Nikkita Lyons Explained
Nikkita Lyons |
Birth Name: | Faith Marie Jefferies |
Birth Date: | 5 August 1999[1] |
Birth Place: | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
Ring Names: | Faith Faith Jefferies FaithyJ Faith the Lioness Nikkita Lyons |
Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m) |
Weight: | 154 lbs |
Billed: | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Trainer: | Selina Majors |
Debut: | October 11, 2018 |
Faith Marie Jefferies (born August 5, 1999) is an American professional wrestler, taekwondo practitioner, and musician.[2] She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on its NXT brand under the ring name Nikkita Lyons. Jefferies has also wrestled for Women of Wrestling (WOW) as Faith the Lioness.[3]
Early life
Jefferies was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Hollywood, California. She began practicing Taekwondo at the age of four, earning a black belt by the age of 8.[2] She graduated from high school in early 2017.
Professional wrestling career
Women of Wrestling (2019–2021)
Shortly after graduating high school in 2017, Jefferies began professional wrestling training under Selina Majors. She debuted for Women of Wrestling under the ring name "Faith The Lioness". In summer 2021, Jefferies attended WWE's tryouts in Las Vegas, where she was offered a developmental contract.[4]
WWE
NXT (2021–present)
After signing with WWE in late summer 2021, Jefferies' WWE debut was on the December 31, 2021 episode of 205 Live, under the ring name Nikkita Lyons, losing to Amari Miller.[5] She made her NXT debut on the February 22, 2022 episode, defeating Kayla Inlay (who now goes by Kiana James).[6] In April, Lyons entered into a feud with Lash Legend, beating her on the April 5 and 26 episodes of NXT respectively.[7] [8] At Spring Breakin', she teamed with Cora Jade to defeat Legend and Natalya in a tag team match.[9] On the May 10 episode of NXT, Lyons participated in the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament, defeating Arianna Grace in the first round.[10] On May 24, it was announced that Lyons was removed from the tournament due to an injury, revealing on her Instagram account a day later that she suffered a partial MCL tear and an MCL sprain.[11] [12] Lyons returned on the June 28 episode of NXT, defeating NXT Women's Champion Mandy Rose by disqualification.[13]
On the July 19 episode of NXT, Lyons competed in a 20-woman battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women's Championship, eliminating Kayden Carter and Kiana James, but was eliminated by Tiffany Stratton.[14] On the August 8 episode of Raw, it was announced that Lyons would be teaming with Zoey Stark in a tournament to fill the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship that had been vacant since May.[15] On the August 19 episode of SmackDown, Lyons and her tag partner were removed from the tournament. Stark reportedly sustained a concussion days earlier in an NXT Women's Championship match. On September 13 at the NXT 2.0 One Year Anniversary Show, Lyons and Stark defeated James and Arianna Grace.[16] On the November 8 episode of NXT, Lyons and Stark failed to capture the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship from Carter and Katana Chance, and Lyons was taken out by Stark after the match.[17] Lyons lost to Stark on the December 20, 2022 episode of NXT and was injured by Blair Davenport on the January 24, 2023 episode of NXT. Lyons returned to NXT on its December 5, 2023 episode, attacking Davenport. On the December 12 episode, she made her return to the ring after a near year-long absence in a tag-team match with Lyra Valkyria, facing Blair Davenport & Cora Jade, where her and Valkyria failed to win. Lyons defeated Tatum Paxley in a quick bout on the December 19 episode of NXT.
Other media
Jefferies made her video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K23.[18]
She was also featured on the show One Mo’ Chance on the Zeus Network as “She-Raw.”[19]
External links
Notes and References
- https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=23848 World Wrestling Entertainment
- Web site: 'Quartship' Episode 6: Contestant With Perfect Score Gets Virtual Date With Crush Faith Jefferies. September 21, 2020. March 27, 2022. Maxim. https://web.archive.org/web/20220216202213/https://www.maxim.com/entertainment/quartship-ep-6-perfect-score-faith-jefferies/. February 16, 2022. live.
- Web site: July 6, 2020. Meet Faith Jefferies. March 27, 2022. VoyageLA.
- Web site: Guzzo. Gisberto. Salcedo. Denise. Faith Jefferies And Isaac Odugbesan Offered WWE Developmental Contract During Las Vegas Tryout. August 19, 2021. March 27, 2022. Fightful. https://web.archive.org/web/20220407113422/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/faith-jefferies-faithyj-offered-wwe-developmental-contract-during-las-vegas-tryout. April 7, 2022. live.
- Web site: Chik. Jon. WWE 205 Live results: Chen remains undefeated with hard-earned win over Anthony. December 31, 2021. March 27, 2022. WWE. https://web.archive.org/web/20220328013112/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-205-live/wwe-205-live-dec-31-2021. March 28, 2022. live.
- Web site: WWE NXT results: Feb. 22, 2022. February 22, 2022. March 27, 2022. WWE. https://web.archive.org/web/20220328013106/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/wwe-nxt-results-feb-22-2022. March 28, 2022. live.
- Web site: 4/5 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of the Stand & Deliver fallout edition with Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez vs. Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin for the NXT Women's Tag Titles, Nikkita Lyons vs. Lash Legend. Moore. John. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. April 5, 2022. June 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220525024307/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/04/05/4-5-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-the-stand-deliver-fallout-edition-with-dakota-kai-and-raquel-gonzalez-vs-jacy-jayne-and-gigi-dolin-for-the-nxt-womens-tag-titles-nikkita-lyons-vs-la/. May 25, 2022. live.
- Web site: 4/26 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Tony D'Angelo vs. Von Wagner, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Elektra Lopez vs. Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley, Nikkita Lyons vs. Lash Legend, Solo Sikoa vs. Trick Williams, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs. Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon, Nathan Frazer debuts. Moore. John. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. April 26, 2022. June 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220522180754/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/04/26/4-26-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-tony-dangelo-vs-von-wagner-joaquin-wilde-cruz-del-toro-and-elektra-lopez-vs-josh-briggs-brooks-jensen-and-fallon-henley-nikkita-lyons-vs-lash-legend/. May 22, 2022. live.
- Web site: 5/3 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Spring Breakin' with Bron Breakker vs. Joe Gacy for the NXT Title, Cameron Grimes vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Solo Sikoa for the NXT North American Title, The Viking Raiders vs. The Creeds, Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons vs. Natalya and Lash Legend, Nathan Frazer vs. Grayson Waller, Tony D'Angelo and Santos Escobar meeting. Moore. John. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. May 3, 2022. June 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504051657/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/05/03/5-3-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-spring-breakin-with-bron-breakker-vs-joe-gacy-for-the-nxt-title-cameron-grimes-vs-carmelo-hayes-vs-solo-sikoa-for-the-nxt-north-american-title-the-v/. May 4, 2022. live.
- Web site: 5/10 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Cora Jade vs. Natalya, NXT Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne vs. Roxanne Perez and Wendy Choo, the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament begins. Moore. John. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. May 10, 2022. June 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220524173407/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/05/10/5-10-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-cora-jade-vs-natalya-nxt-tag-team-champions-gigi-dolin-and-jacy-jayne-vs-roxanne-perez-and-wendy-choo-the-nxt-womens-breakout-tournament-begins/. May 24, 2022. live.
- Web site: Nikkita Lyons Removed From Women's NXT Breakout Tournament Due to Injury. Thomas. Jeremy. 411Mania. May 24, 2022. June 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220526023509/https://411mania.com/wrestling/nikkita-lyons-removed-nxt-womens-breakout-tournament-injury/. May 26, 2022. live.
- Web site: Nikkita Lyons Reveals Extent of Injury, Says She Has Partial MCL Tear & MCL Sprain. Thomas. Jeremy. 411Mania. May 25, 2022. June 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220526024038/https://411mania.com/wrestling/nikkita-lyons-reveals-extent-injury-partial-mcl-tear-sprain/. May 26, 2022. live.
- Web site: 6/28 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of NXT Champion Bron Breakker and Cameron Grimes meet face to face, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade for a shot at the NXT Women's Tag Titles, Sanga vs. Xyon Quinn, Kiana James vs. Indi Hartwell, Giovanni Vinci vs. Ikemen Jiro. Moore. John. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. June 28, 2022. July 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629022030/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/06/28/6-28-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-nxt-champion-bron-breakker-and-cameron-grimes-meet-face-to-face-kayden-carter-and-katana-chance-vs-roxanne-perez-and-cora-jade-for-a-shot-at-the-nxt-womens/. June 29, 2022. live.
- Web site: 7/19 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of a 20-woman battle royal for a shot at the NXT Women's Title, JD McDonagh vs. Cameron Grimes, Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs vs. Pretty Deadly for the NXT UK Tag Titles, Roderick Strong vs. Damon Kemp, Axiom debuts, The Schism reveals their identities. Moore. John. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. July 19, 2022. July 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220720000741/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/07/19/7-19-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-a-20-woman-battle-royal-for-a-shot-at-the-nxt-womens-title-jd-mcdonagh-vs-cameron-grimes-brooks-jensen-and-josh-briggs-vs-pretty-deadly-for-the-nxt/. July 20, 2022. live.
- Web site: WWE reveals bracket for Women's Tag Team title tournament. Rose. Bryan. F4WOnline.com. August 8, 2022. August 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220820201322/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/wwe-reveals-bracket-for-womens-tag-team-title-tournament. August 20, 2022. live.
- Web site: Moore. John. 9/13 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Pretty Deadly vs. The Creed Brothers in a cage match for the NXT Tag Titles, Carmelo Hayes defends the NXT North American Title against the winner of a fan poll, Axiom vs. Nathan Frazer in the second match of their best of three series, Zoey Stark and Nikkita Lyons vs. Kiana James and Arianna Grace. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. September 13, 2022. October 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220922054207/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/09/13/9-13-nxt-2-0-results-moores-review-of-pretty-deadly-vs-the-creed-brothers-in-a-cage-match-for-the-nxt-tag-titles-carmelo-hayes-defends-the-nxt-north-american-title-against-the-winner-of-a-fan-pol/. September 22, 2022. live.
- Web site: Zoey Stark Turns On Nikkita Lyons On 11/8 WWE NXT. Tessier. Colin. Fightful. November 8, 2022. November 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221109075028/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/zoey-stark-turns-nikkita-lyons-118-wwe-nxt. November 9, 2022. live.
- Web site: WWE 2K23 roster reveal with every confirmed wrestler. Wilson. Ben. February 20, 2023. GamesRadar+. February 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230223072613/https://www.gamesradar.com/wwe-2k23-roster/. February 23, 2023. live.
- Web site: One Mo' Chance (TV Series 2020–2021) - Faith Jefferies as She-Ra - IMDb . IMDb . 5 September 2023.