Kayleigh Rae (11 August 1992) is a Scottish female professional wrestler better known by the stylized ring name Kay Lee Ray. She had worked primarily on the British independent circuit before signing with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) apart of the NXT UK brand. Rae was part of TNA British Boot Camp II during October 2014, along with Rampage Brown, El Ligero, Mark Andrews, Nikki Storm, Noam Dar and Kris Travis. She was also a tournament contestant in the 2017 Mae Young Classic.
Professional wrestling career
United Kingdom circuit & European circuit (2009-2019)
Rae made her debut on 30 May 2009 at the age of 17 as Kay Lee Ray. Since that time, she wrestled throughout the United Kingdom and Europe for numerous promotions.
Ray wrestled for promotions including Southside Wrestling Entertainment, where she became SWE Speed King Champion during the months of August and October of 2014. She also became a two-time Queen Of Southside Champion during her four-year tenure with SWE. She spent two years working for Preston City Wrestling, three years in Pro Wrestling EVE, five years in Premier British Wrestling, four years in British Championship Wrestling and five years in Pro Wrestling Elite among many more promotions throughout Europe and overseas.
Insane Championship Wrestling (2011-2016)
Ray debuted on 6 February 2011 at ICW The Notorious I.C.W. in a match defeating Carmel. She wrestled three more matches including a rematch against Carmel on 3 July 2011 at ICW Never Mind The Baws, Here's The ICW won by Carmel, then on 14 August 2011 at ICW SummerBam won by TJ Rage and then finishing her debut year with a Death match on 23 October at ICW Fear & Loathing 4 won by Carmel.
On 22 January 2012, Ray returned at ICW 1st Annual Square Go!, joining a battle royal for the Number One contender shot at the ICW Heavyweight Championship resutling in a victory by Red Lightning. On 26 February at ICW Smells Like Teen Spirit Ray and Carmel teamed in a two-on-one handicap match won by Mikey Whiplash. Eight months later on 4 November, Ray returned at ICW Fear & Loathing 5 in a match won by April Davids via disqualification.
Ray returned on 17 February 2013 as part of the ICW: Fierce Females sister-promotion, at ICW Tramspotting, teaming with Jack Jester to defeat the tag team of Carmel & Mikey Whiplash. On April 7 at ICW Get Yer Rat Oot, Ray won a Four-Way Match against Bete Noire and Carmel and Sara. On 25 August at ICW Dave's Not Here Man!, Ray successfully defended the ICW Fierce Females Championship in a Last Woman Standing match against Carmel.
During 2014, Ray teamed with Stevie Boy at ICW Shug's Hoose Party to challenge for the vacant ICW Tag Team Championship in a tag match won by The New Age Kliq (BT Gunn & Chris Renfrew). They failed in a title rematch held at ICW Ice To See You on 24 August 2014 won.
On 15 November 2015 Ray joined a three-way match at ICW Fear & Loathing VIII against Viper and Nikki Storm to crown the new ICW Women's Champion. Neither Storm or Ray succeeded in winning the title. Ray was again unsuccessful in her title rematch against Viper at ICW Friday Night Fight Club #2.03 on 20 December 2015.
Ray succeeded in winning the Women's title on 20 November 2016 at ICW Fear & Loathing IX where she defeated the defending champion Viper and challenger Carmel in a three-way match. She successfully defended the title on 27 November at ICW Friday Night Fight Club Tapings in a rematch against Viper. Her successful title defense continued ICW match of 2016, at the December 11th ICW Friday Night Fight Club Tapings, defeating Martina.
SHIMMER Women Athletes (2014-2016)
Ray debuted on 5 April 2014 during SHIMMER Volume 62, defeating Vanessa Kraven. At SHIMMER Volume 63, Ray lost to Jessicka Havok before also losing a Three Way Match at SHIMMER Volume 64, against Nikki Storm and match winner Melanie Cruise. At SHIMMER Volume 65, Ray wrestled a match won by Athena. At SHIMMER Volume 66 Ray teamed with Kimber Lee in a tag match defeating Leon and Nevaeh. On October 18 at SHIMMER Volume 67, Ray was in a match won by Evie, before later at SHIMMER Volume 68, Ray defeated her previous tag partner Kimber Lee. On October 19 at SHIMMER Volume 69, Ray began her night in a match won by Kana before amending her win-loss record with a victory over Candice LeRae at SHIMMER Volume 70.
Over the course of 2015, Ray wrestled in SHIMMER Volumes 71 through 79. Her last two 2015 SHIMMER appearances included victories on 11 October at SHIMMER Volume 78 defeating Kellyanne and then at SHIMMER Volume 79, defeating Liberty.
Ray returned on 24 June to join SHIMMER Volume 81, teaming with Mia Yim in defeating Melanie Cruise & Yumi Ohka. At SHIMMER Volume 85, Ray was unsuccessful in winning the Heart Of SHIMMER Championship held by Nicole Savoy. Ray and Yim attempted to win the SHIMMER Tag Team Championship held by Team Slap Happy (Evie & Heidi Lovelace) at SHIMMER Volume 86, but were unsuccessful in their title match. Ray's last SHIMMER match of 2016 was 13 November at SHIMMER Volume 90, defeating Nixon Newell.
SHINE Wrestling (2014-2016)
On 18 April 2014, Ray debuted at SHINE 18 in a Four Way Freestyle match won by Kellie Skater against Justine Silver and Kimberly.
On 3 April 2015 at SHINE 26 Ray returned to the ring in a match won by Allysin Kay. On 2 October at SHINE 30, Ray wrestled a match won by Jessicka Havok.
Ray wrestled her first and only 2016 SHINE match on June 17 at SHINE 35, in a match won by Su Yung.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014-2015)
TNA British Boot Camp (2014)
Ray participated in the 2014 TNA British Boot Camp, a program held by TNA to recruit and assess local talent in the UK. Ray's first Boot Camp match was on 17 August in a Four-Way match won by Nikki Storm against Kasey Owens and Leah Owens. On 6 September Ray teamed with Grado, Mark Andrews and WWE/TNA alumni Al Snow in a four-on-four mixed tag match won by TNA Knockout Angelina Love and UK wrestlers Dave Mastiff, Noam Dar & Rampage Brown. On 7 September Ray wrestled a match won by Gail Kim.
TNA Xplosion (2015)
On the 29 January edition of TNA Xplosion, Kay teamed with Noam Dar to defeat Gail Kim & Rampage Brown in a mixed tag match. On the 31 January edition of TNA Xplosion, Ray teamed with Crazzy Steve, Mandrews]] & Noam Dar in defeating Dave Mastiff, Madison Rayne, Rampage Brown & Samuel Shaw.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2015, 2017, 2019 - present)
WWE NXT (2015, 2019)
Rae made her WWE debut during the October 8th edition of NXT in a match won by Nia Jax.
Four years later, Ray returned to the American brand of NXT, during the 16 August Live event, defeating Tegan Nox.
Mae Young Classic (2017)
She returned on 13 July 2017 during the opening night of the WWE Mae Young Classic 2017 where she was eliminated in the first round by Princesa Sugehit. On the second night of the tournament during the 14 July Mae Young Classic Tapings, Ray teamed with Jazzy Gabert and Tessa Blanchard to defeat Marti Belle, Santana Garrett & Sarah Logan in a three-on-three tag match.
NXT UK (2019-present)
At NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool on 12 January 2019, Ray and Jazzy Gabert appeared at ringside. It was later confirmed that the two had signed with WWE, marking Ray's first contract with WWE. On 13 March, Ray made her NXT UK in-ring debut, defeating Candy Floss. On the 19 June episode of NXT UK, Ray won a battle royal to earn an opportunity to face NXT UK Women's Champion Toni Storm at a time of her choosing. On the 3 July episode of NXT UK, Ray said she will face Storm at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff. At TakeOver: Cardiff, Ray defeated Storm to win the NXT UK Women's Championship, becoming the first British-born wrestler to hold the title.
On the 13 November 2019 episode of NXT, Ray interfered during a "WarGames Advantage" ladder match between Shayna Baszler's team member Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley's team member Mia Yim, helping Shirai win the match and revealing herself as the fourth member of Shayna Baszler's team in the first ever Women's WarGames Match. Ripley's team would go on and defeat Baszler's team at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
At the 16 November 2019 taping of NXT UK, it was announced that Ray would defend the NXT UK Women's Championship against Toni Storm and Piper Niven in a triple threat match at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II. On the 20 January 2020 taping of NXT, Ray teamed with Bianca Belair and Io Shirai in a six-woman tag team match against Storm, Rhea Ripley and Candice LeRae in a losing effort. Ray would go on to retain her title against Storm and Niven at TakeOver: Blackpool II.
Personal life
Rae is currently in a relationship with fellow wrestler Stevie Xavier.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature Moves
- Gory Bomb
- Reverse Code Red
- Swanton Bomb
- Complete Shot into Koji Clutch
- Tornado DDT
- Parallel Snapmare
- Shotgun Stunner
- Nicknames
- The KLR in Killer
- Hardcore Daredevil
Championships and accomplishments
- NXT UK
- WWE United Kingdom Women's Championship (1 time, Current)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #36 in the 2015 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #28 in the 2016 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #29 in the 2017 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #81 in the 2018 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #47 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
External links
| 2015 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Nikki Bella • Paige • Sasha Banks • Santana Garrett • Gail Kim • Charlotte • Naomi • Cherry Bomb • Courtney Rush • Taryn Terrell • Bayley • Brie Bella • Sexy Star • Cheerleader Melissa • Lufisto • Nicole Matthews • Becky Lynch • Kimber Lee • Natalya • Jessicka Havok • Awesome Kong • Candice LeRae • Brooke • Athena • Ivelisse • Jade • Madison Rayne • Leva Bates • Barbi Hayden • Angelina Love • Emma • Saraya Knight • Veda Scott • Velvet Sky • Madison Eagles • Kay Lee Ray • Marti Belle • Kellie Skater • Nikki Storm • Evie • Heidi Lovelace • Tessa Blanchard • Portia Perez • Alicia Fox • Cat Power • Crazy Mary Dobson • Xandra Bale • La Rosa Negra • Malia Hosaka • Vanessa Kraven |
| 2016 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Charlotte Flair • Sasha Banks • Asuka • Becky Lynch • Bayley • Jade • Natalya • Gail Kim • Sexy Star • Sienna • Ivelisse • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Rosemary • Allie • Nicole Matthews • Kimber Lee • Candice LeRae • Paige • Heidi Lovelace • Evie • Cheerleader Melissa • Nia Jax • Santana Garrett • Naomi • Dana Brooke • Madison Rayne • Kay Lee Ray • Alexa Bliss • Lufisto • Amber Gallows • Marti Belle • Emma • Taylor Made • Vanessa Kraven • Su Yung • Ember Moon • Tessa Blanchard • Jessicka Havok • Shayna Baszler • Crazy Mary Dobson • Malia Hosaka • Thunder Rosa • Carmella • KC Spinelli • Veda Scott • Jessica James • Xandra Bale • Kaitlin Diemond • Eva Marie |
| 2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |
| WWE Mae Young Classic 2017 contestants |
|---|
|
Abbey Laith • Ayesha Ray • Bianca Belair • Candice LeRae • Dakota Kai • Jazzy Gabert • Kairi Sane • Kavita Devi • Kay Lee Ray • Lacey Evans • Marti Belle • Mercedes Martinez • Mia Yim • Miranda Salinas • Nicole Savoy • Piper Niven • Princesa Sugehit • Rachel Evers • Reina Gonzalez • Renee Michelle • Rhea Ripley • Sage Beckett • Santana Garrett • Sarah Logan • Serena Deeb • Shayna Baszler • Taynara Conti • Tessa Blanchard • Toni Storm • Vanessa Borne • Xia Li • Zeda |
