Nhooph Al-Areebi (born November 23, 1994) is a Canadian

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...

. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown

brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

under the

ring name A ring name is a type of stage name used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons, or project ...

Aliyah. She is a former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion. She holds the record for the fastest victory in WWE history at 3.17 seconds. Al-Areebi is the first female Arab-Canadian wrestler to win a championship for WWE.

Early life

Nhooph Al-Areebi was born in

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

. She is of

Syrian Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both indi ...

and Iraqi descent. In 2012, she graduated from St. Joseph's College School, and later attended

George Brown College George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three campuses in downtown Toronto (Ontario, Canada). Like many other colleges in Ontario, GBC was chartered in 1966 by the government of Ontario and ...

, where she studied nursing. She also attended a

circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicyclis ...

training school.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2013–2015)

Al-Areebi wrestled on the

independent circuit In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indie circuit is the collective noun, collective name of independent professional wrestling promotions which are smaller than major televised promotions. It is roughly analogous to a minor lea ...

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).

WWE

NXT (2015–2021)

On March 17, 2015, it was reported that Al-Areebi had signed a developmental contract with WWE. Her signing was confirmed by WWE on April 13. She made her first appearance at the NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable event on May 20, as part of Tyler Breeze's entrance. She made her in–ring debut on June 20 during an

NXT NXT may refer to: Professional wrestling * ''WWE NXT'', a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that began in 2010 ** NXT (WWE brand), WWE's Florida-based brand and former developmental territory * ''NXT UK'', the British spin- ...

live event, where she competed in a six–person tag team match. In October, she was given the ring name Aliyah. Aliyah's television debut took place on the January 12, 2016, episode of ''

'', where she competed in a number one contender's battle royal for Bayley's NXT Women's Championship, which was won by

Carmella Carmella is a female given name. Notable people with the name include: People * Carmella DeCesare, a playmate for ''Playboy'' magazine * Carmella Flöck, a courier for the Austrian Resistance during the Anschluss of 1938–1945. * Carmella Sab ...

. On the April 27 episode of ''NXT'', Aliyah competed in her first televised singles match, where she lost to Carmella. Towards the end of the year, Aliyah debuted new ring gear and entrance music, leaving her Arabian

gimmick A gimmick is a novel device or idea designed primarily to attract attention or increase appeal, often with little intrinsic value. When applied to retail marketing, it is a unique or quirky feature designed to make a product or service "stand ou ...

, and picked up her first victory as part of the brand, as she defeated

Billie Kay Jessica McKay (born 23 June 1989) is an Australian professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Billie Kay and for her time in Impact Wrestling, where she competed as Jessie McKay. In Jun ...

after a distraction by

Liv Morgan Gionna Jene Daddio (born June 8, 1994) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Liv Morgan. She is a former SmackDown Women's Champion. In ...

, only for both of them to be attacked by Kay and

Peyton Royce Cassandra McIntosh (born 10 November 1992) is an Australian professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Peyton Royce and for her time in Impact Wrestling where she performed as Cassie Le ...

. 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. On January 3, 2017, Aliyah made her first main roster appearance as she appeared on ''

SmackDown Live ''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that as of currently airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Fox Deportes simulc ...

'', where she lost to Carmella. Throughout 2018, Aliyah continued losing to various competitors such as Lacey Evans, Ember Moon and Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane, while also showing signs of a heel turn. 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. After some time away, on the February 13, 2019, episode of ''NXT'', Aliyah returned working full-time, as she defeated

Taynara Conti Taynara Melo Guevara (née de Carvalho and formerly Conti; born June 9, 1995) is a Brazilian professional wrestler and judoka. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where she performs under the ring name Tay Melo () and is a member of the ...

after interference from

Vanessa Borne Danielle Sierra Kamela (born March 18, 1988) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She previously worked for WWE under the name Vanessa Borne. Early life Kamela was born to parents of Samoan, Polish, Chinese, German, and Irish descen ...

. The duo then started an alliance and picked up their first victory against Conti and

Xia Li Zhao Xia (; born July 28, 1988) is a Chinese-American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Xia Li (). Professional wrestling career WWE Mae Young Classic (2017 ...

, two weeks later on the February 27 episode. In mid November on an episode of ''NXT'', Aliyah went up against Li in a losing effort, who had kayfabe injured Aliyah's nose in the process with a spin kick. This was done to write her off television, so that she could get cosmetic surgery on her nose. Aliyah returned to in-ring competition March 25, 2020, edition of ''NXT'', where she lost to Io Shirai in a qualifying match. Aliyah had a match a few weeks later against Li in a losing effort. On the May 6 episode of ''NXT'', she helped Chelsea Green get a victory over Li and tried to get on the Robert Stone Brand. The following week, on the May 13 episode of ''NXT'', she tried to impress Stone in a match against

Kayden Carter Allyssa Lyn "Lacey" Lane (born May 20, 1988) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under the ring name Kayden Carter, performing on the NXT brand. She is a one-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion with Katana Chance. Early ...

which she lost. When she tried to ask him if she could join his brand, he turned her down. Stone eventually changed his mind and officially joined forces with Aliyah on the June 17 episode of ''NXT'', after he helped her get a victory over Xia Li. Aliyah and Stone would feud with Rhea Ripley as she lost to her on the June 24 episode of ''NXT''. The following week on Night 1 of NXT: The Great American Bash, Aliyah competed alongside Stone against Ripley in a handicap match, with the stipulation that if Ripley lost then she would join the Robert Stone Brand, but they were defeated. On the July 13, 2021, episode of ''NXT'', Aliyah turned on Stone after losing a tag team match with herself and Jessi Kamea versus

Kacy Catanzaro Kacy Esther Catanzaro (born January 14, 1990) is an American professional wrestler, gymnast and athletics-based television personality. She is currently signed with WWE on the NXT brand under the ring name Katana Chance. She competed a ...

and

SmackDown (2021–present)

As part of the 2021 Draft, Aliyah was drafted to the

SmackDown brand SmackDown is a brand of the American professional wrestling promotion WWE that was established on March 25, 2002. Brands are divisions of WWE's roster where wrestlers are assigned to perform on a weekly basis when a brand extension is in effect ...

. Aliyah made her official main roster debut on the November 5 episode of '' SmackDown'', where she participated in a backstage segment with

Jeff Hardy Jeffrey Nero Hardy (born August 31, 1977) is an American professional wrestler and musician. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Hardy is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time and is regarded ...

and Sami Zayn. The following week, on the November 12 episode of SmackDown, Aliyah would have her debut match with the brand, competing as a

face The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...

and teaming with Naomi and

Sasha Banks Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado (born January 26, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sasha Banks. Banks previously wrestled on ...

to defeat Shotzi, Shayna Baszler and Natalya. Later that same night, Sonya Deville removed her from the SmackDown Survivor Series team without explanation. She was eventually replaced by Toni Storm. In January, Aliyah would defeat Natalya, in 3.17 seconds, earning her the record for fastest victory in WWE history. At

Royal Rumble The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and WWE Network events, event, produced annually since 1988 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. It is named afte ...

, Aliyah competed in the 30-woman Royal Rumble match which was won by

Ronda Rousey Ronda Jean Rousey (; born February 1, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, actress, former judoka and mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand and is the current SmackDown Women� ...

. On the August 29 edition of ''Raw'', Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez defeated Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky (formerly Io Shirai) to win the vacant WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, her first championship in WWE. Although it was later seen that she pinned Dakota Kai who was not the legal competitor, nonetheless her team was still crowned champions. On the September 12 episode of ''Raw'' they lost the titles to Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, ending their reign at 14 days.

Personal life

Al-Areebi first decided she wanted to become a wrestler after watching Beth Phoenix and

Mickie James Mickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) Additional January 6, 2017. is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and Country music, country singer. She is currently signed to Impact Wrestling. She has also had tenures in WWE a ...

compete at a taping of '' Raw'' on May 5, 2008. Her favorite wrestlers include

Edge Edge or EDGE may refer to: Technology Computing * Edge computing, a network load-balancing system * Edge device, an entry point to a computer network * Adobe Edge, a graphical development application * Microsoft Edge, a web browser developed ...

and

. She ran a YouTube channel under the name chickkick21 as a teenager from 2008 - 2012 and made YouTube videos focused on professional wrestling in the internet wrestling community.

Championships and accomplishments

* Ground Xero Wrestling ** GXW Women's Championship (1 time) * Great Canadian Wrestling ** GCW Women's Championship (1 time) *

Impact Pro Wrestling Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW) is a New Zealand professional wrestling promotion. It has promoted regular events throughout the country and abroad in the last several years and is credited for being the first to bring live wrestling shows to cities ...

**IPW Women's Championship (2 times) * New England Championship Wrestling ** World Women's Wrestling Championship (1 time) * Queens of Chaos ** World Queens of Chaos Championship (1 time) * Pure Wrestling Association ** PWA Women's Championship (1 time) * Southland World Wrestling **SWW Ladies Championship (1 time) **SWW Women's Championship (2 times, final) * World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) ** WWE Women's Tag Team Championship ( 1 time) – with Raquel Rodriguez ** WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament (2022) - with Raquel Rodriguez ** The record holder for fastest win in WWE history

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Aliyah (wrestler) 1994 births Canadian female professional wrestlers Female models from Ontario Canadian expatriate professional wrestlers in the United States Living people Professional wrestlers from Toronto Canadian people of Arab descent Canadian people of Iraqi descent Canadian people of Syrian descent 21st-century professional wrestlers WWE Women's Tag Team Champions