Cora Jade Bio
Brianna Coda, known professionally as Cora Jade, is an American professional wrestler born on January 14, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois. She is best known for her four-year tenure in WWE on the NXT brand, where she competed under the ring name Cora Jade and captured the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. Outside of WWE, she performs on the independent circuit as Elayna Black and has also made appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Since making her professional debut in 2018, Coda has built a reputation as a versatile performer, competing across multiple promotions in the United States. Her career has spanned WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling, Shimmer Women Athletes, and several independent companies, establishing her as a recognizable figure in modern women’s professional wrestling.
Early Life and Background
Brianna Coda was born on January 14, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois, where she grew up surrounded by a vibrant wrestling scene. From a young age, she developed an interest in professional wrestling, drawing inspiration from performers such as AJ Lee, whom she has cited as a primary influence in pursuing the craft. She has also described herself as a devout fan of fellow Chicago professional wrestler CM Punk, further fueling her passion for the industry.
Coda’s early fandom was shaped by memorable moments in wrestling history, including watching Bayley and Sasha Banks compete at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. That match, along with the work of other prominent women in the sport, helped solidify her decision to pursue professional wrestling as a career. Her Chicago roots and exposure to the city’s wrestling culture played a significant role in her early development as a fan and future performer.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Coda trained at the Freelance Wrestling Academy, where she honed the in-ring skills that would launch her professional career. She made her professional wrestling debut on December 9, 2018, under the ring name Elayna Black, beginning her journey on the independent circuit. Her early work included appearances in promotions such as Shimmer Women Athletes, where she debuted in Volume 118 in a scramble match.
On July 11, 2019, Black won the Zen Of Women’s Athletics Tournament, marking the first tournament accomplishment of her career. Later that year, she competed in Rise Wrestling’s Regional Rising Stars Tournament and made her pay-per-view debut with Impact Wrestling at Prelude to Glory on October 18, 2019, where she faced Havok. She also made her first appearance for All Elite Wrestling on the October 13, 2020, episode of Dark, facing Red Velvet. These early opportunities helped her gain valuable experience before signing with WWE in 2021.
Cora Jade Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Brianna Coda began her professional wrestling career in December 2018 under the ring name Elayna Black, working primarily on the independent circuit. Her early matches took place across several promotions, including Shimmer Women Athletes, Rise Wrestling, and Impact Wrestling, where she gained exposure and experience against established competitors. Her first tournament win came in 2019 at the Zen Of Women’s Athletics Tournament, a milestone that helped raise her profile within the independent scene.
During this period, Black also made appearances for All Elite Wrestling, competing on the promotion’s Dark program in 2020. These opportunities on nationally available platforms caught the attention of WWE scouts, and on January 20, 2021, it was announced that Coda had signed a contract with the company. She debuted on the January 22 episode of 205 Live under the ring name Cora Jade, beginning the next chapter of her career.
WWE NXT Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Upon arriving in WWE, Cora Jade was immediately placed into prominent storylines on the NXT brand. She was paired with Gigi Dolin in the opening round of the 2021 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and later joined Raquel González’s team for NXT WarGames in November 2021, where she secured the victory for her team in the women’s WarGames match. These early opportunities positioned her as a rising star within the NXT women’s division.
In 2022, Jade received a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship in a triple threat match at New Year’s Evil but was unsuccessful. She soon found championship success at The Great American Bash, where she and Roxanne Perez defeated Toxic Attraction to become the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. Their partnership, however, came to a dramatic end when Jade turned on Perez in July 2022, establishing herself as a singles competitor and a heel character within the brand.
Solo Run and Injury (2022–2024)
Following her betrayal of Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade embarked on a singles run that included rivalries with Perez, featuring a Weapons Wild match at Halloween Havoc in 2022. She also made her first main roster appearance on Raw in October 2022, facing Rhea Ripley. In May 2023, Jade defeated Fallon Henley in the first round of the tournament for the vacant NXT Women’s Championship but lost to Lyra Valkyria in the semifinals, after which she took a brief hiatus from WWE television.
Jade returned at NXT Deadline in December 2023, attacking NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. However, her momentum was halted on January 12, 2024, when she suffered a torn ACL during a match against Valkyria at a live event, sidelining her for approximately nine months. She made her return at NXT’s CW premiere on October 1, 2024, helping Roxanne Perez retain the NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia. At NXT Halloween Havoc on October 27, 2024, Jade and Perez faced Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer in a losing effort.
Final WWE Months and TNA Appearances (2025)
On January 7, 2025, at NXT: New Year’s Evil, Cora Jade competed in a fatal four-way match to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s North American Championship but was unsuccessful. She was later added to the fatal four-way match for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT Vengeance Day but again failed to capture the title. At NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2025, Jade teamed with Perez in a fatal four-way tag team elimination match, but Perez abandoned her, marking Jade’s final appearance for WWE.
On May 2, 2025, Cora Jade was released from her WWE contract, ending her four-year tenure with the company. Earlier in 2025, she had also made appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, confronting TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich at Genesis on January 19 and defeating Hyan on the January 30 episode of TNA Impact!. She unsuccessfully challenged Slamovich for the TNA Knockouts World Championship at Sacrifice on March 14.
Style and Strengths
Cora Jade is known for her agile, high-energy in-ring style and her ability to adapt to both singles and tag team competition. Her background on the independent circuit allowed her to develop a well-rounded skill set, while her time in NXT sharpened her storytelling abilities and character work. She has demonstrated resilience throughout her career, returning from injury and adapting to multiple wrestling styles across different promotions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Cora Jade’s most notable moments are her WarGames victory in 2021, her NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship win at The Great American Bash in 2022, and her return from a torn ACL at NXT’s CW premiere in 2024. Her appearances in the WWE 2K video game series, beginning with WWE 2K23, also mark a significant milestone in her mainstream visibility as a performer.
Cora Jade Career Wins
Cora Jade has accumulated championship victories across multiple promotions throughout her career. Her most prominent title win came in WWE NXT, where she captured the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Roxanne Perez at The Great American Bash in 2022. She has also secured tournament victories on the independent circuit and added championship gold following her return to the independents.
WWE NXT Highlights
During her tenure in WWE NXT, Cora Jade’s primary championship accomplishment was winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Roxanne Perez. She also competed for the NXT Women’s Championship on multiple occasions, including at New Year’s Evil in 2022 and at NXT Vengeance Day in 2025, though she was unable to capture singles gold. Her WarGames victory in 2021 remains one of her most memorable team accomplishments in the brand.
Other Wins and Performances
On the independent circuit, Cora Jade, performing as Elayna Black, won the Zen Of Women’s Athletics Tournament in 2019. Following her release from WWE, she returned to the independents and on June 28, 2025, won her first-ever singles championship, the AWF Women’s Championship, by defeating Brittnie Brooks. She has also competed in promotions such as Game Changer Wrestling, Black Label Pro, and Top Talent Wrestling during her 2025 independent run.
Cora Jade Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Cora Jade’s family background is limited. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where her connection to the city’s wrestling scene helped shape her career path.
Personal Life
Cora Jade has cited AJ Lee as a primary influence in her decision to pursue professional wrestling and has expressed admiration for CM Punk as a fellow Chicago native in the industry. She has also credited Bayley and Sasha Banks as inspirations, particularly after watching their match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. In June 2025, Coda revealed that she had suffered an ectopic pregnancy in January 2023 which required emergency surgery. In July 2025, she announced that she would be taking a sabbatical from professional wrestling to focus on her mental health.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Cora Jade. She began the year competing across both WWE NXT and TNA, making her first TNA appearance since 2019 at Genesis in January and challenging for the TNA Knockouts World Championship at Sacrifice in March. Within WWE, she remained a prominent figure in the NXT women’s division, competing in high-profile matches at New Year’s Evil and Vengeance Day.
Her WWE tenure came to an end on May 2, 2025, when she was released from her contract. Following her departure, she reverted to her Elayna Black ring name and returned to the independent circuit, announcing appearances for promotions including Atomic Legacy Wrestling, Black Label Pro, Game Changer Wrestling, and Top Talent Wrestling. She captured the AWF Women’s Championship in June 2025 before announcing a sabbatical from wrestling later that month to focus on her mental health.
