Kayla Klingensmith (' Inlay; born May 23, 1997), is an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

. She is currently signed to

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...

performing under the ring name Kiana James and is a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion.

Early life

Inlay was born in

Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County, ...

. She completed her elementary education at East High School and later graduated from

Morningside University Morningside University is a private university affiliated with the United Methodist Church and located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside University has 21 buildings on a campus in Sioux City (ar ...

in 2019 with a degree in science.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2021–2022)

On the September 21, 2021 episode of ''

AEW Dark AEW or aew may refer to: * Airborne early warning, airborne radar system for detecting aircraft * Aerosvit Airlines, an airline based in Kyiv, Ukraine (ICAO airline designator: AEW) * AEW Capital Management, a property investment management company ...

'', Inlay made her in-ring debut under the name Xtina Kay, losing to The Bunny.

WWE (2022–present)

Inlay made her WWE debut under the ring name Kayla Inlay on the February 1, 2022 episode of ''

NXT NXT may refer to: Professional wrestling * ''WWE NXT'', a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that began in 2010 ** NXT (WWE brand), WWE's Florida-based brand and former developmental territory * ''NXT UK'', the British spin- ...

'', losing to

Sarray is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Sarray. She was trained by Kyoko Inoue and made her debut in April 2011 at the age of 15 where she wrestled under the ring name ...

. Inlay was repackaged as Kiana James and took on a businesswoman gimmick, debuting in the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament on May 17, losing to

Roxanne Perez Carla Gonzalez (born November 5, 2001) is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Roxanne Perez, where she is the current NXT Women's Champion in her first reign. She is a former ...

in the first round. James would have her first televised win on the June 24 episode of '' NXT Level Up'' by defeating Brooklyn Barlow. On the July 19 episode of ''NXT'', James competed in a 20-woman battle royal to determine the number one contender for the

NXT Women's Championship The NXT Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended on the NXT brand division, the promotion's developmental territory. Introduced on April 5, 2013, th ...

, eliminating

Fallon Henley Theresa Schuessler (born September 25, 1994) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE performing under the ring name Fallon Henley on the NXT brand and currently is one-half of the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions with ...

but was eliminated by

Nikkita Lyons Faith Jefferies (born August 5, 1999) is an American professional wrestler, taekwondo practitioner, and musician. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on its NXT brand under the ring name Nikkita Lyons. Jefferies has also wrestled f ...

. James then feuded with Lyons after insulting her looks but lost to her on the August 9 episode of ''NXT'' and in a tag match alongside Arianna Grace against Lyons and

Zoey Stark Theresa Serrano (born January 25, 1994) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Zoey Stark, and is a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion. Professional wrestli ...

on the September 13 episode of ''NXT''. James would have a short feud with

Dana Brooke Ashley Mae Sebera (born November 29, 1988) is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder, gymnast, fitness competitor, and model. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dana Brooke and is a fifteen-ti ...

on ''

WWE Main Event ''WWE Main Event'' is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. Premiering on October 3, 2012, the hour-long program features mid-to-low-card talent from WWE's Raw brand as well as talents from NXT. ''Main Event'' ...

'', defeating her on November 3. James would start a feud against Henley with whom she would bet her parents' bar against the offer that James offered her. On the November 29 episode of ''NXT'', James defeated Henley. At

NXT Deadline NXT Deadline (stylized as DEADL1NE) was a professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held primarily for wrestlers from the promotion's NXT (WWE brand), NXT WWE brand extension, brand division. The event took place on Satur ...

, James competed in the Women's Iron Survivor Challenge to determine the number one contender to

Mandy Rose Amanda Rose Saccomanno (born July 18, 1990) is an American professional wrestler, television personality, and fitness and figure competitor. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Mandy Rose. Rose began ...

's NXT Women's Championship, which was won by Perez. On the December 27 episode of ''NXT'', James ended her feud with Henley after losing to her in a Battle for the Bar. At New Year's Evil on January 10, 2023, James competed in a 20-woman battle royal to determine the number one contender to Roxanne Perez's NXT Women's Championship, being eliminated by Lyra Valkyria. On February 5, at NXT Vengeance Day, James and Fallon Henley defeated

Katana Chance Kacy Esther Catanzaro (born January 14, 1990) is an American professional wrestler, gymnast and athletics-based television personality. She is currently signed with WWE on the NXT brand under the ring name Katana Chance. She competed at ...

and

Kayden Carter Allyssa Lyn "Lacey" Lane (born May 20, 1988) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under the ring name Kayden Carter, performing on the NXT brand. She is a one-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion with Katana Chance. Early l ...

to win the

NXT Women's Tag Team Championship The NXT Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended on the NXT brand division, the promotion's developmental territory. The current cha ...

, making it the first title in James' career. On April 1, at NXT Stand & Deliver, James and Henley lost the tag titles to

Alba Fyre Kayleigh Rae (born 11 August 1992), better known as Kay Lee Ray, is a Scottish professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar t ...

and

Isla Dawn Courtney Florence Stewart (born 2 February 1994) is a Scottish professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, performs on the NXT brand under the ringname Isla Dawn. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2013–2016) On 17 Oct ...

. On the April 25, 2023 episode of ''NXT'', After James and Jensen were defeated by Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley, James walked out on Jensen causing Jensen to go back to Briggs and Henley. On the May 9 episode of ''NXT'', in the first round of the tournament for the vacated

, James was defeated by Valkyria, eliminated in the first round. She would then succeed in winning a fatal four way number one contender’s match for the

on the August 29 episode of

. She would be defeated by champion Tiffany Stratton. Onward, she would begin a short rivalry with champion

Becky Lynch Rebecca Quin (born 30 January 1987) is an Irish professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE under the ring name Becky Lynch where she performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand. Lynch is one of WWE's most recognizable and ...

, even as so far as to aid Stratton in their attacks. They eventually lose to Lynch and Valkyria in a tag team match. She then started a feud with

, after attacking her when she lost to

Asuka Asuka may refer to: People * Asuka (name), a list of people * Asuka (wrestler), professional wrestler * Asuka (wrestler, born 1998), professional wrestler also known as Veny outside of Japan Places In Japan * , an area in Yamato Province (now ...

on the October 10 episode of

, only for

Shotzi Ashley Louise Urbanski (born March 14, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and singer. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Shotzi (shortened from her previous ring name Shotzi Black ...

to emerge from commentary and fend off James. On the October 17 episode of

, James lost to

. That same night, Perez challenged James to a

Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...

devil’s playground match at NXT Halloween Havoc (2023), in which Perez was victorious. On the November 14 episode of

, James interfered in Perez’s qualifying match for the women’s iron survivor challenge at NXT Deadline (2023), helping

Lash Legend Anriel Howard (born May 6, 1997) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE where she performs on its NXT brand under the ring name Lash Legend. She is also a former college and professional ( WNBA) basketball player. Profess ...

score the pin fall.

Championships and accomplishments

( 1 time) – with

* ''

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publish ...

'' ** Ranked No. 166 of the top 250 female singles wrestlers in the '' PWI Women's 250'' in 2023

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Kiana 1997 births 21st-century American women 21st-century female professional wrestlers American female professional wrestlers Living people Morningside University alumni NXT Women's Tag Team Champions Professional wrestlers from Iowa Sportspeople from Sioux City, Iowa