But has now decided to speak out about her experiences - saying victims should be 'believed, not blamed'

For a long time, she suffered in silence because she was 'embarrassed' and did not want to be seen as a 'victim'

The 27-year-old from Orlando, Florida, who wrestles men and women, said he would regularly 'choke' her and once trapped her in a closet

Stephanie Bell, also known as TNA Total Impact's Jade, said her ex-boyfriend, who was also a wrestler, domestically abused her

A pro female wrestler has revealed she was domestically abused by her ex-boyfriend who used to choke her, put her in headlocks, kick her and once trapped her in a closet.

Stephanie Bell, also known as TNA Total Impact’s Jade, said he would 'choke' her whenever she said something he did not approve of.

For a long time, the 27-year-old from Orlando, Florida, suffered in silence because she was too 'embarrassed' and feared being thought of as a 'victim', she wrote on Motto, but she has since decided to speak out.

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Abuse: Pro female wrestler Stephanie Bell, 27, known professionally as TNA Total Impact's Jade, said her ex-boyfriend strangled, head-locked and headbutted her

Terrifying: Stephanie, pictured flying through the air, said he would 'choke' her whenever she said something he disapproved of and once trapped her in the closet

Potentially lethal: Stephanie, pictured left lifting another wrestler and right in blue pants, said the abuse was so bad that she wonders whether she would still be alive had she stayed

He also head-locked, kicked and head-butted her, she told the Huffington Post.

The abuse was so bad that now she wonders whether she would still be alive if she had stayed with her ex-boyfriend, who was also a wrestler.

She wrote in Motto: 'Looking back, had I stayed, I wonder if I would still be here today.'

Stephanie said 'red flags' included being kicked in the knee when she was injured, she said he sometimes kicked or punched their dog and once 'scooped me up and put me in a closet'.

She said at first she laughed because there was not a lock on the door, but then he put a chair in front of it so that she was trapped and had taken her phone so she could not call for help.

'The situation freaked me out, and I couldn’t call for help because he took my phone,' she wrote.

'I broke down that door and finally fought back. But he took me down with ease and wrapped a towel around my neck.'

She said he was careful to avoid marking her but would regularly try to prevent her from breathing.

Escape: Stephanie, pictured, left her abusive ex-boyfriend, who was also a wrestler

Pain: For a long time, Stephanie, pictured with blue hair, said she suffered in silence because she was too 'embarrassed' and did not want to be seen as a 'victim'

'I never had a black eye, but whenever my ex didn’t like something I said or did, he would choke me,' she wrote.

'Eventually, I realized that his mindset was “because I’m not leaving a mark on you, it’s OK."'

She was 'stunned' to find out later from victim services agency Safe Horizon that strangulation can be a 'significant predictor for future, often lethal violence,' she told Motto.

Despite the violence, she said she feared speaking out because as a wrestler who fights men and women she felt she needed to be seen as a 'strong woman'

She wrote: 'They think that I can surely take care of myself—and kick ass—if a man ever tried to raise a hand to me.

'The reality is that I was a victim of domestic violence, and for so long I felt pressured to be silent around my own abuse, allowing it to continue behind closed doors.'

She was also concerned about the potential impact it might have on both of their careers.

When she summoned the courage to leave the relationship and tell people, many did not believe her.

She said some of their mutual friends 'thought I was exaggerating and making it up'.

Brave: But now, Stephanie, pictured left and right, has decided to speak out about her experiences

Speaking out: She said victims of domestic abuse should be 'believed, not blamed'

When she filed an order of protection, she said her ex-boyfriend's trainer tried to warn her off doing it - saying she 'should be more considerate'.

But when she shared her experiences with other female wrestlers, she found many had experienced similar treatment - prompting her to speak publicly about it.

She told Daily Mail Online: 'I was speaking to a few female wrestlers of mine and they revealed to me they are also survivors.

' I wanted to give a voice to those that can't speak out about it. I want to influence those currently in dangerous relationships that there is help in leaving.'

Since speaking out she said she has received 'so much support and positive feedback', adding that she hopes it will raise awareness and encourage others to have the courage to leave abusive partners.

She said: 'It can happen to anyone so to not be embarrassed to speak out.

'I am very happy I did speak out as several people approached me telling me that it has helped them from their own personal experiences with abuse. And that is all I ever wanted.'

She is also trying to raise awareness by painting her nail purple in matches as part of Safe Horizon's #PutTheNailInIt campaign.