Susanita Ybanez — From Lambaré Streets to the United Toughness Alliance

Susanita Ybanez was born and raised in Lambaré, a gritty working-class district on the outskirts of Asunción, Paraguay. Her story is one of stubborn grit, improvisation, and relentless upward motion: a childhood framed by economic hardship, early responsibilities, and a fierce, self-taught determination that would eventually carry her across Paraguay and onto the international wrestling stage.

Early life and upbringing

Susanita grew up in a small, crowded home where money was always scarce. Her parents worked long hours in informal trades and small shops; there were younger siblings to care for and bills that never quite balanced. From a young age Susanita learned to be resourceful — fixing things, running errands, and looking after the family while adults worked. That necessity-bred independence would become a hallmark of her character.

Life in Lambaré was rough but formative. The streets were a classroom in their own right: neighborhood football games, street-wise older kids who taught survival skills, and community gatherings where loud music and regional pride shaped identity. Susanita developed an early love of movement and performance — dancing at local festivals, competing in improvised athletics with neighborhood kids, and carrying a bravado that masked inward vulnerability.

Finding wrestling

Wrestling found Susanita almost by accident. As a teen she discovered tapes and clips of lucha libre and international pro wrestling — the color, storytelling, and athleticism hooked her. Without access to formal gyms or trainers, she began training with whatever she could: makeshift workouts in alleyways, running up and down Lambaré’s hills, practicing holds with friends, and studying matches late into the night.

Her early training was pragmatic and inventive. She learned basic tumbling and falls from street performers, built a homemade training rig from scrap metal and old tires, and drilled conditioning with bucket water carries and bodyweight circuits. The community’s supportive — if skeptical — atmosphere helped too: neighbors supplied battered mats, an older amateur boxer gave pointers on balance, and a local coach occasionally lent space in a small municipal gym.

Moving to grow

Realizing she needed more structure and exposure, Susanita left Lambaré in her late teens and began traveling around Paraguay. She moved between Asunción, Ciudad del Este, and smaller towns, working odd jobs to pay for coaching and ring time. Each stop taught her a different piece of the craft: in Asunción she refined her technical fundamentals; in Ciudad del Este she developed stamina from frequent street shows and regional circuits; in rural towns she learned to read crowds and adapt her character to different audiences.

This period of movement was also emotionally costly — long separations from family, constant financial precarity, and the grind of small promotions that paid little. Still, Susanita used every setback as fuel. She built a reputation as a fearless performer willing to take risks, and word of her work ethic and showmanship traveled among independent promoters.

Breaking through: the United Toughness Alliance

Her big break came at a regional showcase promoted by the United Toughness Alliance (UTA), a company known for blending athleticism with gritty, character-driven storytelling. Susanita’s match at that showcase became a turning point. She mixed technical savvy with high-impact psychology and a charisma that translated across language and culture. The UTA talent scouts noticed not only her in-ring ability but her backstory and the authenticity she brought to her persona.

Impressed, the UTA signed Susanita — an historic moment: she became the first woman from South America to be offered a full contract with the company. Her signing was celebrated by fans back home and marked a symbolic bridge between South American independent wrestling scenes and larger international platforms.

Style and persona

Susanita’s in-ring style is a hybrid rooted in lucha influences, South American street-scrappy resourcefulness, and a disciplined, heavyweight conditioning regimen. She built a persona around resilience and pride: a wrestler who fights with heart, honors her roots, and uses every setback as narrative fuel. Outside the ring, she’s known for mentoring younger talent from Paraguay, organizing small training clinics, and staying connected to Lambaré through charity drives and public appearances.