Jessika Heiser (born June 25, 1991) is an American

professional wrestling referee A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...

and

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 ...

. 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 Raw

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 ...

as a referee 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 ...

Jessika Carr as well as wrestling on the Evolve brand as Kalyx. After signing with the company in 2017, Heiser became the first female WWE referee since the 1980s. She is also known by her ring names Jessie Kaye and Kennadi Brink on the

independent circuit In professional wrestling, the independent circuit (often shortened to the indie circuit or the indies) is the collective name of independently owned promotions which are deemed to be smaller and more regionalized than major national promotions. ...

. She regularly worked for

Maryland Championship Wrestling MCW Pro Wrestling (formerly known as Maryland Championship Wrestling) is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Joppa, Maryland. It has regularly run events in the Mid-Atlantic region since the late 1990s. History Maryland Champions ...

Early life

As a teenager, Heiser was overweight; she credited her love of wrestling and desire to become a wrestler as "her escape" and her inspiration to change. With help from a local professional wrestler, who was signed to a developmental contract with WWE, she was able to lose over 60 lbs and become an athlete.

Professional wrestling career

Wrestler (2011–2017, 2025–present)

In July 2010, she started training regularly at Duane Gill's Academy of Professional Wrestling in

Severn, Maryland Severn is a census-designated place (CDP) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. According to the 2020 U.S. census, the population of Severn is 57,118, a 22.6% increase from 44,231 in 2010. The zip code is 21144. Geography Severn is l ...

. On April 28, 2012, she won the DCW Women's Champion under the ring name Jessie Kaye. On June 2, 2013, she became the inaugural VOW Vixen's Champion. On September 7, 2013, she became the inaugural ECWA Women's Champion. On the October 21, 2016 episode of '' Women of Honor'', Heiser made her

Ring of Honor Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011; the promotion was subs ...

debut under the ring name Kennadi Brink in a match against Rachael Ellering.

Referee (2017–present)

Heiser signed with

in 2017 as a referee under the ring name Jessika Carr. She became WWE's first female referee since

Rita Chatterton Rita Chatterton (born Rita Filicoski; January 22, 1957) is a retired professional wrestling referee. Appearing as Rita Marie, she became the first female referee in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1984. Chatterton accused WWF p ...

in the 1980s. On October 21, 2021, Heiser refereed at Crown Jewel, becoming the first woman to referee in Saudi Arabia, as well as becoming the first female to referee a

Hell in a Cell match Hell in a Cell is a professional wrestling steel cage-based match which originated in 1997 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It features a large cell structure, a four-sided cuboid made from open-weave steel mesh chain-link fenc ...

Personal life

Heiser credits The Rock,

The Undertaker Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965), better known by his ring name the Undertaker, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Calaway ...

Trish Stratus Patricia Anne Stratigeas (; born December 18, 1975), better known by the ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, yoga instructor, actress and former fitness model. She is signed to WWE. An inductee of the 2013 WWE Hall ...

and

Mickie James Mickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) Additional January 6, 2017. is an American Country music, country singer and Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE. She is also signed to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) as Cre ...

as her influences in professional wrestling.

Championships and accomplishments

* Dynamite Championship Wrestling ** DCW Women's Championship (1 time) *

East Coast Wrestling Association East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 1967 by promoter Jim Kettner. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the co ...

** ECWA Women's Championship ( 1 time) * ''

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...

'' ** Ranked No. 47 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the '' PWI Female 50'' in 2014 * Vicious Outcast Wrestling ** VOW Vixens Championship (1 time)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Jessika 1991 births 21st-century female professional wrestlers 21st-century American professional wrestlers Living people American women referees and umpires American female professional wrestlers Professional wrestlers from Maryland American professional wrestling referees Sportspeople from Baltimore 21st-century American sportswomen