From Taekwondo black belt to spiritual guru in the ring
In short: Nikkita Lyons didn't just enter professional wrestling; she mastered the mechanics of combat as a child. By age eight, she held a black belt in Taekwondo, providing a foundation for a career defined by physical resilience and dramatic reinventions.
Born Faith Marie Jefferies in Las Vegas and raised in Hollywood, Lyons began her martial arts journey at just four years old. This early discipline allowed her to achieve a black belt by age eight, a technical background that preceded her professional wrestling training under Selina Majors in 2017. Her transition into the industry saw her debut as 'Faith the Lioness' for Women of Wrestling before she signed with WWE in August 2021.
Her career has been marked by significant physical hurdles and narrative shifts. After a successful debut on 205 Live in late 2021, Lyons faced a partial MCL tear and sprain in May 2022 that sidelined her for nearly a year. She eventually returned to the NXT brand in December 2022, navigating a series of high-profile feuds and tag team appearances, including a notable partnership with Zoey Stark.
Lyons is known for her versatility in character work. In late 2024, she underwent a 'heel turn' after attacking Adrianna Rizzo, later engaging in a complex love triangle storyline. By early 2026, her persona shifted again as she returned to NXT as a spiritual guru. This evolution culminated in June 2026, when she defeated Wendy Choo at Evolve: Succession III to capture the WWE Evolve Women's Championship.
Beyond the ring, Lyons has expanded her brand into music and gaming. She released the song "To Be A Champion" under her stage name FaithyJ in August 2024 and has appeared as a playable character in several titles, including WWE 2K23, 2K25, and 2K26.
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