Nia Jax

Nia Jax
Birth name	Savelina Fanene[1]
Born	May 29, 1984 (age 31)[1] Honolulu, Hawaii, United States[1]
Alma mater	Palomar College
Family	Anoaʻi
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Nia Jax[2] Lina Fanene[1] Zada[1]
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Billed weight	272 lb (123 kg)
Billed from	San Diego, California[3]
Trained by	WWE Performance Center[3]
Debut	May 14, 2015[1][4]

Savelina Fanene^[1] (born May 29, 1984)^[1] is an American plus-size model^[5] and professional wrestler^[1][4] currently signed to WWE under the ring name, Nia Jax.^[2]

In early 2014, Fanene signed a contract with WWE, and was assigned to WWE's Performance Center in Orlando, Florida,^[4] where she would form an alliance with Eva Marie (dubbing themselves the Power Alliance) in November 2015.^[6]

Early life

Fanene was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is the daughter of Joseph and Renate Fanene. She attended Palomar College in San Marcos, California, where she played college basketball.^[4] While living in California, Fanene was a plus-size model.^[5]

Professional wrestling career

WWE

NXT (2014–present)

Fanene was signed by WWE in early 2014 and was assigned to their developmental territory, NXT, based at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.^[4] 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.^[1] In August, her name was changed to Nia Jax.^[1][7]

After a series of introductory vignettes throughout September,^{[8][9][10][11]} Jax made her debut on the October 14 episode of NXT, defeating Evie.^[12] After her début, Jax went on a winning streak, defeating various enhancement talents and NXT Diva Carmella,^[13] whilst establishing herself as a villainess.^[14][15] In November, Jax formed an alliance with Eva Marie,^[13] and started her first rivalry, with Bayley, over the NXT Women's Championship.^[6][16][17] Jax earned a title match on December 16, at NXT TakeOver: London, where she was unsuccessful in winning the title.^[18]

On the January 27, 2016 episode of NXT, she returned to the ring after a month of inactivity due to a storyline injury, with a win over Liv Morgan.^[19] On the February 10 episode of NXT, Jax assisted Eva Marie in a attack on Carmella and Bayley after their championship match, until Asuka made the save,^[20][21] which led to a tag team match, on the February 24 episode of NXT, where Jax and Marie scored the victory.^[22]

Personal life

Fanene is of Samoan and German ancestry,^[23] and a member of the famous Anoa'i family. She is a cousin of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.^[4][24] A fan of professional wrestling since her childhood, Fanene decided to pursue a career in wrestling after watching Johnson perform at WrestleMania XXVIII.^[5]

On August 2, 2014, Fanene and her aunt, Ata Maivia-Johnson (mother of Dwayne Johnson), were hit head-on in the latter's Cadillac Escalade by a drunk driver as they were driving home from a charity event in Clermont, Florida. Fanene and Maivia-Johnson were hospitalized with injuries after the incident.^[25] The other driver involved was subsequently charged with driving under the influence.^[26]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Bearhug release spinebuster^[12][13][15] — 2015; used as a signature move thereafter
  • Standing leg drop, sometimes while running or done repeatedly in succession^{[14][15][19][22]}
• Signature moves
  • Bearhug^[12][13][22]
  • Cobra clutch^[18][19][22]
  • Canadian backbreaker rack^[14]
  • Headbutt^[13][15][22]
  • Hair-pull whip^[17][19]
  • Hip attack, to a bent over opponent^[12][13][15]
  • Running body avalanche, to an oncoming or cornered opponent^{[13][15][17][18]}
  • Samoan drop, sometimes dropped into a pop-up variation^[17][15][18]
  • Shoulderbreaker, to an oncoming opponent^[17][18][22]
  • Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker^[13]
• Managers
  • Eva Marie^[19]
• Wrestlers managed
  • Eva Marie^[6]
• Entrance themes
  • "Force of Greatness" by CFO$^[27] (NXT; October 14, 2015–present)
  • "Time To Rise (V2)" by CFO$^[28] (NXT; November 25, 2015-present; used while managing Eva Marie)

References

1. "Nia Jax". The Internet WrestlingDatabase. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
2. Twiss, Andrew (August 7, 2015). "TYLER BREEZE VS. SOLOMON CROWE HEADLINES, EVA MARIE, ENZO & COLIN, DEMPSEY & MORE: 8/7 WWE NXT IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA RESULTS". PWInsider. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
3. "Nia Jax". WWE. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
4. Stefano, Mocella (May 14, 2015). "The Rock’s Cousin Lina Fanene Makes Her NXT Debut". The Sportster. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
5. Saxton, Byron (November 5, 2015). "Nia Jax: Destined for greatness?". WWE. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
6. James, Justin (November 25, 2015). "11/25 WWE NXT Results – Bayley defends Women’s Title, Balor-Joe contract signing, more". PW Torch. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
7. Witner, Emerson (August 22, 2015). "WWE NXT TakeOver live results & main card: Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens, Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, Samoa Joe, Jushin "Thunder" Liger". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
8. Justin James (September 2, 2015). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/2 - Week 178: Dusty Rhodes Tag Tournament kicks off, Gargano & Ciampa debut on NXT, Joe & Balor form team, more; Overall Reax". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
9. Justin James (September 9, 2015). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/9 - Week 179: Finn Balor & Samoa Joe vs. Lucha Dragons, Ciampa & Gargano also in Dusty Tag Classic match, more; Overall Reax". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
10. James, Justin (September 16, 2015). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/16 - Week 180: Bayley returns to Full Sail as Women's champ, big set-up for "Takeover," Dusty Tag Classic continues, Adam Rose dumps on NXT, more; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
11. "WWE NXT results 9/23: Vaudevillains defend NXT Tag Titles, Kana/Asuka formally introduced, Breeze, Eva Marie, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
12. Trionfo, Richard (October 14, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: NUMBER ONE CONTENDERS FOR ALL TITLES ESTABLISHED, NIA JAX DEBUTS, AND BAYLEY TALKS ABOUT THE IRON MAN MATCH". PWInsider. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
13. Trionfo, Richard (November 18, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH, A LOT OF STUFF FOR NEXT WEEK, TAG CHAMPS IN ACTION, THE PLAN IS AFOOT, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
14. Trionfo, Richard (October 28, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: GABLE AND JORDAN VERSUS GARGANO AND CIAMPA, JOE VERSUS BREEZE, MORE WITH APOLLO CREWS, REMEMBER HORSEMAN ATTACKS?". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
15. Trionfo, Richard (November 11, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: TAG TITLE MATCH, BAYLEY AND ALEXA IN SIX PERSON TAG ACTION, SAMOA JOE EXPLAINS HIMSELF, THE ASCENSION ARE BACK NEXT WEEK, AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH NIA JAX AND EVA MARIE?". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
16. Trionfo, Richard (November 25, 2015). "#WWE #NXT REPORT: EVA MARIE VERSUS BAYLEY . . . DID THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPEN?, A CONTRACT SIGNING, A LOT OF ATTACKS BEFORE AND AFTER MATCHES, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
17. Trionfo, Richard (December 2, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: JOE VS. CIAMPA, MATCHES MADE OFFICIAL FOR TAKEOVER, WERE THE VAUDEVILLAINS READY WILLING AND GABLE?, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
18. Johnson, Mike (December 16, 2015). "END OF DAY FOR APOLLO?, ENZO & CASS COME LOOKING FOR REVENGE, ASUKA STRIKES, HHH ADDRESSES HIS BEATDOWN: ONGOING WWE NXT TAKEOVER LONDON BLOG". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
19. Jason, Namako (January 27, 2016). "WWE NXT Results - 1/27/16 (#1 Contenders Triple Threat)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
20. Richard, Trionfo (February 10, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH . . . PLUS SOME EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, GARGANO VERSUS CORBIN, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
21. Richard, Trionfo (February 17, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WHO IS THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER?, EIGHT MAN TAG MATCH, ASUKA IN ACTION, ALEX RILEY RETURNS TO THE RING, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
22. Richard, Trionfo (February 24, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WILLIAM REGAL MAKES HIS DECISION, AMERICAN ALPHA, WOMEN'S TAG MATCH IN MAIN EVENT, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
23. "Lina Fanene". Twitter. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
24. Nsubuga, Jimmy (August 11, 2014). "The Rock posts shocking picture of car crash involving mum and cousin". The Metro. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
25. "The Rock Police Chase Preceded Mom's Head-On Car Accident". TMZ. August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
26. "The Rock Woman Who Crashed into Mom's Car Charged with DUI". TMZ. August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
27. "WWE: Force of Greatness (Nia Jax) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
28. "WWE: Time To Rise (Eva Marie) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved February 27, 2016.

External links

• Nia Jax's profile on WWE.com
• Nia Jax on Twitter
• CageMatch profile (German)