Anna Jade Keefer (born December 26, 1998) is an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

. As of October 2022, she is signed to

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

, where she performs on the NXT

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

under the

ring name A ring name is a type of stage name or nickname 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 ...

Adriana Rizzo.

Early life

Anna Jade Keefer was born on December 26, 1998 in

St. Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second- ...

Albertville, Minnesota Albertville is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The City is a Northwest suburb of the Minneapolis- St Paul “Twin Cities” metropolitan area. The population was 7,896 at the 2020 census. History The area that is known as ...

. Keefer attended the

University of North Carolina The University of North Carolina is the Public university, public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referre ...

majoring in media productions and interdisciplinary studies. She also competed in

Track and field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...

as part of the UNC Track and Field team and was a 5 time NCAA All-American.

Professional wrestling career

In 2022, Keefer was announced as having signed with

as part of the

WWE Performance Center WWE Performance Center (WWE PC) is a group of professional wrestling schools owned by American company WWE. They serve as tryout and training facilities for WWE, and also contain sports science and medical facilities as well as live events and ...

Fall 2022 Rookie Class. She made her in-ring debut by participating in a

battle royal Battle royal (, also battle royale) traditionally refers to a fight involving many combatants, usually conducted under either boxing or wrestling rules, where the winner is the one who registers the most wins. In recent times, the term has been ...

at an NXT

live event A house show (also commonly called a live event) is a professional wrestling event produced by a major Professional wrestling promotion, promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in o ...

on October 28. After being sidelined for almost a year due to an

achilles tendon rupture Achilles tendon rupture is when the Achilles tendon, at the back of the ankle, breaks. Symptoms include the sudden onset of sharp pain in the heel. A snapping sound may be heard as the tendon breaks and walking becomes difficult. Rupture of the ...

, she made her in-ring return at a live event on October 27, 2023, taking part in a battle royal. In November, Keefer began appearing alongside

Tony D'Angelo Joseph Ariola (born June 9, 1995) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT (WWE brand), NXT WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Tony D'Angelo. Working with a American Mafia, mafia gimmick ...

and

Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo Mitchell LaValley (born March 3, 1997) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo, where he is currently the NXT Heritage Cup Champion in his first r ...

as a member of

The D'Angelo Family Joseph Ariola (born June 9, 1995) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Tony D'Angelo. Working with a mafia gimmick, he is the leader of The D'Angelo Family stable as " ...

, an Italian-American mobster group. She was later assigned the ring name Adriana Rizzo and she made her televised in-ring debut in an

NXT Women's Championship The NXT Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended on NXT, the promotion's developmental brand. The current champion is Jacy Jayne, who is in her fi ...

#1 Contender's Battle Royal which was won by

Roxanne Perez Carla Gonzalez (born November 5, 2001) is an American professional wrestler. , she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Roxanne Perez. She is a former two-time NXT Women's Champion, and a former NXT Women' ...

. The D'Angelo Family would feud with SCRYPTS, Bronco Nima, Lucien Price and

Jaida Parker Tiana Lillian Marie Caffey (born February 12, 1999) is an American professional wrestler and former soccer player. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Jaida Parker, and is a member of the Out the Mud ( ...

of OTM (Out The Mud), leading to a six person tag team match at NXT Vengeance Day which The D'Angelo Family won. On the February 13 episode of ''NXT'', Rizzo was defeated by Parker in her first televised singles match, ending the feud. On the August 20 edition of ''NXT'', Rizzo competed in a six-woman gauntlet match to determine the number one contender for

at No Mercy, where she would be eliminated by

Sol Ruca Calyx Harmony Hampton (born August 26, 1999) is an American professional wrestler. , she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT (WWE brand), NXT WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Sol Ruca. She is currently a double champion, ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rizzo, Adriana 1998 births Living people American female professional wrestlers Professional wrestling managers and valets 21st-century female professional wrestlers 21st-century American professional wrestlers 21st-century American sportswomen