From college basketball to WWE: the rise of Nia Jax
In short: Born in Sydney and raised in Hawaii, Savelina Fanene has transformed from a college athlete and plus-size model into a dominant force in professional wrestling. Now a central figure in WWE, her career is defined by historic feats and a lineage that connects her to wrestling royalty.
Savelina Fanene, known to fans as Nia Jax, has built a career marked by significant milestones and historical firsts. After playing college basketball and earning a marketing degree from Cal State San Marcos in 2005, she transitioned from plus-size modeling to professional wrestling. She signed with WWE in early 2014, initially competing in the NXT developmental brand under the name Zada before adopting the Nia Jax moniker in August 2015. Before her wrestling career, she worked as a plus-size model. While at Palomar College in San Marcos, California, she competed in collegiate basketball.
Jax's impact on the ring is underscored by her ability to break traditional boundaries. In January 2019, she became the fourth woman to compete in a men's Royal Rumble match after taking the number 30 spot from R-Truth. That same night, she made history as the first person to compete in two Royal Rumble matches on a single evening. Her championship pedigree includes winning the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania 34 in 2018 and securing multiple reigns as a WWE Women's Tag Team Champion alongside Shayna Baszler. She also achieved success in the tag team division. She and Shayna Baszler secured two separate reigns as champions.
Her journey has not been without interruption. Following a period of inactivity and a release from her contract in November 2021, Jax made a notable return to WWE in September 2023. Since her return, she has remained a high-profile competitor, engaging in intense feuds with stars like Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch, and continuing to showcase her physical dominance in the ring. Her recent return included a high-profile attack on Raquel Rodriguez. She has also been involved in intense rivalries with stars like Rhea Ripley.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Nia Jax
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