Kacy Catanzaro (January 14, 1990) is an American professional wrestler currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the NXT brand under the ring name Katana Chance.
Early life
Catanzaro was previously involved in gymnastics and the sports entertainment competition television series American Ninja Warrior. As of 2014, she became the first and only woman to ever complete a city finals course.
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Entertainment
NXT (2018-present)
Catanzaro debuted during a NXT house show held on April 19 where she lost to Reina Gonzalez. She wrestled in her first tag match during the May 10 NXT tapings, teaming with Dakota Kai and Steffanie Newell in defeating Reina Gonzalez, Taynara Conti & Vanessa Borne. Catanzaro won her second tag match during the May 17 house show, teaming with Candice LeRae to defeat Aliyah & Vanessa Borne. During the month of May, Catanzaro wrestled in singles matches against Reina Gonzalez, Bianca Belair and Lacey Evans. At the May 26 house show, Catanzaro won her third tag team match, teaming with Nikki Cross to defeat Aliyah & Bianca Belair. During the June 22 house show Catanzaro teamed with Kairi Sane to defeat Reina Gonzalez & Taynara Conti. Seven days later at the June 29 house show, Catanzaro teamed with fellow NXT rookie Jessie Elaban in a tag match defeating Aliyah & Reina Gonzalez. The next day, Catanzaro won her first mixed tag team match with Otis Dozovic in defeating Adrian Jaoude & Taynara Conti. Catanzaro returned to the ring during the August 8 tapings of the second annual Mae Young Classic, where she advanced in the first round after eliminating Reina Gonzalez. The next day on August 9, Catanzaro was eliminated during the second round by Rhea Ripley. She finished the month with a match during the August 25 house show, teaming with Lacey Lane in defeating Reina Gonzalez & Taynara. She finished the month appearing to challenge reigning champion Rhea Ripley at the August 31 house show for the WWE United Kingdom Women's Championship but did not succeed in winning the title.
Returning the following month at the September 8 house show, Catanzaro teamed with Io Shirai in a tag match lost to newcomers Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir. A week later during the September 15 house show, Catanzaro teamed with the reigning NXT North American Champion Ricochet in a mixed tag match defeating The Velveteen Dream & Vanessa Borne. Six days later, Catanzaro teamed with Io Shirai during the September 21 house show, defeating Aliyah & Kavita Devi. Two months later, Catanzaro returned to resume her work in the house shows, including a mixed tag match during the November 8 house show teaming with Ricochet in a loss to Kona Reeves & Vanessa Borne. The following month, Catanzaro returned for the December 6 house show, during which she teamed with recent recruit Lacey Lane in a tag match defeating Vanessa Borne and recent recruit Deonna Purrazzo.
The following year on January 27, 2019, Catanzaro entered the second annual Women's Royal Rumble at #19. She was eliminated by Rhea Ripley. She made her returned to NXT television during the March 27 episode of NXT teaming with Lacey Lane against Aliyah & Vanessa Borne in a tag match ending in No-Contest finish. She made an appearance on the April 17 episode of NXT UK, losing against Rhea Ripley. Catanzaro made her next television appearance on the April 24 episode of NXT, teaming with Candice LeRae in winning a tag match defeating Aliyah & Vanessa Borne. During the following month of May, Catanzaro spent her time competing in house shows against the reigning NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler. The following month, Catanzaro wrestled during a June 13 NXT Taping, losing against Io Shirai. She finished the month wrestling during the June 29 house show, teaming with Lacey Lane in defeating Chelsea Green & Deonna Purrazzo. Catanzaro wrestled her last match of the year during a July 19 house show teaming with Lacey Lane in a tag match defeating Marina Shafir & Taynara Conti.
Catanzaro returned to the ring on the January 15, 2020 episode of NXT, where she competed in a Number One Contender Battle Royal. Catanzaro wrestled her last house show on March 7, teaming with Shotzi Blackheart in a tag match defeating Briana Brandy & MJ Jenkins. After March 2020, all WWE house shows were shut down due to public health regulations imposed by the 2020 Coronavirus crisis in the the United States. Catanzaro spent the year on NXT programming in tag matches. She finished the year on the November 18 episode of NXT teaming with Kayden Carter in a tag match lost to Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell.
On the January 20 episode of NXT, Catanzaro and Kayden Carter joined the 2021 Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic where they advanced in the first round after eliminating Mercedes Martinez & Toni Storm. The semi-finals were held on the February 3 episode of NXT where Catanzaro and Kayden Carter were eliminated by Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez. Catanzaro and Kayden Carter rebounded with a victory on the February 17 episode of NXT, defeating Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in a tag match. On the February 24 episode of NXT, Catanzaro wrestled her first singles match, losing to Xia Li ending after the referee called for the bell. After the match, Li went on to attack Catanzaro. It was reported the following day by sources including sports writer Dave Meltzer suggested Catanzaro sustained a leg injury. However, Catanzaro teamed with Kayden Carter on the March 31 episode of NXT in a two-on-one handicap match won by Xia Li. It was revealed on May 8, the knee injury was an angle allowing for Catanzaro to be written off television. She made her return three months later on the June 15 episode of NXT, teaming with Kayden Carter in a tag match lost to Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez. On the September 7 episode of NXT, Catanzaro & Kayden Carter unsuccessfully challenged the reigning champions Io Shirai & Zoey Stark for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Victory Roll
- Somersault Legdrop
- Vaulting Headscissors Takedown
- Springboard Missile Dropkick
- Corkscrew Crossbody
- Standing Corkscrew Splash
- Hilo
- Satellite DDT
- "Mighty"
- Wrestlers managed
- Entrance themes
- American Made by CFO$
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #63 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
External links
| Mae Young Classic 2018 contestants |
|---|
| Aerial Monroe • Allysin Kay • Ashley Rayne • Deonna Purrazzo • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Io Shirai • Isla Dawn • Jinny • Kacy Catanzaro • Jessica Elaban • Kaitlyn • Karen Q • Kavita Devi • Killer Kelly • Lacey Lane • Meiko Satomura • Mercedes Martinez • Mia Yim • MJ Jenkins • Nicole Matthews • Priscilla Kelly • Rachel Evers • Reina Gonzalez • Rhea Ripley • Taynara Conti • Tegan Nox • Toni Storm • Vanessa Kraven • Xia Brookside • Xia Li • Zatara • Zeuxis |
