Tag: aja smith

WWE NXT’s Leon Ruff & Aja Smith get engaged

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NXT’s Leon Ruff and Aja Smith are the latest WWE couple to get engaged.

Their engagement was announced by Smith on social media today: “I SAID YES! #FutureMrsRuffin @LEONRUFF_”

Ruff wrote about their engagement: “Love of my life I can’t wait!!!”

Smith is a referee in NXT. She’s a former independent wrestler who joined WWE earlier this year as the first Black full-time female referee in company history.

Ruff formerly wrestled for EVOLVE and was officially announced as a new WWE signee last month. He had made several appearances on WWE television in the months before his signing was announced.

Ruff is currently the NXT North American Champion. In a shocking title change, he won the North American Championship from Johnny Gargano on NXT three weeks ago. Ruff got help from Damian Priest to win the title and has since been involved in a program with Gargano and Priest.

Ruff will make his NXT TakeOver debut as he defends the North American Championship against Gargano and Priest in a triple threat match at TakeOver: WarGames on Sunday (December 6).

NXT Ocala, FL, live results: Emily Andzulis, referee Aja Smith debut

Posted on by JJ Williams

From the Hilton Ocala in front of an estimated 300 

– Jorge Bolly defeated Brendan Vink 

– Indi Hartwell, MJ Jenkins, and Deonna Purrazzo defeated Catalina Garcia, Rita Reis, and Emily Andzulis

This was the NXT debut for Andzulis who fought one amateur MMA bout, won The Titan Games on NBC, and began her wrestling career being trained by Glenn Jacobs in Tennessee.

– Bronson Reed and Shane Thorne defeated Lewis Howley and Sam Stoker 

– Shotzi Blackheart defeated Taynara 

This match featured the NXT debut of referee Aja Smith.

– The Forgotten Sons (Blake and Cutler) w/Ryker defeated Aleksandar and Tehuti Miles 

– Dio Maddin defeated Ridge Holland via DQ

Ridge used his old-timey police baton as a weapon for the DQ.

– We had an in-ring segment with Dory Funk Jr. as he promoted an upcoming charity show featuring the Steiner Brothers in nearby Belleview, FL. He said to put “Dory Funk” in your computer to find info. Cal Bloom interrupted before Jeet Rama made the save to defend Dory’s honor. 

– Jeet Rama defeated Cal Bloom 

– Santana Garrett defeated Jessi Kamea 

– Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) defeated Tony Nese and Mike Kanellis 

Aja Perera signs with WWE, joins NXT as a referee

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Independent wrestler Aja Perera (Aja Smith) has officially signed with WWE and joined the Performance Center as a referee.

Perera signing with WWE was first reported by Squared Circle Sirens. The news was then announced by WWE.com today, with them noting that Perera will be the first African-American full-time female referee in the company’s history:

Referee Aja Smith has signed with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center, becoming the first African-American full-time female referee signed to WWE.

Smith competed across the United States, Japan and Mexico under the name Aja Perera, and has held the SHINE Nova and Tag Team Championship. She will now don the stripes and join the crew of referees who enforce the rules for NXT every week on USA Network.

Killer Kross and Timothy Thatcher also reported to the Performance Center this week. Them signing with the company was officially announced on last night’s episode of WWE Backstage.

The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube channel uploaded an emotional video about Perera signing with WWE: