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Gail Kim

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Gail Kim
Born (1976-02-20) February 20, 1976 (age 48)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gail Kim
La Felina[2]
Billed height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[3]
Billed weight125 lb (57 kg)[4]
Billed fromTampa, Florida
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Seoul, South Korea
Trained byRon Hutchinson[3]
Rob Etcheverria[1]
Fit Finlay[1]
DebutDecember 2000[1]

Gail Kim (born February 20, 1976) is a Canadian professional wrestler, valet, model, and actress of Korean descent. She is currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling on its SmackDown brand.

She began her career wrestling as La Felina on the Canadian independent circuit. She joined WWE in 2002, winning the WWE Women's Championship in her debut match for the company. She formed a tag team with Molly Holly, before being released in November 2004. She then joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), immediately aligning herself with the America's Most Wanted alliance. She also managed James Storm and then Petey Williams, while also feuding with Jacqueline Moore. In 2007, she became the inaugural Women's Knockout Champion and feuded with Awesome Kong over the belt. She left TNA in August 2008 and re-debuted in WWE in March 2009.

Early life and training

Kim attended the York Memorial Collegiate Institute in Toronto, partaking in numerous sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, and badminton.[1] Upon her graduation, she began studying kinesiology at the University of Toronto, but later switched to nutrition at Ryerson University.[3]

After obtaining her degree, Kim decided to become a professional wrestler and joined Ron Hutchinson's "School of Pro Wrestling" in Toronto.[3] She received supplementary training from Rob Etchevarria at the "Squared Circle Pro Wrestling Gym".[1] She debuted in December 2000, wearing a mask and wrestling as "The Queen of the Cats" La Felina in the Southern Ontario-based Apocalypse Wrestling Federation and was eventually unmasked by Tracy Brooks in a "Mask versus Hair" match.[2][3] Kim worked on the Canadian independent circuit for two years, wrestling for promotions such as Border City Wrestling.[4]

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–2004)

Kim was introduced to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) employee Nora Greenwald (known on-screen as Molly Holly) by Jason Sensation in 2001; Greenwald encouraged Kim to send her videos and tapes to WWF officials, which eventually led to her contract.[5] In October 2002, she was hired by WWE.[1] She spent eight months training in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and appearing in house shows and dark matches before being called up to the main roster.[4] After several weeks of vignettes showcasing Matrix-like effects aired on Raw, Kim debuted on the June 30, edition of Raw as a fan favorite, with a Matrix-inspired outfit.[4]

Her first televised WWE match was a seven-woman battle royal in Buffalo, New York with the WWE Women's Championship, then held by an injured Jazz, on the line.[4] Kim won the match by lastly eliminating Victoria.[4] Kim held the title for four weeks, before losing it to Molly Holly on the July 28 edition of Raw. Subsequently, Kim formed an alliance with Holly to take on Trish Stratus. Stratus was later assisted by Lita, who had been absent from WWE television since injuring her neck in 2002. At Unforgiven on September 21, Stratus and Lita defeated Kim and Holly in a tag match. The four women continued to feud until November, when Kim was sidelined with a broken right collarbone.[1][5] Kim returned to Raw in April 2004 and immediately reforged her alliance with Holly.[1] At Bad Blood on June 13, she faced Lita, Stratus, and WWE Women's Champion Victoria in a Fatal Four-Way, which was won by Stratus.

Kim's last WWE match was a battle royal on October 19 at Taboo Tuesday, which was won by Trish Stratus.[1] Kim was released from WWE on November 3, 2004.[1] Kim was caught off guard by her release and was told that management wanted to take the women's division in a new direction.[5] Following her release and the expiration of her ninety-day no-compete clause,[5] Kim made sporadic appearances on the independent circuit, one being the All World Wrestling League (Michigan) and including wrestling matches in Japan.[6]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2005–2008)

America's Most Wanted

Main article: America's Most Wanted

In September 2005, Kim signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[1] On the October 8 edition of Impact!, Kim made her debut, aligning herself with Jeff Jarrett and America's Most Wanted (AMW; Chris Harris and James Storm).[6] Shortly thereafter, she helped AMW regain the NWA World Tag Team Championship from The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens).[1] In the later part of the year, Kim feuded with Jackie Gayda.[6] Gayda was "fired" by Kim at Sacrifice on May 14, 2006 after she announced that she was pregnant. Afterward, Kim was attacked at Slammiversary by Sirelda. The weeks after this, the two traded blows until Victory Road, where Sirelda's team defeated Kim's team. At Hard Justice, they faced off against each other in a one-on-one match, which Kim won.[1]

Kim with America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm)

On the October 19, 2006 Impact!, in the storyline, Kim was injured by Hernandez, when he performed a "Bordertoss" on her following a loss in an Eight-Man Tag Team match where the The Latin American X-Change (LAX; Homicide and Hernandez) teamed with AMW. At Genesis, AMW lost to LAX after James Storm was hit with a blowtorch can. After the match, Homicide tried to use Da Gringo Killa on her, but she was saved by Petey Williams, who beat LAX with a lead pipe. AMW got another shot against LAX in a flag match at Turning Point where James Storm accidentally hit Chris Harris with shards of a beer bottle allowing LAX to win again. AMW then got one more shot in a Title vs Team match where AMW would have to disband if they lost. AMW lost when Storm hit Harris with the beer bottle on purpose. Kim went by Harris's side as Storm left.

At Final Resolution, Kim accompanied James Storm, who defeated Petey Williams, to the ring. She saved Williams from further assault, however, by taking Storm's beer bottle out of his hand and giving him a low blow. Kim was then jumped from behind by a returning Jacqueline Moore, who became Storm's new manager.[1] In response, Kim became Williams' new manager.[1] Kim and Williams faced Storm and Moore in a Mixed Tag match at Against All Odds; Moore was able to pin Kim after Storm collided into her. After the match, Chris Harris returned to chase away Storm. A rematch with Kim against Storm was made in a Double Bullrope match which Storm won. At Lockdown, Kim faced off with Moore in a Cat Fight Steel Cage match, which Kim won. Kim and Moore had a rematch in a Street Fight, where Kim once again defeated Moore.[1]

Knockout Division

At Bound for Glory, she became the first ever TNA Women's Knockout Champion, when she won a 10-Woman Gauntlet Elimination match last defeating Roxxi Laveaux.[1] In the next couple of weeks, she competed in the TNA Knockouts Santa's Workshop Street Fight where she immediately ran to the ring going after her rival Awesome Kong, who won the match. Kim defeated Kong at Final Resolution in a No Disqualification match to retain her TNA Women's Knockout Championship.[1] Kim, however, lost the Championship to Kong on the main event of the January 10 edition of Impact!, after Kong pinned her.[1] Kim was named 2007 TNA Knockout of the Year on the January 24 edition of Impact!.[7] Afterward, she called out Kong, who came to the ring to attack her.[7] O.D.B., however, came to the ring to save Kim.[7] On the February 21 edition of Impact!, Kim and tag team partner O.D.B. had some miscommunication and started brawling with each other. At Destination X she lost a 3-Way Dance, which included O.D.B., to Kong. At Lockdown, she and O.D.B. defeated Raisha Saeed and Kong in a tag team match.[8]

Kim then won the first ever women's ladder match in TNA at Sacrifice to become number one contender to the Women's Knockout Championship.[9] Kim was later injured, in storyline, which resulted in Kim teaming up with O.D.B. and Laveaux to fight The Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) and the debuting Moose at Slammiversary, in which Kim's team was victorious.[10] A match was then set for Victory Road between Kim and Love, which Kim won.[11] At Hard Justice, Kim once again teamed with O.D.B., but with the new addition of Taylor Wilde, to defeat The Beautiful People and Awesome Kong.[12] Kim, however, left TNA on August 21, 2008.[1]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2009)

After her contract expiration with TNA, Kim re-signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Kim made her return on the March 27 episode of Friday Night SmackDown as a heroic character when she interrupted a WWE Divas Championship match between Michelle McCool and Maryse by attacking both Divas. Kim made her in-ring return on the March 30 episode of Raw in an 18-Diva tag team match on the winning team.[13]

Personal life

Kim during Gen Con Indy 2008

Kim has admitted to breast augmentation surgery before signing with WWE.[5] While working for WWE, she enlarged her implants.[5] She once ruptured an implant and was sidelined for two weeks.[5]

In 2005, Kim posed topless multiple times for a popular cell phone ad campaign in South Korea.[14] In December 2005, Kim played an assassin named Nadia in an independent film entitled Princess.[6] which was later renamed to Royal Kill. The film was released April 10, 2009 in limited theaters across the USA. Kim was also featured in the top 40 list of "America's Most Eligible Bachelorettes" by Forbes in December 2007.[15]

Kim is close friends with former WWE Divas, Stacy Keibler, Victoria and Nidia.[5]

In wrestling

  • Theme music
    • "International Woman" by Dara Shindler (WWE)
    • "Guilty" by Dale Oliver (TNA)
    • "Gail Force" by Dale Oliver (TNA)
    • "Unstoppable" by Dale Oliver (TNA)
    • "Unstoppable (Remix)" by Dale Oliver (TNA)

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Biography". TheGailKim.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  2. ^ a b Saelhof, Todd (2004-08-01). "One on one with Gail Kim". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Chambers, Doug (2002-04-26). "La Felina—'Queen of the Cats'". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Gail Kim wins WWE Women's belt". SLAM! Wrestling. 2003-07-01. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Gerweck, Steve (2004-12-06). "Interview Recap: Gail Kim". Gerweck.com. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  6. ^ a b c d Cohen, Russ (2006-02-27). "Gail Kim isn't just TNA". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  7. ^ a b c d Sokol, Chris (January 28, 2008). "Impact: Three-way tag title defense". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  8. ^ Sokol, Chris (2008-04-18). "TNA Lockdown:Joe captures gold". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  9. ^ "Exclusive Ringside Photos From Sacrifice". TNA Wrestling. 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  10. ^ "Slammiversary: No gimmicks needed for thumbs up PPV". SLAM! Wrestling. 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  11. ^ Meltzer, Dave. "TNA Victory Road PPV report". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  12. ^ "Hard Justice Pay-Per-View Results". TNA Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  13. ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2009-03-30). "Dig your own hole". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  14. ^ The News Vault - WWE Gail Kim Nude / Naked Photos, Pictures Topless WWE Diva WWF Sexy Gallery Images
  15. ^ Baines, Tim (2007-12-15). "Canadian hero Gail Kim coming home". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  16. ^ Parks, Greg (2009-05-22). "Parks' SmackDown Report 5/22". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gail Kim's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  18. ^ "The PWI Female 50 Rankings: Who Is The Top Women's Wrestler In The World?". PWPix.net. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  19. ^ "Women's Championship: Title History". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
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