Cervantes made her wrestling debut in late 2014, in a Supreme Pro Wrestlingbattle royal in Sacramento, California. In 2015, she performed regularly throughout California, and on April 12, she made her Japanese debut forWorld Wonder Ring Stardom (aka "Stardom").
Cervantes joined the cast ofLucha Underground in season 2 as Kobra Moon, leader of the Reptile Tribe; she would remain on the show for the remainder of its run. She was nominated for the 2015 Southern California Rookie of the Year Award and finished second to Douglas James.[7]
In 2016 Cervantes returned to Stardom to take part in the2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, teaming with Holidead. She won the 2016 Southern California Women's Wrestler of the Year Award.[8] She was released on March 26, 2019.[9]
Cervantes worked through the October 2018 tapings onWomen of Wrestling under her Kobra Moon ring name. Her first televised matched aired on March 1, 2019, where she was managed by Sophia Lopez as she defeatedAzteca.[12] With WOW renewed for a second season, Moon's name changed to Serpentine. On the September 14 episode ofWOW, Serpentine unsuccessfully challengedTessa Blanchard for theWOW World Championship.[13]
On April 29, 2019, Thunder Rosa made herTokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling debut, teaming with Yuki Aino against Mizuki andYuka Sakazaki. In winning theInternational Princess Championship on January 5, 2020, fromMaki Itoh, Rosa became the firstgaijin titleholder in Tokyo Joshi Pro history.[14] On October 7, Thunder Rosa announced she had relinquished the championship asCOVID-19 restrictions precluded her from traveling to Japan.[15]
Thunder Rosa made herNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) TV debut on the October 29, 2019, episode ofNWA Power. AfterMarti Belle lost toAshley Vox, Thunder Rosa entered the ring and extended her hand to Belle, which Belle declined as she left the ring.[16] On the following episode, Rosa had her in-ring debut, defeating Ashley Vox and attacking her post-match. Rosa later attackedNWA World Women's ChampionAllysin Kay, with Belle also attacking Kay and aligning with Rosa.[17] On the November 19 episode ofNWA Power, Belle and Thunder Rosa defeated Kay and Vox, afterMelina distracted Kay, and aligning herself with Belle and Rosa.[18] AtNWA Hard Times on January 24, 2020, Thunder Rosa defeated Allysin Kay to capture the NWA World Women's Championship and also becoming the first Mexican born wrestler to win the championship.[19] She would lose the title againstSerena Deeb on October 27, 2020, at UWN Primetime Live.[20] Fightful Select reported on July 22, 2021, that her contract in NWA was bought out by All Elite Wrestling, allowing her to sign with AEW full time.[21] NWA wished her well via theirTwitter account.[22]
Thunder Rosa made her Impact debut on July 17, 2021, at its annualSlammiversary PPV as the mystery opponent for Impact Knockouts ChampionDeonna Purrazzo.[23][24]
Thunder Rosa made herAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut on the August 22, 2020, episode ofDynamite, where she cut a promo on then-AEW Women's World ChampionHikaru Shida, and challenged her to a title match at theAll Out pay-per-view show.[25] On the September 2 episode ofDynamite, Thunder Rosa made her AEW in-ring debut, where she defeatedSerena Deeb.[26] At All Out, Thunder Rosa unsuccessfully challenged Shida for the AEW Women's World Championship.[27] On the September 16 episode ofDynamite, Rosa successfully defended herNWA World Women's Championship againstIvelisse. After the match, Rosa was attacked byDiamante and Ivelisse, and was later saved by Shida, turning Rosa face in the process.[28] A week later onDynamite, Rosa teamed with Shida when they defeated Diamante and Ivelisse in a tag team match.[29] On the November 18 episode ofDynamite, Rosa fought Deeb in a rematch for the NWA Women's Championship, but would lose following outside interference from Dr.Britt Baker.[30][31][32] After the match, Rosa brawled with Baker.[32]
On the March 17, 2021, episode ofDynamite, Rosa and Britt Baker became the first women to main eventDynamite; Rosa defeated Baker in an intenseUnsanctioned Lights Out match that was highly praised by critics, and widely viewed as breaking down sexist assumptions that women wrestlers could not wrestle a "hardcore" style match.[33][34][35] Eleven months after her debut, on her 35th birthday July 22, 2021, it was announced that Rosa had officially signed a full-time deal with AEW.[36] On the November 24 special episode ofDynamite beingThanksgiving Eve on November 24, Rosa wrestled in theAEW TBS women's championship tournament where she facedJamie Hayter and beat her.[37] On the December 29 special episode ofDynamite beingAEW New Year's Smash, Rosa facedJade Cargill in the semi-finals of the TBS tournament which Rosa lost due to interference byMercedes Martinez.[38]
On March 6, 2022, atRevolution Rosa faced Britt Baker for the AEW Women's World Championship however due to Baker, Jamie Hayter andRebel distracting the referee and cheating this resulted in Rosa losing.[39] On March 16 special edition episode ofDynamite beingSt. Patrick's Day Slam, Rosa won her firstAEW Women's World Championship after she defeated Baker in aSteel Cage match in her adoptive hometown ofSan Antonio, Texas.[40] On April 16, Rosa defended her championship againstNyla Rose in the main event ofAEW Battle of The Belts ll which Rosa won.[41] On May 29 atDouble or Nothing Rosa defended her championship against Serena Deeb and won.[42] On June 8 on Dynamite Rosa successfully defended her championship againstMaria Shafir.[43] AtAEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door, Rosa successfully defended her championship againstToni Storm.[44] On July 27 atFight For The Fallen Rosa defended her championship againstMiyu Yamashita which Yamashita earned a shot at after she defeated Thunder Rosa inTJPW.[45] On August 5 atAEW Battle Of The Belts III, Rosa defeatedJamie Hayter to retain championship.[46] On August 24 atDynamite, Rosa revealed she could not defend her championship due to a back injury,[47] which then lead to allegations claiming the injury was fake which Rosa denied.[48] Initially the company kept Rosa's championship reign intact in her absence while moving forward with an interim champion. This decision was rescinded three months later, as it was announced on the November 23 episode ofDynamite that Rosa had relinquished her championship not only presently, but retroactively as well, with both Toni Storm andJamie Hayter having their interim title reigns recognized as fully lineal runs with the Women's World Championship.[49]
On the December 16, 2023, episode ofCollision, Rosa made her return where she rescuedAbadon as they were attacked by theTBS ChampionJulia Hart andSkye Blue.[50] On April 21, 2024 atDynasty, Rosa unsuccessfully challenged Toni Storm for the AEW Women's World Championship. After losing to Storm, Rosa began a feud withDeonna Purrazzo on the April 27 episode ofRampage, after Purrazzo attacked her after their match.[51] This led to a singles bout on May 26 atDouble or Nothing Zero Hour and in ano disqualification match on June 15 during the one year anniversary ofCollision, where Rosa was defeated in both matches.[52] On the July 19 episode ofCollision, Rosa lost to Purrazzo for the third time in alumberjack match following assistance fromTaya Valkyrie.[53] On the August 3 episode ofCollision, Purrazzo accepted Rosa's challenge for aTexas bullrope match on next week's Collision, which Rosa was victorious, ending their feud.[54][55] Rosa would then take time off to recover from a concussion.[56] On December 28 atWorlds End, Rosa unsuccessfully challengedMariah May for the AEW Women's World Championship in aTijuanaStreet Fight.[57]
On the March 29, 2025 episode ofCollision, Rosa announced her entry into the women's bracket of theOwen Hart Cup, a tournament where the winner will receive an AEW Women's World Championship match atAll In.[58] On the April 9 episode ofDynamite, Rosa was defeated byKris Statlander in the quarter-finals, eliminating her from the tournament.[59] On July 12 atAll In, Rosa competed in the women'sCasino Gauntlet match, which was won byAthena.[60]
DuringTriplemanía XXX: Tijuana,Taya Valkyrie called out Thunder Rosa, asking to prove the latter is the best female wrestling from Mexico. Rosa reacted on Social Media accepting the challenge.[61] On August 8,Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide held a media conference to confirm the match and the event's match card.[62]
Cervantes' "Thunder Rosa" ring name is a tribute to Thunder Road, a rehabilitation center for teenagers Cervantes worked at for over two years, which overlapped with the training and launch phases of her wrestling career. It was a collaboration between Cervantes, her husband and a Thunder Road coworker on a car ride home after attending a wrestling show. Cervantes wanted a name that appealed to both Latinos and non-Latino Americans, would honor her work with teens, and be easy for fans to chant during her matches.[63] For her finishing moves, Cervantes uses amodified scoop slam piledriver dubbed theFire Thunder Rosa, aguillotine drop with ahammerlock dubbed theLa Rosa Driver, and adragon sleeper dubbed theSnake Sleeper.
The paint on her face symbolizes the rebirth of Cervantes' career, after a concussion in Japan put her out of work for a month. Cervantes' husband suggested that when she resumed performing, she also resume the face paint to stand out from other wrestlers.[63]
On September 13, 2019, it was confirmed that Cervantes had signed withCombate Americas.[65] Her first fight took place on November 8 inSan Antonio, Texas.[66] She lost the fight by unanimous decision against Nadine Mandiau.[67] On October 10, 2021, Cervantes announced that she had officially retired from MMA when she signed a contract with All Elite Wrestling due to not having the time to commit to training.[68]
In June 2022, it was confirmed that Thunder Rosa would return to Combate to docommentary on the July 15 and 22 shows.[69]
Before wrestling and during the early years of her wrestling career, Cervantes was asocial worker, doing case work with at-risk young adults struggling with mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse, and other life issues. After she realized that season three ofLucha Underground would pay more than her income as a social worker, Cervantes' husband encouraged her to focus 100% of her time and effort on wrestling.[63]
Cervantes married Brian Cervantes on December 21, 2006, and together they have a son Anakin, born on August 31, 2005.[70]
On February 6, 2019, it was reported that Cervantes,Ivelisse Vélez,Joey Ryan, andJorge Luis Alcantar (aka, El Hijo del Fantasma/King Cuerno) had filed aclass-action lawsuit in California against Lucha Underground's coproducers: theEl Rey Network and the Baba-G production company. The performers alleged that their Lucha Underground contracts were illegal under California law because they unfairly restricted their ability to work in their chosen profession.[74][75] In an interview withChris Van Vliet, Cervantes said that she joined Lucha Underground for season 2 under a five-year contract. However, production of the series ended after less than four full seasons' worth of episodes were made. This left Cervantes and others—who, as professional wrestlers in the US, work as independent contractors—trapped in a situation where they were effectively fired yet also contractually blocked from working for any other wrestling companies until their Lucha Underground contracts expired (i.e., at least 1–2 years later), or they each paid a US$5,000 escape clause fee.[63] By March 26, 2019, all lawsuits had been settled in the wrestlers' favor, and they were freed from their LU contracts.[76]
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