Savelina Fanene (born May 29, 1984) is an Australian-born American professional wrestler and plus-size model. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Nia Jax. She is the current Raw Women's Champion in her first reign.
Video Nia Jax
Early life
Fanene was born in Sydney, Australia and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She also spent time in San Diego, California. She is the daughter of Joseph and Renate Fanene. She attended Palomar College in San Marcos, California, where she played college basketball. Prior to professional wrestling, Fanene was a plus-size model.
Maps Nia Jax
Professional wrestling career
WWE
NXT (2014-2016)
She was signed by WWE in early 2014 and was assigned to their developmental territory NXT, based at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. She made her in-ring debut on May 7, 2015 at an NXT house show under the ring name Zada, where she and Devin Taylor were defeated by Bayley and Carmella in a tag team match. In August, her ring name was changed to Nia Jax.
After a series of introductory vignettes throughout September, Nia Jax made her debut on October 14 episode of NXT, defeating Evie in a singles match. Following her debut, she was shown as a monster heel who went on a winning streak, defeating various enhancement talents and NXT Diva Carmella. In November, Nia Jax formed an alliance with Eva Marie, and started her first feud with Bayley over the NXT Women's Championship. Nia earned a title match on December 16 at NXT TakeOver: London but was unsuccessful in winning the title.
On January 27, 2016 episode of NXT, Nia Jax returned to the ring after a month of inactivity due to a storyline injury, with a win over Liv Morgan. On February 10 episode of NXT, Nia Jax assisted Eva Marie in an attack on Bayley and Carmella after their championship match, until Asuka made the save, which led to a tag team match on February 24 episode of NXT, where Nia Jax and Eva Marie scored the victory. On 25 May episode of NXT, Nia Jax won a triple threat match over Alexa Bliss and Carmella to become the number one contender to Asuka's NXT Women's Championship. Nia Jax lost her title match at NXT TakeOver: The End. On July 20 episode of NXT, Nia was defeated by Bayley. On December 28 episode of NXT, Nia Jax lost to Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship in her last match in NXT.
Main roster and various storylines (2016-2018)
Shortly after being drafted from NXT to the Raw brand as part of the 2016 WWE draft, which took place on July 19, 2016, Nia Jax started a winning streak against various competitors. In September, Nia Jax was placed in her first feud with Alicia Fox, which led to a match between the two on September 12 episode of Raw, that ended in a no contest after Nia speared Alicia through the ringside barricade. In a rematch between the two, which took place at the Clash of Champions pre-show, Nia then defeated Alicia via pinfall. On November 20, at the Survivor Series pay-per-view, Nia was a part of Team Raw in a elimination tag team match and was eliminated via submission by Becky Lynch.
In December, Nia Jax started a feud with Sasha Banks, whom she injured as part of the storyline. This led to two matches between the two: Nia was victorious at the Royal Rumble pre-show, but lost at Fastlane. At WrestleMania 33 Nia competed in a fatal four-way elimination match against Sasha Banks, Bayley and Charlotte for the Raw Women's Championship, which was ultimately won by Bayley. On June 26 episode of Raw, Jax competed in a gauntlet match to determine a number one contender for Alexa Bliss's Raw Women's Championship, eliminating Bayley, Mickie James, Dana Brooke and Emma consecutively, before being defeated by Sasha Banks. On September 24, at the No Mercy pay-per-view, Nia took part of a fatal five-way match for the Raw Women's Championship, which was won by Alexa Bliss. In November, at Survivor Series, Jax once again was a part of Team Raw in a elimination tag team match, from which she was eliminated by countout.
Starting from December 4 episode of Raw, Nia Jax was placed in an on-screen relationship with then WWE Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore, which was dropped when Amore was released from the WWE. On January 28, 2018, at the Royal Rumble event, Nia Jax participated in the first Women's Royal Rumble match; she entered at number 22, and eliminated Jacqueline, Kelly Kelly, Ruby Riott and Naomi, before being eliminated by six women. Throughout January and February, Nia started a feud with the undefeated Asuka, whom she failed to defeat, on February 25, at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view and a week later on Raw.
Raw Women's Champion (2018-present)
On the March 12 episode of Raw, Jax turned face after being insulted and betrayed by former best friend, Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss, who body shamed her and made fun of her personality. This led to a title match between the two at WrestleMania 34; Nia won the match to capture the Raw Women's Championship, marking the first title win of her career. The following night, she teamed with the debuting Ember Moon to defeat Bliss and James. On the April 23 episode of Raw, it was announced that Jax would defend the Raw Women's Championship in a rematch against Bliss at Backlash. Jax went onto defeat Bliss and retain her title at the event. On May 14, after Jax issued a challenge, it was announced that she would defend the Raw Women's Championship against Ronda Rousey at Money in the Bank. On the May 21 episode of Raw, Jax and Rousey had a contract signing to make the match official. On the following week, Nia turned heel when she demolished her opponent during her scheduled match, and then laughed at Rousey while mocking the fans for chanting her name.
Other media
Nia Jax has appeared in two WWE video games. She made her in-game debut in WWE 2K17 as a DLC playable character, and also appears in WWE 2K18.
Nia Jax participated in the seventh season of Total Divas. In August 2017, rapper Magneto Dayo released a song dedicated to Nia Jax, titled "Nia Jax".
Personal life
Fanene is of Samoan and German ancestry, and a cousin of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
On August 2, 2014, Fanene and her aunt, Ata Maivia-Johnson (mother of Dwayne Johnson), were hospitalized after being hit head-on by a drunk driver in Clermont, Florida. The drunk driver involved was subsequently charged with driving under the influence.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Fireman's carry scoop powerslam
- Lifting spinebuster
- Running leg drop to a supine or prone opponent, sometimes while standing or done repeatedly in succession
- Running somersault senton
- Samoan drop, sometimes from the second rope
- Signature moves
- Bearhug, sometimes while applying a hammerlock
- Cobra clutch
- Canadian backbreaker rack
- Headbutt
- Elbow drop, sometimes done repeatedly in succession
- Hair-pull whip
- Hip attack to a bent over opponent, sometimes with a face wash to a cornered opponent
- Running body avalanche to an oncoming or cornered opponent
- Seated senton, sometimes connected to perform a straddle pin
- Shoulderbreaker to an oncoming opponent
- Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker
- Wrestlers managed
- Alexa Bliss
- Eva Marie
- Nicknames
- "The Hybrid Athlete"
- "The Irresistible Force"
- Entrance themes
- "Force of Greatness" by CFO$
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Rookie of the Year (2016)
- Ranked No. 22 of the top 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2017
- WWE
- WWE Raw Women's Championship (1 time, current)
References
External links
- Nia Jax on WWE.com
- Nia Jax on Twitter
- Nia Jax's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database
Source of article : Wikipedia
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