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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 50.16.114.237 (talk) at 05:21, 1 February 2011 (→‎Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2009–present)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Gail Kim
An Asian female with dark hair wearing a dark blue top posing for a picture.
Born (1977-02-20) February 20, 1977 (age 47)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Websitehttp://www.thegailkim.com/
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gail Kim
La Felina
Billed height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Billed weight125 lb (57 kg)
Billed fromTampa, Florida
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Korea[1]
Trained byRon Hutchinson
Rob Etcheverria
Fit Finlay
DebutDecember 2000

Gail Kim (born February 20, 1977)[2] is a Canadian professional wrestler of Korean descent. She is currently signed with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotion, assigned to its Raw brand.

She began her career wrestling as La Felina on the Canadian independent circuit, before joining WWE in 2002 as Gail Kim. In her WWE debut, she won the WWE Women's Championship. After being released by WWE in 2004, Kim joined the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion in September 2005. There, she joined the tag team America's Most Wanted as their valet. After the dissolution of the group, Kim performed as a singles wrestler, eventually going on to become the inaugural TNA Women's World Champion in October 2007. She later left TNA in August 2008, to return to WWE in March 2009.

Personal life

Gail Kim was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 20, 1977. Kim majored in kinesiology at the University of Toronto before transferring to Ryerson University and changing her major to nutrition.[2] Prior to signing with WWE, Kim undertook breast augmentation surgery. After signing, she had her implants enlarged. While performing for WWE, one of her implants ruptured, which resulted in her being sidelined for two weeks.[3] Kim posed topless for a cell phone ad campaign in South Korea.[4] In 2007, Kim was listed as 31 on Forbes' top 40 list of "America's Most Eligible Bachelorettes".[5] In 2009, Kim was a part of the cast of the independent psychological thriller entitled Royal Kill.[2]

Professional wrestling career

Early career and training

After obtaining her degree from Ryerson University, Kim decided to become a professional wrestler and joined Ron Hutchinson's "School of Pro Wrestling" in Toronto.[6] She received supplementary training from Rob Etchevarria at the "Squared Circle Pro Wrestling Gym".[2] 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. She, however, was eventually unmasked by Tracy Brooks in a "Mask versus Hair" match.[7][6] Kim worked on the Canadian independent circuit for two years, wrestling for promotions such as Border City Wrestling.[8]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–2004)

Kim was introduced to World Wrestling Federation (WWF) 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.[3] In October 2002, she was hired by the WWF, now renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[9] 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.[8] After several weeks of vignettes showcasing Matrix-like effects aired on Raw, Kim debuted on June 30 as a fan favorite, with a Matrix-inspired outfit.[8]

Her first televised WWE match was a seven-woman battle royal in Buffalo, New York on the June 30, 2003 episode of Raw with the WWE Women's Championship, then held by an injured Jazz, on the line.[8] Kim won the match by lastly eliminating Victoria.[8] Kim held the title for four weeks, before losing it to Molly Holly on the July 28, 2003 episode of Raw.[10] Subsequently, Kim formed an alliance with Holly to take on Trish Stratus, who was later assisted by Lita. At WWE's Unforgiven PPV event on September 21, 2003, Stratus and Lita defeated Kim and Holly in a tag match.[11] The four women continued to feud until November, when Kim was sidelined with a broken right collarbone.[9][3] Kim returned to Raw in April 2004 and immediately reforged her alliance with Holly.[9] At WWE's Bad Blood PPV event on June 13, 2004, she faced Lita, Stratus, and Victoria in a Fatal Four-Way for the WWE Women's Championship, which was won by Stratus.[12]

Kim participated in a battle royal on October 19, 2004 at WWE's Taboo Tuesday PPV event, which was won by Stratus.[9] She, however, was released by WWE on November 3, 2004 as a result of cost cutting.[9][13] Kim was caught off guard by her release and was told that management wanted to take the women's division in a new direction.[3]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2005–2008)

America's Most Wanted

Main article: America's Most Wanted (professional wrestling)
An Asian female with dark hair standing next to two male wrestlers wearing wrestling gear, black coats, and championship belts.
Kim during her time managing America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris [top] and James Storm [bottom])

Following her release and the expiration of her 90-day no-compete clause,[3] Kim made sporadic appearances on the independent circuit, including at Michigan's All World Wrestling League and in Japan.[14] She also competed in Korea and Mexico before being signed by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotion on September 6, 2005.[9][15] She made her TNA debut on the October 8, 2005 episode of TNA's television program TNA Impact!, aligning herself with Jeff Jarrett and America's Most Wanted (AMW) (Chris Harris and James Storm) and taking on the role of AMW's and Jarrett's manager.[16] Kim made her in-ring debut on July 16, 2006 at TNA's Victory Road PPV event in a Six Man Mixed Tag Team match with AMW against A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Sirelda. However, her team ended up on the losing end of the contest.[17] At TNA's Hard Justice PPV event on August 13, 2006, Kim defeated Sirelda in a standard wrestling match.[18]

In early 2007 after the dissolution of AMW, Kim began a more active role as an in-ring competitor in TNA. This began with an on-screen feud with her former alliance, Storm, and his new manager Jacqueline. The first encounter between the group was on February 11, 2007 at TNA's Against All Odds PPV event in a Mixed Tag Team match, which Kim and her partner, Petey Williams, lost.[19] On March 11, 2007 at TNA's Destination X PPV event, Storm and Jacqueline won a rematch against Williams and Kim in a Double Bullrope match.[20] Kim went on to defeat Jacqueline in a Six Sides of Steel cage match on April 15, 2007 at TNA's Lockdown PPV event.[21] Their feud came to an end on the May 3, 2007 episode of TNA Impact!, when Kim defeated Moore under street fight rules.[22]

Singles competitor

An Asian female with dark hair wearing light-blue wrestling gear standing in front of a crowd.
Kim during her time as a singles competitor in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

After the conclusion to her feud with Moore, Kim made two minor TNA PPV appearances before outlasting nine other competitors in a ten-woman gauntlet match to crown the first TNA Women's World Champion on October 14, 2007 at TNA's Bound for Glory PPV event.[23][24][25] She made her first title defense on November 11, 2007 at TNA's Genesis PPV event; there she successfully retained the title by defeating Roxxi Laveaux, ODB, and Angel Williams.[26] Kim then began a feud with Awesome Kong over the championship. Their first encounter occurred on December 2, 2007 at TNA's Turning Point PPV event, which resulted in Kim retaining due to a disqualification by Kong.[27] On January 6, 2008 at TNA's Final Resolution PPV event, Kim defeated Kong in their second encounter to retain the championship under no disqualification rules.[28] In their third and final encounter on the January 10, 2008 episode of TNA Impact!, Kong defeated Kim to win the TNA Women's World Championship.[29]

During the January 24, 2008 episode of TNA Impact!, Kim was awarded the 2007 TNA Knockout of the Year award.[30] Kim competed in a three way match on March 9, 2008 at TNA's Destination X PPV event against Kong and ODB, which Kong won.[31] On April 13, 2008 at TNA's Lockdown PPV event, she teamed with ODB to defeat the team of Raisha Saeed and Kong in a tag team match.[32] On May 11, 2008 at TNA's Sacrifice PPV event, Kim won a TNA Knockouts Makeover Battle Royal, which involved a battle royal and then a ladder match, to become new one contender to the renamed TNA Women's Knockout Championship.[33] Kim competed for the championship on the May 15, 2008 episode of TNA Impact!, however failed to win the title.[34]

At TNA's Slammiversary PPV event on June 8, 2008, Kim teamed with ODB and Roxxi to defeat The Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) and Moose in a Six Woman Tag Team match.[35] Kim defeated Love on July 13, 2008 at TNA's Victory Road PPV event.[36] Kim then teamed with ODB and Taylor Wilde to defeat the team of Kong and The Beautiful People on August 10, 2008 at TNA's Hard Justice PPV event in her last TNA PPV match.[37] Kim's final TNA match aired on the August 21, 2008 episode of TNA Impact! in a losing effort to Kong under street fight rules.[38] Kim left TNA in mid-August 2008 after the terms of her contract expired.[39]

Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2009–present)

After her contract expired with TNA, Kim re-signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotion in late-2008.[40] She made her return on the March 27, 2009 episode of SmackDown, when she interrupted a WWE Divas Championship match between Michelle McCool and Maryse by attacking both competitors.[41] Kim made her in-ring return on the March 30, 2009 episode of Raw on the winning team of an 18-Diva tag team match.[42] Kim participated in a 25-Diva Miss WrestleMania battle royal on April 5, 2009 at WWE's WrestleMania XXV PPV event.[43] On the April 17, 2009 episode of SmackDown, Kim defeated then-Divas Champion Maryse.[44] This earned her a championship match the following week, which she failed to win.[45]

An Asian female with dark hair wearing light-blue wrestling gear standing in front of a crowd.
Kim at an autograph signing in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On the June 29, 2009 episode of Raw, Kim was traded to the Raw brand as part of a 15 wrestler tri-brand trade between Raw, SmackDown, and ECW.[46] A few weeks later on the August 10, 2009 episode of Raw, she gained another title shot by winning a Fatal 4-Way match, that also involved Beth Phoenix, Kelly Kelly, and Alicia Fox, to become number one contender.[47] She was unsuccessful in winning the championship on the August 17, 2009 episode of Raw, when she faced then-champion Mickie James.[48] At WWE's Bragging Rights PPV event on October 25, 2009, Kim, with Melina and Kelly Kelly, represented Raw in a losing effort to McCool, Phoenix, and Natalya, representing SmackDown.[49] Kim was on the winning side of a five-on-five Survivor Series Elimination match on November 22, 2009 at WWE's Survivor Series PPV event.[50]

In early 2010, a tournament was held for the newly vacated Divas Championship.[51] Kim defeated Jillian Hall and Fox to make it to the finals, where she faced Maryse for the vacant title.[52][53] The finals were held on the February 22, 2010 episode of Raw, which Maryse won to become the new champion.[54] The finals were originally to be held on February 21, 2010 at WWE's Elimination Chamber PPV event,[55] but the match was changed to the team of Maryse and Kim versus Team Lay-Cool (McCool and Layla), which was won by the latter.[56] Kim was apart of the losing side of a 10-Diva tag team match at WWE's WrestleMania XXVI PPV event on March 28, 2010.[57] At WWE's Fatal 4-Way PPV event on June 20, 2010, Kim challenged for the Divas Championship in a Fatal 4-Way match that also involved then-champion Eve, Maryse, and Fox; however, Fox won the contest.[58]

In early 2011, Gail Kim started a feud with The Bella Twins, after they became jealous of her (kayfabe} relationship with Daniel Bryan. This lead to both sisters attacking Kim whenever they saw her with Bryan.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • Apocalypse Wrestling Federation
    • Diva of the Year (2001)[6]

References

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  4. ^ Gail Kim Shoot Interview (DVD). HighSpots. August 2006.
  5. ^ South, Lee. "America's Most Eligible Bachelorettes". Forbes. Retrieved 2010-09-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Chambers, Doug (2002-04-26). "La Felina—'Queen of the Cats'". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  7. ^ Saelhof, Todd (2004-08-01). "One on one with Gail Kim". Calgary Sun. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
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