Savelina Fanene (born 29 May 1984) is an Australian-born American professional wrestler and plus-size model currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Nia Jax.
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)
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. She made her in-ring debut on 7 May 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, Jax made her debut on 14 October episode of NXT, defeating Evie in a singles match. Following her debut, Jax went on a winning streak, defeating various enhancement talents and NXT Diva Carmella, whilst establishing herself as a villainess. In November, Jax formed an alliance with Eva Marie, and started her first feud with Bayley over the NXT Women's Championship. Jax earned a title match on 16 December at NXT TakeOver: London, where she was unsuccessful in winning the title.
On 27 January 2016 episode of NXT, Jax returned to the ring after a month of inactivity due to a storyline injury, with a win over Liv Morgan. On 10 February episode of NXT, 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 24 February episode of NXT, where Jax and Marie scored the victory. On 25 May episode of NXT, Jax won a triple threat match over Alexa Bliss and Carmella to become the number one contender to Asuka's NXT Women's Championship. Jax received her title match on 8 June at NXT TakeOver: The End, but was unsuccessful in capturing the title. On 20 July episode of NXT, Jax was defeated by Bayley. On 28 December episode of NXT, Jax lost to Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship in what would be her last match in NXT.
Raw (2016-present)
After being drafted from NXT to the Raw brand as part of the 2016 WWE draft which took place on 19 July 2016 Jax made her main roster debut for the brand on 25 July, where she defeated local competitor Britt Baker, and went on to start another streak by defeating multiple competitors. On 5 September episode of Raw, Jax had a backstage confrontation with Alicia Fox, resulting in a match between the two on 12 September episode of Raw, which would end in a no contest after Jax performed a spear on Fox through the ringside barricade. On 25 September at the Clash of Champions pre-show, Jax defeated Fox via pinfall. On 31 October episode of Raw, Jax defeated Bayley in singles competition after being announced as a participant for the Raw Women's team at the Survivor Series pay-per-view.
At the event on 20 November, Jax was eliminated via submission by Becky Lynch, but Team Raw went on to defeat Team SmackDown in the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match. On 19 December episode of Raw, Jax attacked an injured Sasha Banks in the storyline, which would lead to Banks distracting and costing Jax during her number one contender's match against Bayley on 2 January 2017 episode of Raw. This would lead to a match between the two at the Royal Rumble pre-show on 29 January, where Jax was victorious. On 2 April at WrestleMania 33, Jax competed in a four-way elimination match for the Raw Women's Championship, which was ultimately won by Bayley. On 26 June episode of Raw, Jax competed in a number one contender's gauntlet match for Alexa Bliss's Raw Women's Championship, eliminating Bayley, Mickie James, Dana Brooke and Emma consecutively, before being defeated by Banks via submission. On 28 August, Alexa Bliss regained the Raw Women's Championship. After the match, Jax congratulated Bliss on her victory, then attacked Bliss, and raised her title. At No Mercy Jax failed to win the title from Bliss in a Fatal-5-way match also involving Bayley, Banks and Emma.
On the December 4 episode of Raw, Jax began an on-screen relationship with Enzo Amore. The following week on Raw, Jax confronted Amore to talk to him privately. On the January 8th 2017 Jax announced that she is entering the women's Royal Rumble match. On Raw 25th anniversary Nia Jax, Sonya, Mandy and Alicia Fox was defeated by Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James with Sasha Banks making Alicia Fox tap out. At the Royal Rumble 2018 Event, Jax entered at number 22. She eliminated Ruby Riott, Naomi, Jacqueline, and Kelly Kelly, before she got eliminated by Asuka, Bayley, Brie Bella, Natalya, Nikki Bella, & Trish Stratus.
On the February 5th episode of Raw, Raw General Manager, Kurt Angle announced that if Jax defeated Asuka at Elimination Chamber she will be added to the WWE Raw Womens Championship at Wrestlemania 34.
Other media
Jax has appeared in two WWE video games. She made her in-game debut in WWE 2K17 as a pre-order playable character, and also appears in WWE 2K18.
On 24 July 2017, Jax was announced and confirmed for the seventh season of Total Divas.
On 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 2 August 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, which caused Fanene and Maivia-Johnson to be hospitalized with injuries after the incident. The other driver involved was subsequently charged with driving under the influence.
Fanene is best friends with fellow wrestler Alexa Bliss.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Fireman's carry powerslam
- Pop-up Samoan drop
- Running somersault senton
- Standing leg drop, sometimes while running or done repeatedly in succession)
- 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
- Modified spinebuster
- 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
- 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
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 the article : Wikipedia
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