Karmen Petrovic Bio
Monika Klisara, known professionally by the ring name Karmen Petrovic, is a Bosnian-Canadian professional wrestler signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT and Evolve brands. Born in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, she is widely recognized as the first Bosnian to perform in WWE. Before transitioning to professional wrestling, Klisara built a decorated career in competitive karate, winning national championships and representing Canada at a high level.
Since making her professional debut in 2023, Petrovic has worked across WWE’s developmental system and has appeared on NXT Level Up and weekly NXT programming. She has also ventured outside WWE, making appearances on the independent circuit and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Early Life and Background
Monika Klisara was born on October 29, 1995, in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her family relocated to Toronto, Ontario, in the mid-1990s in order to escape the Bosnian War, and she was raised in Canada. She is of Bosnian Croat and Bosnian Serb ethnicity, a heritage that has informed her identity as a Bosnian-Canadian athlete. She later attended Ryerson University, where she continued her education while developing her athletic career.
Her early years in Toronto coincided with the beginning of her martial arts training, which would lay the foundation for her future in combat sports. Standing at 5 feet 2 inches, Klisara developed the discipline and focus that would later help her transition from karate to professional wrestling.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Klisara first made her mark in karate, rising through the competitive ranks as a teenager. At age 17, she was a member of both the Canadian National Karate team and the Ontario Provincial Karate team, an impressive accomplishment for a young athlete. During her karate career, she captured gold medals at the Fonseca Cup, the Ontario Provincial competition, and the Ontario Summer Olympic Games.
Her decorated karate background gave her a strong striking base and an understanding of in-ring discipline, qualities that would translate to the squared circle. In November 2022, Klisara was announced as a member of the WWE Performance Center Fall 2022 Rookie Class, becoming the first Bosnian ever signed to the company. She made her professional wrestling debut on March 11, 2023, at a WWE live event, teaming with Zoey Stark in a losing effort against Indi Hartwell and Lea Mitchell.
Karmen Petrovic Career
Early Career (2023)
Klisara’s earliest months in WWE were spent training at the Performance Center and gaining experience at live events. After her March 2023 debut, she continued to hone her craft behind the scenes. Her on-screen debut under the Karmen Petrovic ring name came on the July 28, 2023, episode of NXT Level Up, where she lost to Ivy Nile.
She quickly transitioned to the main NXT brand, where she earned her first televised singles victory in the 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament. On the October 17, 2023, episode of NXT, Petrovic eliminated Jaida Parker in the first round before being eliminated herself in the semifinals by Lola Vice the following week.
NXT Breakthrough (2024)
Petrovic’s 2024 campaign on NXT began with a rivalry that established her personality on screen. On the July 2, 2024, episode of NXT, she faced Jazmyn Nyx but lost due to interference from Jacy Jayne. The two rivals then teamed with their respective partners at NXT Heatwave on July 7, where Petrovic and fellow Canadian Arianna Grace defeated Nyx and Jayne. A disagreement with Grace about who deserved credit for the win led to a match being scheduled between them by NXT General Manager Ava.
In late September 2024, Petrovic became involved in a romance storyline with Ashante “Thee” Adonis, and the pair made their on-screen couple debut in early 2025. The storyline progressed into mixed tag team matches, with Petrovic and Adonis defeating Brinley Reece and Dion Lennox on November 19, 2024, and formalizing their on-screen relationship on January 14, 2025.
Evolve and NXT Women’s North American Championship Picture (2024–2025)
Petrovic positioned herself in the NXT Women’s North American Championship picture in early 2025. On the February 18, 2025, episode of NXT, she won a triple threat match against Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan to earn a title opportunity. The following week, she challenged champion Stephanie Vaquer but came up short.
On the April 29, 2025, episode of NXT, Adonis arranged another NXT Women’s North American Championship match for Petrovic against new champion Sol Ruca. Unprepared for the opportunity, she lost, and the resulting frustration boiled over into an on-screen breakup with Adonis. On July 15, 2025, she challenged Kali Armstrong for the Evolve Women’s Championship but was defeated following interference from Jordynne Grace.
Other Promotions (2024)
Beyond WWE, Petrovic expanded her resume in 2024. She made her Total Nonstop Action Wrestling debut on the September 5, 2024, episode of Impact!, answering TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace’s open challenge. Later that year, she debuted for Game Changer Wrestling at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII on November 24, 2024, defeating Sumie Sakai by referee stoppage in a hard-hitting showcase of her martial arts background.
Style and Strengths
Petrovic’s in-ring style is built on her karate foundation, giving her crisp striking ability and an aggressive, mat-based offensive approach. Her years of martial arts competition translated into a calm, technical presence in the ring, allowing her to perform well in both traditional WWE matches and the more combat-sport-focused environment of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport.
Notable Events and Milestones
Petrovic’s most notable milestones include becoming the first Bosnian signed to WWE, her debut at NXT Level Up, and her breakthrough tournament win in the 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament. Her appearances in TNA and at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII further underscored her cross-promotional appeal, while her high-profile NXT Women’s North American Championship pursuits in 2025 cemented her status as a featured performer on the brand.
Karmen Petrovic Career Wins
Karmen Petrovic’s verified win record is built primarily on her early television success and her standout inter-promotional performances. From her first televised singles victory in the 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament to her Bloodsport XII victory in November 2024, she has consistently found ways to win on big stages. Her NXT tag team win with Arianna Grace at NXT Heatwave 2024 and her triple threat win on the February 18, 2025, episode of NXT further highlight her growing résumé.
NXT Highlights
Within NXT, Petrovic’s first televised singles win came in the first round of the 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament against Jaida Parker. She continued to add televised victories throughout 2024 and 2025, including a key win over Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan to earn an NXT Women’s North American Championship opportunity.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of NXT, Petrovic scored a notable referee-stoppage victory over Sumie Sakai at GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII in November 2024. Her TNA debut appearance on Impact! in September 2024 was a non-winning showcase, but it established her presence in another major American promotion.
Karmen Petrovic Family
Family Background and Wrestling Lineage
Klisara was raised in a Bosnian family that relocated to Canada during the Bosnian War, settling in Toronto. While her immediate family details are limited in public records, her multicultural heritage, including Bosnian Croat and Bosnian Serb roots, is a meaningful part of her identity.
Personal Life
Klisara is in a relationship with Brazilian professional basketball player Bruno Caboclo, a relationship first reported on November 10, 2023. She has continued to live and train in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, while also performing for WWE’s NXT and Evolve brands in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of major storyline progression for Karmen Petrovic. Her on-screen romance with Ashante “Thee” Adonis was formalized in January 2025, and the duo became a prominent mixed tag team presence on NXT television. Petrovic’s in-ring performances during this stretch earned her an NXT Women’s North American Championship opportunity, signaling management’s confidence in her as a featured performer on the brand.
Despite the momentum, the year also brought setbacks. Her February 2025 title challenge against Stephanie Vaquer ended in defeat, and her April 2025 opportunity against Sol Ruca was lost under chaotic circumstances that ended her on-screen relationship with Adonis. The breakup storyline added a new dramatic layer to her character, with Petrovic attacking Adonis after the match.
Heading into the second half of 2025, Petrovic remains a central figure on NXT programming. Her July 2025 challenge for the Evolve Women’s Championship against Kali Armstrong, although unsuccessful, demonstrated her willingness to chase gold across WWE’s developmental brands. With her karate-rooted in-ring style and her growing television experience, Petrovic is well positioned to pursue future championship opportunities in NXT and beyond.
