brother Steve Corino, who was then a trainer and producer, Allison Corino garnered high praise for her work with female recruits. However, her tenure was abruptly cut short when she was released from her contract on January 5, 2022, after only three months. In a July 2022 interview with Renee Paquette, Corino described her time in WWE as leaving her in financial and emotional ruin. She had rented a new home in Florida for the job shortly after her husband had purchased a new house in the Carolinas. Her unexpected release left her unemployed in an unfamiliar state, bound by an unbreakable lease. On July 9, 2022, it was confirmed that Corino had joined Maria Kanellis' new promotion, Women's Wrestling Army (WWA), as a coach.
4. Professional Wrestling Style and Techniques
Allison Danger's in-ring persona was distinctively that of a tattooed punk. One of her known signature moves was the オクラホマ・ロールOklahoma RollJapanese, a professional wrestling pinfall maneuver.
5. Personal Life
Cathy Allison Corino's life outside of professional wrestling includes her family and engagement in media. She married Swiss professional wrestler Marco Jaggi, known professionally as Ares, in 2008. The couple has one child together. In May 2010, Corino launched her own podcast, "The Untitled Allison Danger Show," on the women's wrestling website [https://www.diva-dirt.com Diva-Dirt.com]. The show features her SHIMMER colleague, Amber Gertner, as a co-host, who also serves as a backstage interviewer for the promotion.
6. Retirement
Allison Danger officially announced her retirement from in-ring competition on April 9, 2013, with her final match scheduled for the following weekend. Her last professional wrestling match took place on April 14, 2013, at Shimmer Volume 57. In this tag team match, she and Leva Bates faced Ayako Hamada and Cheerleader Melissa. Danger and Bates secured the victory via a reversed decision, after Melissa refused to release a submission hold on Danger. Post-match, Danger made a significant personal revelation: she had suffered a stroke the previous January, and subsequent medical examinations revealed lesions in her brain. While these lesions were not life-threatening, the diagnosis necessitated her retirement from active competition to prioritize her health and well-being.
7. Championships and Accomplishments
Allison Danger has earned several championship titles and received notable recognitions throughout her professional wrestling career:
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Women's Wrestling Award (2024)
- Independent Wrestling Federation
- IWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rapid Fire Maldonado
- International Catch Wrestling Association
- ICWA Ladies Championship (1 time)
- New Breed Wrestling Association
- NBWA Women's Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 21 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2008
- Pro Wrestling WORLD-1
- WORLD-1 Women's Championship (1 time)
- World Class Extreme Wrestling / ThunderGirls
- WCEW/ThunderGirls Divas Championship (1 time)
- World Association of Wrestling
- WAWW World Championship (1 time)
- World Xtreme Wrestling
- WXW Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Alere Little Feather
8. Legacy and Impact
Allison Danger's influence on professional wrestling, particularly in the realm of women's wrestling, is substantial. Her most pivotal contribution lies in her role as a co-runner of Shimmer Women Athletes. Since its inception, Shimmer has become a leading platform for female wrestlers, providing a dedicated stage for high-quality women's matches and helping to elevate the visibility and professionalism of women's wrestling on the independent circuit. Through her work with Shimmer, Danger has been instrumental in the development and promotion of numerous female talents, actively fostering a supportive and competitive environment. Her efforts have significantly contributed to challenging traditional perceptions of women's wrestling, advocating for female wrestlers to be recognized for their athletic prowess and storytelling abilities. Beyond Shimmer, her coaching roles at the WWE Performance Center and Women's Wrestling Army further underscore her commitment to mentoring and developing the next generation of female wrestlers, cementing her legacy as a key figure in the evolution of women's professional wrestling.