Kay Lee Ray

Kayleigh Rae (born 11 August 1992) is a Scottish professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT UK brand under the ring name Kay Lee Ray. She is the current and longest reigning NXT UK Women's Champion; as well as being the first holder of the title to actually be from the United Kingdom.

Not to be confused with Kylie Rae, another professional wrestler.

Kay Lee Ray
Ray in April 2019
Birth nameKayleigh Rae
Born (1992-08-11) 11 August 1992[1][2]
Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom[3]
ResidenceJohnstone, Scotland, United Kingdom
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kay Lee Ray[4]
Billed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[4]
Billed weight112 lb (51 kg)[5]
Billed fromJohnstone, Scotland, United Kingdom[4]
Trained byKid Fite[1]
Debut30 May 2009[5]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2009–2019)

Kay Lee Ray made her professional wrestling debut at SWA Battlezone on 30 May 2009, losing a Battlezone Rumble to determine the number one contender for the NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship.[3] Her first singles match was a loss to Viper on 26 March 2010. On 9 August 2014, Ray defeated Martin Kirby to win the SWE Speed King Championship. On 28 February 2015, she defeated Candice LeRae, Nixon Newell and Saraya Knight to win the SWE Queen of Southside Championship. On 24 October 2015, Ray lost the championship to Newell in a tag team match where Jimmy Havoc, Newell's tag team partner, defended his Speed King Championship against El Ligero, Ray's tag team partner. On 27 December 2015, she was defeated by Ligero in a Loser Leaves Southside match. On 7 August 2016, Ray won the Queen of Southside Championship in a three-way match against Alex Windsor and Jade, a title that she lost two months later to Melina. On 16 June 2017, at WCPW Built to Destroy, Ray won the WCPW Women's Championship from Viper, who replaced Bea Priestley in the match.[6]

Insane Championship Wrestling (2011–present)

Ray made her Insane Championship Wrestling debut at The Notorious I.C.W. on 6 February 2011, defeating Carmel.[7] At Luke...Who Yer Da? on 4 May 2013, she defeated Viper in a tournament final to win the Fierce Females Championship, her first championship victory.[8] On 27 July 2014 at Shug's Hoose Party, Ray and Stevie Boy unsuccessfully challenged for the vacant ICW Tag Team Championship in a match that was won by BT Gunn and Chris Renfrew.[9] On 29 May 2015, she lost the Fierce Females Championship, now called the Scottish Women's Championship, to Viper in a 20-Woman Rumble, ending Ray's reign at 755 days.[10] On 15 November 2015, Ray faced Nikki Storm and Viper in a three-way match for the inaugural ICW Women's Championship, a match that was won by Viper.[11] On 20 November 2016, Ray won the ICW Women's Championship by defeating Viper and champion Carmel Jacob in a three-way match at Fear & Loathing IX.[12] On 29 July 2017 at Shug's Hoose Party IV, Ray lost the ICW Women's Championship to Kasey Owens in 37 seconds.[13] She won it back at 1 October Fight Club tapings.[14] She lost the title the next month to Owens at Fear & Loathing X on 19 November in a three-way steel cage match also involving Viper.[15] At Fear and Loathing XI on 2 December 2018, Ray won the Women's Championship from Viper in a Queen of Insanity match.[16]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014–2015)

Ray appeared for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2014 on the second season of TNA British Boot Camp. Her first match on the show was taped on 16 August, where she lost in a four-way match won by Nikki Storm and also involved Kasey Owens and Leah Owens.[17] Her second match was a loss taped on 6 September in an eight-person tag team match alongside Al Snow, Grado, and Mark Andrews against Angelina Love, Dave Mastiff, Rampage Brown, and Noam Dar.[18] On the finale, taped on 7 December, she was revealed to be in the top three competitors, after which she faced Gail Kim in a losing effort.[19] Andrews won the show and the TNA contract.[20] Ray later appeared on two episodes of TNA Xplosion taped in the United Kingdom, with the first being a victory alongside Noam Dar against Gail Kim and Rampage Brown on 29 January 2015,[21] and the other on 31 January in a victory alongside Andrews, Dar, and Crazzy Steve against Brown, Dave Mastiff, Madison Rayne, and Samuel Shaw.[22]

WWE (2015–2017)

Ray made her one-off WWE debut at the 8 October 2015 tapings of NXT, losing to Nia Jax.[23] She would compete in WWE again in 2017 as one of 32 competitors in the inaugural Mae Young Classic,[24] where she lost to Princesa Sugehit in the first round on 13 July.[25] The next night, she competed in a six-woman tag team match alongside Jazzy Gabert and Tessa Blanchard where they defeated Marti Belle, Santana Garrett, and Sarah Logan.[26]

World of Sport (2018–2019)

At the 5 May 2018 tapings of the newly-revived World of Sport Wrestling, Ray won the vacant WOS Women's Championship in a three-way match against Bea Priestley and Viper.[27] She successfully defended the title on subsequent episodes in a battle royal[28] and a singles match against Viper.[29] On 19 January 2019, on a WOS house show tour, Ray lost her title in a three-way match when she was successfully pinned by Viper.

Return to WWE (2019–present)

At NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool on 12 January 2019, Ray and Jazzy Gabert appeared at ringside.[30] It was later confirmed that the two had signed with WWE, marking Ray's first contract with WWE.[31] On 13 March, Ray made her NXT UK in-ring debut, defeating Candy Floss. On the 19 June episode of NXT UK, Ray won a battle royal to earn an opportunity to face NXT UK Women's Champion Toni Storm at a time of her choosing.[32] On the 3 July episode of NXT UK, Ray said she will face Storm at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff. At TakeOver: Cardiff, Ray defeated Storm to win the NXT UK Women's Championship, becoming the first British-born wrestler to hold the title.

On the November 13 episode of NXT, Ray interfered during a "WarGames Advantage" ladder match between Shayna Baszler's team member Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley's team member Mia Yim, helping Shirai win the match and revealing herself as the fourth member of Shayna Baszler's team in the first ever Women's WarGames Match.[33] Ripley's team would go on and defeat Baszler's team at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.[34]

At the 16 November 2019 taping of NXT UK, it was announced that Ray would defend the NXT UK Women's Championship against Toni Storm and Piper Niven in a triple threat match at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.[35] Ray would go on to retain her title against Storm and Niven at TakeOver: Blackpool II.[36] On the January 20 episode of NXT, Ray teamed with Bianca Belair and Io Shirai in a six-woman tag team match against Storm, Rhea Ripley and Candice LeRae in a losing effort. After NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool II, Ray and Storm's feud would continue. On the February 27 episode of NXT UK, Ray retained her title against Storm in a stipulation that if Storm loses, she could no longer challenge Ray as long as she is champion. After the match, Ray started a feud with Niven afer Niven watched Ray brutally attack Storm during the "I Quit" match. On 2nd April 2020, Ray and Jinny successfully defeated Niven and Dani Luna.

On the September 24 episode of NXT UK, Ray retained her title against Piper Niven. On the November 5 episode of NXT UK, Ray and Niven's feud continued after Ray insulted Niven after Niven lost to Ray. Niven came out and attacked Ray in the ring and backstage. On 19th November 2020, Ray was again successful in defending her title against Niven in a Falls Count Anywhere Match when Jinny interfered as a result of Niven disrespecting her two weeks prior.[37]

Personal life

Rae is in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Stevie Boy.[3]

Championships and accomplishments
Ray as NXT UK Women's Champion

References
  1. What Culture Pro Wrestling was renamed to Defiant Wrestling during Ray's reign, thus the title was renamed to reflect the change.
  2. The championship was renamed to the Scottish Women's Championship during Ray's reign.
  1. "Kay Lee Ray". Cagematch. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  2. Kairi Sane [@KairiSaneWWE] (11 August 2017). "Happy Happy Birthday to レイちゃん💗 @Kay_Lee_Ray !!!!😆🎉 It's one of my favorite photos😂lol" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via Twitter.
  3. Docking, Neil (30 August 2017). "WWE Mae Young Classic star Kay Lee Ray - 'Just wait 'til you see me in the ring'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  4. "Kay Lee Ray". WWE. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. "Kay Lee Ray". OWOW. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. Jeremy, Jake (19 June 2017). "WCPW Built to Destroy Results". SEScoops. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  7. "ICW The Notorious I.C.W. « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  8. "ICW: Fierce Females Luke... Who's Yer Da? « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  9. "ICW Results: Shug's Hoose Party – Glasgow, Scotland (7/27)". www.wrestling-news.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  10. "Card « Fierce Females Rumble In The Jungle « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  11. "ICW Fear and Loathing VIII Results: Grado vs. Drew Galloway". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  12. "11/20 ICW Fear & Loathing IX in Glasgow results: Finn Balor as guest commissioner, Kurt Angle vs. Joe Coffey, plus Drew Galloway, Team 3D, Bram, and more". prowrestling.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  13. "ICW Shug's Hoose Party 4 - Tag 1 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  14. "ICW Fight Club TV Taping Results 10.01.17: Sabu Appears". 411Mania. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  15. "DETAILED ICW FEAR & LOATHING X RESULTS AND NOTES | PWInsider.com". pwinsider.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  16. "ICW Fear & Loathing XI results: Four titles on the line". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  17. "TNA British Boot Camp #2.4 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  18. "TNA British Boot Camp #2.7 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  19. "TNA British Boot Camp #2.8 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  20. "The Winner Of TNA British Boot Camp 2 Revealed". ProWrestling.com. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  21. "TNA Xplosion #543 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  22. "TNA Xplosion #545 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  23. "** SPOILERS ** WWE NXT Tapings Airing In October". Wrestling Inc. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  24. "Meet the Scots taking over WWE: Piper Niven and Kay Lee Ray". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  25. Powell, Jason (28 August 2017). "Powell's WWE Mae Young Classic Review: Episode One featuring first-round matches (spoilers)". prowrestling.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  26. "WWE Mae Young Classic - Road To The Finals « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  27. "World of Sport episode two results: First Women's Champion crowned". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  28. "WOS Wrestling #5 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  29. "WOS Wrestling Results (9/22/18): 16-Man Battle Royal, WOS Women's Championship Match, And Moose Debuts | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  30. "Kay Lee Ray, Jazzy Gabert appear at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool". WWE. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  31. Satin, Ryan (12 January 2019). "Jazzy Gabert and Kay Lee Ray Join NXT UK". Pro Wrestling Sheet | Insider Wrestling News and Reports. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  32. "Kay Lee Ray emerged victorious in first-ever NXT UK Women's Battle Royal". WWE. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  33. "Io Shirai def. Mia Yim in a WarGames Advantage Ladder Match". WWE. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  34. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-wargames/article/womens-wargames-results
  35. "Spoilers For WWE NXT UK TV Tapings (11/16): Title Matches Set For TakeOver: Blackpool II". Wrestling Inc. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  36. Garretson, Jordan (12 January 2020). "NXT UK Women's Champion Kay Lee Ray def. Toni Storm and Piper Niven". WWE. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  37. Mango, Anthony (19 November 2020). "WWE NXT UK Results for November 19, 2020". eWrestlingNews.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  38. "RESULTS: Pro Wrestling: EVE – 'She Slams On Saturdays'". Squared Circle Sirens. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  39. "WWE NXT UK Women's Championship". WWE. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
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