Nia Jax: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{short description|Australian-samoan professional wrestler (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 20232024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Nia Jax
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== Early life ==
Savelina Fanene was born in Sydney, Australia on May 29, 1984,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pritchard |first=Bill |date=2023-11-November 29, 2023 |title=Did You Know Nia Jax Is WWE's First Female Australian World Champion? |url=https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1425592-nia-jax-wwe-first-female-australian-world-champion |access-date=2024-02-February 21, 2024 |website=Wrestlezone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fanene |first=Lina |date=September 3, 2018 |title=Lina Fanene |url=https://x.com/LinaFanene/status/1036578378416095232?s=20 |website=X}}</ref> and raised in [[Honolulu|Honolulu, Hawaii]].<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|work=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/20039151/wwe-nia-jax-seizing-opportunity-raw|title=Nia Jax seizing her opportunity on RAW|last=Berrios|first=Alfredo|date=July 14, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> She is of [[Germans|German]] and [[Samoan people|Samoan]] descent,<ref name="ESPN" /> and is the second cousin once removed of [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lelinwalla|first1=Mark|title=Nia Jax talks WWE Fastlane, historic 'Road to WrestleMania,' the Becky Lynch punch and more|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wwe/news/nia-jax-talks-wwe-fastlane-historic-road-wrestlemania-becky-lynch-punch/1b80c51g8e86x12baluq56ueei|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2017/10/25/wrestling-news-nia-jax-dwayne-johnson-wwe|title=Week in Wrestling: The Real Reason Behind Nia Jax's Walkout; Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega Face Off|date=October 25, 2017|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|last=Barrasso|first=Justin|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> as her father Joseph was Johnson's grandfather [[Peter Maivia]]’s cousin.<ref name="rel">{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article65377777.html|title=Miami is where wrestling started for WWE NXT's Nia Jax|last=Varsallone|first=Jim|work=[[Miami Herald]]|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> She later lived in [[San Diego, California]], and attended [[Carlsbad High School (California)|Carlsbad High School]].<ref name="rel"/> She attended [[Palomar College]] in [[San Marcos, California]], where she played [[college basketball]],<ref name="Hawaii">{{cite web |last=Varsallone |first=Jim |date=May 4, 2018 |title=WWE Raw Women's Champ Nia Jax proving her worth in and out of the ring |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article210221444.html |access-date=March 14, 2020 |work=[[Miami Herald]]}}</ref> and graduated from [[California State University San Marcos|Cal State San Marcos]] with a marketing degree in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Monahan|first1=Terry|title=A wild ride in the ring for former Carlsbad athlete|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sd-sp-nia-jax-wrestlemania-wwe-20181213-story.html|publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=December 19, 2020|date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> Prior to professional wrestling, she worked as a [[plus-size model]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/series/love-your-body/wwe-star-nia-jax-posts-swimsuit-selfie-promote-body-positivity-t110162|title=Female WWE star delivers powerful body-positive message with swimsuit selfie|first=Ashley|last=Majeski|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref>
== Professional wrestling career ==
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===Return to WWE (2023–present)===
====Feud with Rhea Ripley (2023-2024)====
Jax returned in the [[Royal Rumble (2023)|2023 Women's Royal Rumble]] for a one-off appearance as the 30th entrant and was eliminated by the combined efforts of the remaining 11 women in the ring.<ref name="RR2023">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women's Championship, Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight in a Pitch Black match|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/01/28/wwe-royal-rumble-results-powells-live-review-of-the-royal-rumble-matches-roman-reigns-vs-kevin-owens-for-the-undisputed-wwe-universal-championship-bianca-belair-vs-alexa-bliss-for-the-raw-women/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=January 28, 2023|access-date=January 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129095535/https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/01/28/wwe-royal-rumble-results-powells-live-review-of-the-royal-rumble-matches-roman-reigns-vs-kevin-owens-for-the-undisputed-wwe-universal-championship-bianca-belair-vs-alexa-bliss-for-the-raw-women/|archive-date=January 29, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> She made her full-time return to WWE on the September 11 episode on ''Raw'', attacking [[Raquel Rodriguez (wrestler)|Raquel Rodriguez]] and [[Women's World Championship (WWE)|Women's World Champion]] [[Rhea Ripley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nia-jax-returns-911-wwe-raw-attacks-rhea-ripley-and-raquel-rodriguez|title=Nia Jax Returns On 9/11 WWE Raw, Attacks Rhea Ripley And Raquel Rodriguez|date=September 11, 2023|last=Tessier|first=Colin|work=Fightful|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref> At [[Crown Jewel (2023)|Crown Jewel]] on November 4, Jax failed to win the title from Ripley in a [[fatal five-way match]] also involving Rodriguez, [[Zoey Stark]], and [[Shayna Baszler]], who Ripley pinned to retain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2023-11-04 |title=Crown Jewel: Roman Reigns retains, Logan Paul new U.S. champ |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/wwe/story/_/id/38814935/wwe-crown-jewel-live-results-analysis-2023-roman-reigns-la-knight |access-date=November 5, 2023-11-05 |website=[[ESPN]] |language=en}}</ref>
Over the next few months, Jax went on a winning streak, defeating Baszler, Rodriguez, and Stark in several matches. Jax reignited her feud with [[Becky Lynch]], culminating in a match at [[WWE Day 1 (2024)|Day 1]] where Jax was victorious.<ref name="Day12024">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Raw results (1/1): Powell's live review of Day 1 with Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship, Rhea Ripley vs. Ivy Nile for the Women's World Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/01/01/wwe-raw-results-1-1-powells-live-review-of-day-1-with-seth-rollins-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship-rhea-ripley-vs-ivy-nile-for-the-womens-world-championship-becky-ly/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=January 1, 2024|access-date=January 1, 2024}}</ref> At the [[Royal Rumble (2024)|Royal Rumble]] on January 27, Jax entered the women's [[Royal Rumble match]] at #19, scoring a record-tying eight eliminations before being eliminated by the debuting [[Jade Cargill]].<ref name="RR2024">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Universal Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/01/27/wwe-royal-rumble-results-powells-live-review-of-the-royal-rumble-matches-roman-reigns-vs-randy-orton-vs-la-knight-vs-aj-styles-for-the-wwe-universal-championship/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=January 27, 2024|access-date=January 27, 2024|archive-date=January 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127233116/https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/01/27/wwe-royal-rumble-results-powells-live-review-of-the-royal-rumble-matches-roman-reigns-vs-randy-orton-vs-la-knight-vs-aj-styles-for-the-wwe-universal-championship/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the Royal Rumble, Jax continued feuding with Ripley, culminating in a title match in the main event of [[Elimination Chamber: Perth]], but Jax failed to win the title from Ripley.<ref name="EC2024">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Elimination Chamber results: Powell's live review of Rhea Ripley vs. Nia Jax for the Women's World Championship, Elimination Chamber matches, Grayson Waller Effect with Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/02/24/wwe-elimination-chamber-results-powells-live-review-of-rhea-ripley-vs-nia-jax-for-the-womens-world-championship-elimination-chamber-matches-grayson-waller-effect-with-seth-rollins-and-cody-rho/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=February 24, 2024|access-date=February 24, 2024}}</ref>
====Queen of the Ring and WWE Women's Champion (2024-present)====
After being drafted to the [[WWE SmackDown (brand)|SmackDown]] brand as part of the [[2024 WWE Draft]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quiles |first=Fernando Jr. |date=April 26, 2024 |title=WWE Friday Night SmackDown Free Live Stream Results: WWE Draft 2024 Begins, The Bloodline Drama Continues |url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-wwe-draft-2024-the-bloodline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427023426/https://www.si.com/wrestling/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-wwe-draft-2024-the-bloodline |archive-date=April 27, 2024 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=[[Sports Illustrated]] |language=}}</ref> Jax participated in the [[Queen of the Ring tournament]] defeating [[Naomi (wrestler)|Naomi]] in the first round.<ref name="QOTR2024FirstRound">{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/three-wrestlers-advance-to-wwe-queen-of-the-ring-quarterfinals/|title=Three wrestlers advance to WWE Queen of the Ring quarterfinals|last=Renner|first=Ethan|date=May 10, 2024|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511062621/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/three-wrestlers-advance-to-wwe-queen-of-the-ring-quarterfinals/|url-status=live}}</ref> She went on to defeat [[Jade Cargill]] in the quarterfinals by disqualification after Cargill attacked Jax with a steel chair in response to Jax taunting Cargill's daughter at ringside,<ref name="QOTR2024Quarterfinals">{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/bianca-belair-and-nia-jax-advance-wwe-queen-ring-semi-finals-517-wwe-smackdown|title=Bianca Belair And Nia Jax Advance To WWE Queen Of The Ring Semi-Finals On 5/17 WWE SmackDown|last=Defelice|first=Robert|date=May 17, 2024|website=Fightful|access-date=May 18, 2024|archive-date=May 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518050648/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/bianca-belair-and-nia-jax-advance-wwe-queen-ring-semi-finals-517-wwe-smackdown|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bianca Belair]] in the semifinals,<ref name="QOTRSemifinals">{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/spoiler-queen-ring-finals-set|title=Nia Jax Defeats Bianca Belair On 5/24 WWE SmackDown, Queen Of The Ring Finals Set|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|date=May 24, 2024|website=Fightful|access-date=May 25, 2024|archive-date=May 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524203835/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/spoiler-queen-ring-finals-set|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Lyra Valkyria]] in the finals at [[King and Queen of the Ring (2024)|King and Queen of the Ring]] to win the tournament, earning a [[WWE Women's Championship]] match at [[SummerSlam (2024)|SummerSlam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruth |first=Daisy |date=2024-05-May 25, 2024 |title=Results Of WWE's 2024 King Of The Ring Tournament Finals |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1589424/results-wwe-2024-king-of-the-ring-tournament-finals/ |access-date=2024-05-May 25, 2024 |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref> At the event on August 3, Jax defeated [[Bayley (wrestler)|Bayley]] to win the title, becoming the first wrestler (male or female) rehired by [[Paul "Triple H" Levesque]] to win a world title.<ref name="SSlam2024">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE SummerSlam results: Powell’s review of Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match for the WWE Championship, Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/08/03/wwe-summerslam-results-powells-review-of-cody-rhodes-vs-solo-sikoa-in-a-bloodline-rules-match-for-the-wwe-championship-damian-priest-vs-gunther-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=August 3, 2024|access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref> On the August 30 episode of ''SmackDown,'' Jax defeated [[Mia Yim|Michin]] to retain her title in a [[street fight match|street fight]] in her first title defense.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Doc-Chris |date=2024-08-August 30, 2024 |title=WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, More Before Bash in Berlin|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10133713-wwe-smackdown-results-winners-live-grades-reaction-more-before-bash-in-berlin |access-date=2024-08-August 30, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional wrestling style, persona, and reception==
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== Other media ==
As Nia Jax, Fanene is a playable character in the WWE video games ''[[WWE 2K17]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/section/wwe-2k17/article/wwe-2k17-nxt-edition-exclusive|title=2K to release collectible NXT Edition of WWE 2K17|date=July 14, 2016|last=Matthew|first=Artus|access-date=July 15, 2016|publisher=[[WWE.com]]}}</ref> ''[[WWE 2K18]]'', ''[[WWE 2K19]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dilbert|first1=Ryan|title=WWE 2K18: Best, Worst and Most Outrageous Superstar Ratings for Upcoming Game|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2737140-wwe-2k18-best-worst-and-most-outrageous-superstar-ratings-for-upcoming-game|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date=June 29, 2018|date=October 6, 2017}}</ref> ''[[WWE 2K20]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/wwe-2k20-all-the-playable-wrestlers-on-the-roster/2900-2963/10/|title=WWE 2K20: All The Playable Wrestlers On The Roster|last=Elfring|first=Matt|date=August 7, 2019|access-date=August 11, 2019|publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> ''[[WWE 2K22]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=2K|title=WWE 2K22 Full Roster List {{!}} Roster WWE 2K22|url=https://wwe.2k.com/roster-list/|access-date=April 24, 2022|website=WWE 2K22|language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[WWE 2K Battlegrounds]]'', and ''[[WWE 2K24]]'' as [[downloadable content]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=2K Games |title=WWE2K24 - SEASON PASS IS BACK |url=https://wwe.2k.com/2k24/season-pass/ |website=WWE 2K |access-date=27 February 27, 2024}}</ref>
In July 2017, Jax joined the cast of the reality television series ''[[Total Divas]]'' beginning in its [[Total Divas (season 7)|seventh season]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Emery|first1=Debbie|url=https://www.thewrap.com/wwe-announces-new-cast-of-total-divas-season-7-premiere-date-for-total-divas-season-2/|title=WWE Reveals New Cast of 'Total Divas,' Sets Premiere Date for 'Total Bellas' Season 2 (Video)|website=[[TheWrap]]|date=July 24, 2017|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>