Tag: aqa

AEW’s AQA stepping away from pro wrestling

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A member of the AEW women’s division has announced that they’re stepping away from professional wrestling.

In a statement posted on Monday morning, AQA announced that she is stepping away from pro wrestling “for the immediate future.” AQA wrote that, for the past few years, she hasn’t been in a great place with wrestling both mentally and physically. AQA noted that she tried to keep pushing through that because she didn’t want to look weak, but it only sucked the fun out of every opportunity she had.

AQA thanked AEW for granting her this time to step away. She wrote that she hopes she’ll be able to reflect deeply during this time and see what path is best for her.

AQA’s full statement is available below:

I want to take this time to say thank you to anyone who has ever cheered for me, supported me, bought merch, had me on your podcast or wrote an article about me. Those who sent loving messages, made fan art, gave me a hug during a meet & greet, or a high-five on my way to and from the ring. Promoters who booked me, opponents that stood across from me, and my trainers for teaching me everything I know for I wouldn’t have made it this far without all of you.

At this time, I have decided to step away from professional wrestling for the immediate future. For the past few years, both mentally and physically, I have not been in a great place with wrestling, and silly me, I kept pushing through because I didn’t want to be seen as weak, but it only sucked the fun out of every opportunity I had. I hope during this time I’ll be able to reflect deeply and see what path is best for me.

Thank you AEW for granting me this time.

Until I see you all again, much love.

https://twitter.com/AQAOfficial10/status/1549021640863862784

Three months after being released by WWE, the 25-year-old AQA made her AEW debut this February. It was announced after her debut that she had officially signed with AEW.

AQA was formerly known as Zayda Ramier in NXT. She was released by WWE last November after being medically disqualified from competing. AQA was told she was okay to wrestle, but WWE couldn’t clear her because they couldn’t figure out why she felt hot, shaky, jittery, and like she was going to pass out while training at the WWE Performance Center one day.

AQA had seven matches for AEW, most recently competing at an AEW Dark taping last month. She also wrestled at ROH Supercard of Honor this April, defeating Miranda Alize on the pre-show.

AEW wanted to book AQA vs. Ruby Soho in a women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament qualifying match in April, but Tony Khan stated that he wasn’t able to get AQA into the mix because she had been sick. 

AQA was trained by Booker T and was a two-time women’s champion for his Reality of Wrestling promotion. In the ring, AQA has been best known for her Shooting Star Press.

AEW looked at doing Ruby Soho vs. AQA Owen Hart Cup qualifier, AQA was sick

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On tonight’s episode of Rampage, Ruby Soho will face Robyn Renegade in a qualifying match for AEW’s women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

But Tony Khan revealed during his appearance on Busted Open Radio this morning that he originally had a different opponent in mind for Soho. Khan said he looked at booking Soho vs. AQA last week, but AQA has been sick so he hasn’t been able to get her in the mix.

“I also really like AQA, who is another wrestler [from] down here in Texas, and honestly I wanted to give her an opportunity and an Owen qualifier,” Khan said. “I had looked at doing Ruby vs. AQA last week and AQA’s been sick so I hadn’t been able to get her in the mix.”

AEW announced the signing of AQA after she made her debut for the promotion on an episode of Dynamite this February. Prior to joining AEW, AQA was released by WWE last November. She went by the name Zayda Ramier in NXT.

AQA defeated Miranda Alize on the pre-show for ROH Supercard of Honor earlier this month.

Renegade made her AEW debut on Dark: Elevation in May of last year.

Toni Storm, Jamie Hayter, Hikaru Shida, and Red Velvet have already qualified for the women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Britt Baker will face Danielle Kamela in a qualifier on Dynamite next Wednesday.

Tonight’s Rampage is being held at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. It’s a live episode that’s airing on TNT at 7 p.m. Eastern time due to a scheduling conflict with the NBA playoff play-in tournament.

Here’s the lineup for tonight’s Rampage:

  • Texas Death Match: AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against Adam Cole
  • Owen Hart Foundation Tournament qualifier: Ruby Soho vs. Robyn Renegade
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Gunn Club (Billy Gunn, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn)

AEW announces signing of AQA: ‘She’s a shooting star, and now AQA is All Elite’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Following her AEW debut on this week’s Dynamite, it’s officially been confirmed that AQA is All Elite.

AEW president and CEO Tony Khan announced the signing of AQA on Twitter today. He wrote: “She’s a shooting star, and now @_AQA10 is All Elite! #AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage”

“My heart is so full. Thank you @TonyKhan,” AQA tweeted .”Thank you everyone at @AEWonTV Glad to be All Elite!”

AQA was formerly known as Zayda Ramier in NXT. In her Dynamite debut, she unsuccessfully challenged Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship.

Known for her Shooting Star Press, AQA (Angela Arnold) was trained by Booker T at his Reality of Wrestling school and was a two-time women’s champion for the Reality of Wrestling promotion. It was announced in February 2021 that she had joined the WWE Performance Center.

AQA had five matches for WWE while in NXT. She was released by the company during a round of cuts on November 4 of last year.

In an interview on A Wrestling Gal last month, AQA detailed how she was medically disqualified from WWE prior to her release. She wasn’t allowed to wrestle after feeling hot, shaky, jittery, and like she was going to pass out while training at the WWE Performance Center one day. AQA passed all of her tests and was told that she was okay to wrestle but couldn’t be cleared to wrestle in WWE because they weren’t able to figure out the cause of what made her feel like she was going to pass out. AQA said the situation was no one’s fault and she had a beautiful experience in WWE.

AQA said a doctor who was recommended to her by WWE told her that dehydration was the reason that she felt like she was going to pass out that day.

AQA to make AEW Dynamite debut in TBS title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The debuting AQA will challenge Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship on tonight’s AEW Dynamite. 

AEW president Tony Khan made the announcement today on Twitter. 

AQA wrestled as Zayda Ramier in WWE NXT prior to her November 2021 release. A graduate of Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school and promotion, AQA’s most high-profile WWE win came over Toni Storm on the April 21, 2021 NXT episode. 

AQA’s release came after she was medically disqualified by WWE. In a podcast appearance, AQA stated that she had suffered from anxiety-related issues and that WWE disqualified her because they could not determine an underlying cause for the anxiety, but that their medical personnel had at one point cleared her. 

AQA had a total of just five matches with NXT, but all of them aired on television. Her last WWE match came in June 2021, where she teamed with Zoey Stark in a losing effort against Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae.

AQA part of next group of WWE Performance Center signees

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Photography by TaVon M. Jackson

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that A.Q.A is part of the next group of WWE Performance Center signees:

Priscilla Kelly, a wrestler named AQA, Elayna Black, Saree from Japan (who is really good) and Lacey Ryan from Las Vegas are among those who are starting out in Orlando in the next class. Saree was signed almost a year ago but due to all the issues with COVID and visas, they hadn’t brought her in and she continued to work in Japan. She did her final match this week and said she was leaving. Anthony Henry is believed to be part of this class. Kelly is the ex-wife of Darby Allin and was a regular with the WWN promotions including Evolve before they fell victim to the pandemic and other issues. She worked some AEW and looked good but wasn’t signed. Black also worked some AEW Dark and wasn’t signed. Ryan has worked for Impact and Championship Wrestling from Hollywood.

A.Q.A’s full name is Angela Quentina Arnold. She was trained by Booker T at his Reality of Wrestling school and is a two-time former Reality of Wrestling Diamonds Division Champion. She’s also wrestled for Rise and Shimmer.

Priscilla Kelly’s new in-ring name is Gigi Dolin, Elayna Black is now Cora Jade, and Lacey Ryan is now Zoey Stark. All three are taking part in the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Dolin & Jade are teaming together against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell in a first round match on tonight’s episode of 205 Live. Stark & Marina Shafir are facing Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in the first round of the tournament.