Aliyah (wrestler) explained

Aliyah
Birth Name:Nhooph Al-Areebi[1]
Birth Date:23 November 1994[2]
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada[3]
Alma Mater:George Brown College
Names:Aliyah[4]
Jasmin
Jasmin Areebi
Height:5 ft 3 in[5]
Weight:112 lb
Billed:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Trainer:Rob Fuego
Jason Chase
WWE Performance Center[6]
Debut:January 20, 2013

Nhooph Al-Areebi (; born November 23, 1994) is a Canadian professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in WWE from 2015 to 2023, where she performed under the ring name Aliyah. She is a former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion and holds the record for the fastest victory in WWE history at 3.17 seconds.[7]

Early life

Nhooph Al-Areebi was born in Toronto, Ontario.[8] She is of Syrian and Iraqi descent.[9] [10] Al-Areebi attended St. Joseph's College School, graduating in 2012, and later attended George Brown College, where she studied nursing.[10] She also attended a circus training school.[11] Al-Areebi decided to become a professional wrestler after watching Beth Phoenix and Mickie James compete at a taping of Raw on May 5, 2008.[11]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2013–2015)

Al-Areebi wrestled on the independent circuit under the ring name Jasmin Areebi, debuting for Squared Circle Wrestling (SCW) in Toronto in January 2013. She wrestled for a variety of promotions in Canada and the United States, including Pure Wrestling Association (PWA), Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), and New England Championship Wrestling (NECW).[12]

WWE (2015–2023)

NXT (2015–2021)

On March 17, 2015, it was reported that Al-Areebi had signed a developmental contract with WWE, being confirmed by the company one month later.[12] [1] She made her first appearance at the event on May 20, as part of Tyler Breeze's entrance.[13] She made her in–ring debut on June 20 during an NXT live event, where she competed in a six–person tag team match.[14] In October, she was given the ring name Aliyah.[4]

Aliyah's television debut took place on the January 12, 2016, episode of NXT, where she competed in a number one contender's battle royal for Bayley's NXT Women's Championship, which was won by Carmella.[15] Towards the end of the year, Aliyah debuted new ring gear and entrance music, leaving her Arabian gimmick,[16] [17] and picked up her first victory as part of the brand, as she defeated Billie Kay after a distraction by Liv Morgan, only for both of them to be attacked by Kay and Peyton Royce.[18] [19] This set a six–woman tag team match between Aliyah, Morgan and Ember Moon against The Iconic Duo (Kay and Royce) and Daria Berenato, that was taped on NXT TakeOver: Toronto on November 19, where Aliyah's team was victorious.[20]

On January 3, 2017, Aliyah made her first main roster appearance as she appeared on SmackDown Live, where she lost to Carmella.[21] Throughout 2018, Aliyah continued losing to various competitors such as Lacey Evans,[22] Ember Moon[23] and Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane, while also showing signs of a heel turn.[24] In September, Aliyah, now officially working as a heel, started a short alliance with Evans, and the two had an altercation with Dakota Kai and Deonna Purrazzo, which led to a tag team match, where Aliyah and Evans were victorious, making Aliyah's first victory in over a year.[25] On February, she took time off television to get cosmetic surgery on her nose.[26]

When she returned in 2020, she was written in a storyline where she tried to be included into the Robert Stone Brand, a stable led by Robert Stone.[27] Stone joined forces with Aliyah on the June 17 and feuded with Rhea Ripley, facing her both of them at NXT: The Great American Bash.[28]

SmackDown (2021–2023)

As part of the 2021 Draft, Aliyah was drafted to the SmackDown brand.[29] [30] Aliyah made her official main roster debut on the November 5 episode of SmackDown, where she participated in a backstage segment with Jeff Hardy and Sami Zayn.[31] The following week, on the November 12 episode of SmackDown, Aliyah would have her debut match with the brand, competing as a face and teaming with Naomi and Sasha Banks to defeat Shotzi, Shayna Baszler and Natalya.[32] Later that same night, Sonya Deville removed her from the SmackDown Survivor Series team without explanation. She was eventually replaced by Toni Storm.[33] In January, Aliyah would defeat Natalya, in 3.17 seconds, earning her the record for fastest victory in WWE history.[7] At Royal Rumble, Aliyah competed in the 30-woman Royal Rumble match which was won by Ronda Rousey. On the August 29 edition of Raw, Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez defeated Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky to win the vacant WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, her first championship in WWE. On the September 12 episode of Raw they lost the titles back to Kai and Sky, ending their reign at 14 days. On September 21, 2023, Aliyah was released from her WWE contract, without making a single television appearance in 2023.[34]

Other media

As Aliyah, Al-Areebi made her video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K23.[35]

Championships and accomplishments

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits. April 13, 2015. April 13, 2015. WWE.
  2. Web site: Jasmin Areebi . Online World of Wrestling . March 18, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115632/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/jasmin-areebi/ . April 2, 2015 .
  3. Web site: Jasmin Areebi. The Internet Wrestling Database. September 2, 2016.
  4. Web site: 10/15 WWE NXT IN COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA LIVE REPORT: WWE DIVA RETURNS TO ACTION, CHALLENGES BAYLEY, BALOR VS. DILLINGER, EVA MARIE AND MORE. Twiss, Andrew. PWInsider. October 15, 2015. October 18, 2015.
  5. Web site: Aliyah. WWE. May 26, 2016.
  6. Web site: 'WWE Breaking Ground' Season 1, Episode 7 recap: Proving ground . Clapp, John . . December 14, 2015 . December 24, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151225061159/http://www.wwe.com/shows/breaking-ground/2015-12-14/episode-seven-recap-28372129 . December 25, 2015 .
  7. News: Guzzo . Gisberto . Aliyah Sets Record For Fastest Victory In WWE History On 1/14 WWE SmackDown . August 13, 2022 . Fightful . January 14, 2022.
  8. Web site: Could Toronto's Nhooph Al-Areebi be the next big thing in professional wrestling? | National Post . National Post. May 8, 2015. June 29, 2015.
  9. Web site: Al-Areebi . Nhooph . Yes half Syrian half Iraqi . Twitter . February 14, 2019 . July 15, 2017.
  10. Web site: Oliver. Greg. February 18, 2014. SUN shines on Ontario's Jasmin Areebi. Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. August 9, 2022.
  11. Web site: "It's like Disneyland to me:" Nhooph Al-Areebi on her NXT dreams. Melok. Bobby. WWE. June 25, 2015. October 4, 2016.
  12. Web site: CENA TALKS TAKING MORE ADULT ACTING ROLES, FINAL NASSAU COLISEUM EVENT, NEW WWE SIGNINGS AND MORE NEWS. PWInsider. Johnson, Mike. March 17, 2015. March 18, 2015.
  13. Web site: Former TNA Knockout appears on NXT show. Johnson, Mike. Pro Wrestling Insider. May 20, 2015. May 20, 2015.
  14. Web site: 6/20 NXT RESULTS: LAKELAND, FLORIDA (BREEZE VS. CORBIN). Martin, Adam. WrestleView. June 21, 2015. June 22, 2015.
  15. Web site: James. Justin. 1/13 WWE NXT – Women's #1 contender Battle Royal, NXT Title drama, more. Pro Wrestling Torch. January 13, 2016. January 14, 2016.
  16. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: THE NEW CHAMPION SPEAKS, AA VS. AA?, A GLORIOUS CAMEO, AND MORE. Richard. Trionfo. August 21, 2016. October 2, 2016. PWInsider.
  17. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: DOES ALEXANDER KEEP THE MOMENTUM FROM THE CWC GOING?, LIV MORGAN MAY HAVE BITTEN OFF MORE THAN SHE CAN CHEW, JOE VOWS TO HURT PEOPLE, AND MORE. Richard. Trionfo. September 21, 2016. October 2, 2016. PWInsider.
  18. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: DUSTY CLASSIC CONTINUES, ASUKA HAS HER TAKEOVER OPPONENT REVEALED, SOME POST MATCH AGGRESSION FROM THE WRESTLERS. AND MORE. Richard. Trionfo. October 26, 2016. October 27, 2016. PWInsider.
  19. Web site: WWE NXT TELEVISION REPORT: TAKEOVER IS SUNDAY, ALMAS VERSUS ALEXANDER, THE DRIFTER IS BACK, A WOMEN'S TRIOS TEAM, AND MORE. Richard. Trionfo. November 16, 2016. November 25, 2016. PWInsider.
  20. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: MATCHES FROM TORONTO, COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS AT TAKEOVER, AND THE REMATCH HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. Richard. Trionfo. November 23, 2016. November 25, 2016. PWInsider. August 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170824051630/http://pwinsider.com/article/106172/wwe-nxt-report-matches-from-toronto-comments-from-participants-at-takeover-and-the-rematch-has-been-announced.html?p=1. dead.
  21. Web site: WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE MATCH, A CONTRACT SIGNING, TAG TITLE REMATCH NEXT WEEK, LOVE MAY BE BLIND, AND MORE. Richard. Trionfo. January 3, 2017. January 3, 2017. PWInsider.
  22. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: FISH AND O'REILLY HAVE OPPONENTS FOR TAKEOVER, SO DOES EMBER, STRONG MAKES A CHALLENGE, GARGANO PROVES HIMSELF NEXT WEEK, AND A FEATURE ON TM61 . Trionfo . Richard . January 17, 2018.
  23. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: CIAMPA HAS A VISITOR, THE DUSTY CLASSIC CONTINUES, COLE VERSUS OHNO, AND MORE . Trionfo . Richard . March 21, 2018.
  24. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: MCINTYRE VERSUS STRONG FOR THE TITLE, LIO RUSH DEBUTS, KAIRI SANE MAKES HER NXT DEBUT, AND MORE. Richard. Trionfo. October 4, 2017. October 4, 2017. PWInsider.
  25. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: CHAMPION VERSUS CHAMPION, DREAM ONLY KNOWS ONE NAME, JAXSON RYKER'S IN RING DEBUT, AND MORE. Trionfo. Richard. September 19, 2018. PWInsider.
  26. Web site: Various News: CM Punk's Profile Back on WWE.com, Aliyah Suffers Broken Nose, Top 5 Impact Wrestling Moments. Lee. Joseph. 411Mania. November 14, 2019. November 14, 2019.
  27. Web site: WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 6. Berge. Kevin. Bleacher Report. May 6, 2020. May 31, 2020.
  28. Web site: Kevin's WWE NXT Review 6.17.20. Pantoja. Kevin. 411Mania. June 17, 2020. July 10, 2020.
  29. News: Guzzo . Gisberto . Aliyah Drafted To SmackDown In 2021 WWE Draft . October 2, 2021 . Fightful . October 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211002172829/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aliyah-drafted-smackdown-2021-wwe-draft . October 2, 2021 . en-US.
  30. Web site: WWE.com Staff. October 1, 2021. See all the results from the 2021 Draft. live. December 1, 2021. WWE. https://web.archive.org/web/20211002011314/https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/article/latest-wwe-draft-results-2021 . October 2, 2021 .
  31. Web site: Barnett. Jake. November 5, 2021. 11/05 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of the return of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Shayna Baszler vs. Naomi. live. December 1, 2021. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. https://web.archive.org/web/20211107171650/https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/11/05/11-05-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-barnetts-review-of-the-return-of-wwe-universal-champion-roman-reigns-shayna-baszler-vs-naomi/ . November 7, 2021 .
  32. Web site: Barnett. Jake. November 12, 2021. 11/12 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. King Woods, the return of Sasha Banks, Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs vs. Los Lotharios, the build to Survivor Series. live. December 1, 2021. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. https://web.archive.org/web/20211113040527/https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/11/12/11-12-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-barnetts-review-of-wwe-universal-champion-roman-reigns-vs-king-woods-the-return-of-sasha-banks-shinsuke-nakamura-and-rick-boogs-vs-los-lotharios-the-bu/ . November 13, 2021 .
  33. Web site: Defelice. Robert. November 18, 2021. Sonya Deville Officially Names Aliyah's Replacement For Team SmackDown At WWE Survivor Series 2021. live. December 3, 2021. Fightful. https://web.archive.org/web/20211118230219/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/sonya-deville-officially-names-aliyah-s-replacement-team-smackdown-wwe-survivor-series-2021 . November 18, 2021 .
  34. Web site: Jenkins. H.. September 21, 2023. WWE Releases Aliyah From Her Contract. September 21, 2023. Ringside News.
  35. 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.
  36. Web site: gxw-wrestling. gxw-wrestling. August 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170816022447/https://www.gogxw.com/champions. August 16, 2017. dead.
  37. Web site: Queens Of Chaos 2, Show One review. Allen. Stewart. September 6, 2010. Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online.
  38. Web site: Syuri Tops 2022 PWI Women's 150 List. diva-dirt.com. Nick. Wilkinson. October 27, 2022. October 27, 2022. October 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221027152747/https://www.diva-dirt.com/syuri-tops-2022-pwi-womens-150-list/. live.
  39. Web site: WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

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