Kiana James, determined to leave her corporate career behind, made the bold decision to pursue her dream in wrestling after growing tired of office work. The 28-year-old WWE star explained she fell in love with wrestling while working in corporate America and chose to train full-time with hopes of becoming a WWE superstar.
James began her training at Flatbacks Wrestling School in Forest City, Florida, a renowned facility founded by veterans Shawn Spears and Tyler Breeze. Committed to her goal, she emphasized her unwavering intention to succeed in WWE without relying on her previous education or career as a fallback.
“I come from a corporate background,”
James said.
“I was in corporate America and I fell in love with wrestling and quit my job to train.”
“I have an education and a career to fall back on, but I never thought about falling back,”
she added.
“That was never an option. I was going to become a WWE superstar and I was going to put the work in until that happened.”
Bridging Past Experiences to Wrestling Success
The transition from a 9-5 job to the intense world of wrestling felt like switching between two different lives for James. Drawing from her background as a competitive gymnast and collegiate performer at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, she noted how all these experiences blend into her current career.
“I like to think that my journey, every piece of it, led me here,”
James shared.
“I think that being a WWE superstar blends all of my worlds. I come from a corporate background, but I grew up a competitive gymnast. In college, I did competitive dance and cheer. I’ve performed in front of a crowd. I have love for the energy of a crowd. The acrobatics, the athleticism, the competition, it just blends it all.”
Her resolve was clear:
“I have to do this. I was born for this.”
Support System and Personal Sacrifices
James was not alone in her pursuit; her partner, Zach Klingensmith, played a key role in supporting her ambitions. The couple married in January 2022, and Klingensmith made significant sacrifices to accompany her on this journey.
“I decided, ‘Hey, I want to be a WWE superstar,’ and he was like, ‘Well, it seems like Florida is the place to do it,’”
James recalled.
“I didn’t have a contract or anything and he was like, ‘Let’s quit our jobs. I believe in you.’ From day one, he quit his job and moved to Orlando just for me to chase my dream. He’s my ride or die.”
WWE Breakthrough and Challenges
James made her debut on WWE’s NXT developmental brand in February 2022 and later appeared on the main roster during an episode of Raw in June 2024. Unfortunately, a leg injury sustained shortly after her main roster debut sidelined her for over a year.
Despite that setback, she recently secured one of the biggest wins of her WWE career in a triple threat match against Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax, which qualified her for the prestigious upcoming women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Preparing for the Elimination Chamber Challenge
The women’s Elimination Chamber match will feature Kiana James alongside competitors Alexa Bliss, Tiffany Stratton, Asuka, Rhea Ripley, and Raquel Rodriguez. The winner will earn a chance to compete for a title at WrestleMania 42, taking place at the United Center in Chicago.
“I always like to say, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,’”
James said about her preparation.
“So when it comes to training, diet, physique, all that stuff, I’m always honed in. But the Chamber is like nothing else. But it gets me excited. I think my competitive edge is my mind and my strategic ways of thinking. Now I have a cage and pods and weapons and no rules.”
“I’ve been watching old Chamber matches from the past, men’s and women’s, to analyze like, ‘Oh, I could take from that’ or ‘That’s really cool.’”
The event will stream live on the ESPN App on Saturday, February 28, at 7 p.m. ET.
What Lies Ahead for Kiana James’ WWE Career
Kiana James has shown an unrelenting drive, blending her varied athletic and corporate experiences into her professional wrestling path. With strong support from her husband Zach Klingensmith and a recent major victory advancing her into one of WWE’s most challenging matches, James is poised to make significant strides in her WWE career.
The upcoming Elimination Chamber match at WrestleMania 42 offers her a critical opportunity to claim a title shot, potentially marking a pivotal moment in her journey from corporate America to wrestling stardom.
