Kiana James

Kayla Klingensmith (née Inlay; born May 23, 1997), is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE performing under the ring name Kiana James and is a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion.

Kiana James
Birth nameKayla Inlay
Born (1997-05-23) May 23, 1997
Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
Spouse(s)Zach Klingensmith
(m. 2022)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kiana James
Kayla Inlay
Xtina Kay[1]
Billed height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Billed fromSioux City, Iowa
Trained by
DebutSeptember 11, 2021[1]

Early life

Inlay was born in Sioux City, Iowa. She completed her elementary education at East High School and later graduated from Morningside University in 2019 with a degree in science.[2]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2021–2022)

On the September 21, 2021 episode of AEW Dark, Inlay made her in-ring debut under the name Xtina Kay, losing to The Bunny.[3]

WWE (2022–present)

Inlay made her WWE debut under the ring name Kayla Inlay on the February 1, 2022 episode of NXT, losing to Sarray.[4] 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 in the first round.[5] James would have her first televised win on the June 24 episode of NXT Level Up by defeating Brooklyn Barlow.[6] 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, eliminating Fallon Henley but was eliminated by Nikkita Lyons.[7] 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 on the September 13 episode of NXT.[8][9] James would have a short feud with Dana Brooke on WWE Main Event, defeating her on November 3.[10] James would start a feud against Henley with whom she would bet her parents' bar against the offer that James offered her.[11][12] On the November 29 episode of NXT, James defeated Henley.[13] At NXT Deadline, James competed in the Women's Iron Survivor Challenge to determine the number one contender to Mandy Rose's NXT Women's Championship, which was won by Perez.[14] On the December 27 episode of NXT, James ended her feud with Henley after losing to her in a Battle for the Bar.[15]

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.[16] On February 5, at NXT Vengeance Day, James and Fallon Henley defeated Katana Chance and Kayden Carter to win the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship, making it the first title in James' career.[17][18] On April 1, at NXT Stand & Deliver, James and Henley lost the tag titles to Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. 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.[19] On the May 9 episode of NXT, in the first round of the tournament for the vacated NXT Women's Championship, James was defeated by Valkyria, eliminated in the first round.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Kiana James". Cagematch.
  2. "Morningside College graduates receive diplomas at commencement ceremony". Morningside University. May 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. Lambert, Jeremy (September 21, 2021). "AEW Dark Stream And Results (9/21): Eddie Kingston, Santana And Ortiz, FTR, More In Action". Fightful. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  4. Moore, John (February 1, 2022). "2/1 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Bron Breakker and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza, Cora Jade vs. Raquel Gonzalez, Gunther, Fabian Aichner, and Marcel Barthel vs. Roderick Strong, Julius Creed, and Brutus Creed, LA Knight vs. Joe Gacy". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  5. Moore, John (May 17, 2022). "5/17 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Tony D'Angelo vs. Santos Escobar, Cameron Grimes and Solo Sikoa vs. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams, The Viking Raiders vs. The Creed Brothers, Wes Lee vs. Xyon Quinn, the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament continues". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  6. Defelice, Robert (June 24, 2022). "NXT Level Up Results (6/24): Ikemen Jiro, Quincy Elliott, Brooklyn Barlow, And More In Action". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  7. Moore, John (July 19, 2022). "7/19 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of a 20-woman battle royal for a shot at the NXT Women's Title, JD McDonagh vs. Cameron Grimes, Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs vs. Pretty Deadly for the NXT UK Tag Titles, Roderick Strong vs. Damon Kemp, Axiom debuts, The Schism reveals their identities". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  8. Moore, John (August 9, 2022). "8/9 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Santos Escobar vs. Tony D'Angelo meet for the last time, Cora Jade vs. Zoey Stark, Wes Lee vs. Trick Williams in a Rounds Match, Nikkita Lyons vs. Kiana James". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  9. Moore, John (September 13, 2022). "9/13 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Pretty Deadly vs. The Creed Brothers in a cage match for the NXT Tag Titles, Carmelo Hayes defends the NXT North American Title against the winner of a fan poll, Zoey Stark and Nikkita Lyons vs. Kiana James and Arianna Grace". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  10. Leighty Jr., Robert (November 3, 2022). "Leighty's WWE Main Event Review 11.03.22". 411Mania. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  11. Moore, John (November 8, 2022). "11/8 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark for the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles, Cameron Grimes vs. Joe Gacy, Brutus Creed vs. Damon Kemp in a five-minute challenge, JD McDonagh vs. Axiom, Andre Chase vs. Charlie Dempsey, Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo vs. Hank Walker". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  12. Moore, John (November 22, 2022). "11/22 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Wes Lee vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT North American Championship, Cora Jade vs. Wendy Choo, Ivey Nile vs. Tatum Paxley, Toxic Attraction opening, the identity of SCRYPTS revealed". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  13. Moore, John (November 29, 2022). "11/29 NXT TV results: Moore's review of WWE Hall of Famers revealing the participants in the Iron Survivor Challenge matches, Toxic Attraction vs. Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, and Nikkita Lyons, Dijak returns to the ring, Indi Hartwell vs. Roxanne Perez, Fallon Henley vs. Kiana James, JD McDonagh vs. Julius Creed". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  14. Moore, John (December 10, 2022). "NXT Deadline results: Moore's live review of Bron Breakker vs. Apollo Crews for the NXT Championship, Pretty Deadly vs. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for the NXT Tag Team Titles, men's and women's Iron Survivor Challenge matches, Alba Fyre vs. Isla Dawn". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  15. Moore, John (December 27, 2022). "12/27 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Wes Lee vs. Tony D'Angelo for the NXT North American Championship, Julius Creed vs. JD McDonagh, Fallon Henley vs. Kiana James in the Battle for the Bar, Lyra Valkyria vs. Lash Legend, Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, and Jagger Reid vs. Odyssey Jones, Edris Enofe, and Malik Blade, Wendy Choo vs. Cora Jade, Scrypts vs. Ikemen Jiro". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  16. Moore, John (January 10, 2023). "1/10 NXT TV results: Moore's review of New Year's Evil featuring Bron Breakker vs. Grayson Waller for the NXT Title, 20-woman battle royal for a shot at the NXT Women's Title, The Creed Brothers vs. Indus Sher, Dijak vs. Tony D'Angelo, Charlie Dempsey vs. Hank Walker, gauntlet match for an NXT Tag Team Title shot". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  17. Moore, John (February 4, 2023). "NXT Vengeance Day results: Moore's live review of Bron Breakker vs. Grayson Waller in a cage match for the NXT Title, Roxanne Perez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Gigi Dolin for the NXT Women's Title, New Day vs. Gallus vs. Pretty Deadly vs. Chase U for the NXT Tag Titles, Carmelo Hayes vs. Apollo Crews in a best of three falls match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  18. Lambert, Jeremy (February 4, 2023). "Fallon Henley And Kiana James Win NXT Women's Tag Team Titles At NXT Vengeance Day". Fightful. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  19. McGuire, Colin (April 1, 2023). "NXT Stand & Deliver results: McGuire's live review of Bron Breakker vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Title, Roxanne Perez vs. Zoey Stark vs. Gigi Dolin vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Indi Hartwell in a ladder match for the NXT Women's Title, Wes Lee vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Axiom for the NXT North American Title, Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  20. Middleton, Marc (2023-05-09). "WWE NXT Results 5/9/2023". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  21. "NXT Women's Tag Team Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
  22. Ross, Patrick (October 19, 2023). "Full 2023 PWI Women's 250 list revealed". aiptcomics.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
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