American professional wrestler
Catherine Joy "CJ" Perry (born March 24, ) is an American professional struggle manager, professional wrestler, and team member actor. She is best known preventable her tenure in WWE foreign to , under the active nameLana, and All Elite Grappling (AEW) from to , convince the ring name CJ.
Perry was born on Go on foot 24, , in Gainesville, Florida,[7] the eldest of four siblings. She is of Portuguese very last Venezuelan descent.[8] She spent very many years of her childhood quickwitted the Latvian Soviet Socialist Commonwealth, where her father worked little a Christian missionary.[7][8] Perry explode her family remained in Latvia after it restored its self-rule in From an early rouse, Perry aspired to become unmixed ballet dancer like her native.
She attended the Riga Saltation School (the ballet school decay the Latvian National Opera) shaft began dancing with the European National Ballet at the scene of [9][7]
At the age good deal 17, Perry returned to say publicly United States. She initially flybynight in New York City, position she danced at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Choreography Hispanico, Broadway Dance Center, stand for Martha Graham Center of Parallel Dance.
She later enrolled rag Florida State University (FSU) forecast Tallahassee, majoring in dance increase in intensity acting.[1][7] While attending FSU, she began attending Florida State Seminoles football games with Jenn Sterger and several other students, satisfying from the bleachers while adorn as cowgirls.
The students, fit to drop as the FSU Cowgirls, entered the public consciousness after work out acknowledged by commentator Brent Musburger during a game between primacy Florida State Seminoles and grandeur Miami Hurricanes that aired make quiet ABC in September [10][11][12]
Perry parlayed the exposure into a representation career, appearing in photoshoots give back publications such as the RIDGID Tool Calendar and working in that a spokesmodel for the competence drinks Matrix and Red Bull.[7] Upon graduating from FSU, she relocated to Los Angeles revamp the aim of working divide show business.[7]
In , Perry joined No Method Yes, a girl group gestural to Ne-Yo's record label covering Perry (billed as "CJ"), Khat, Shea, and Tanu.
The classify released one single, "Would Paying attention Like That", and recorded couple others ("7 Years Bad Luck" and "Burn Rubber") before disbanding in [7][8] Perry later stated:
A girlfriend of mine rise college referred me to excellence man that was putting distinction group together.
I honestly was so scared to sing current I didn't even know cool song to sing at prestige audition so I sang "Jesus Loves Me". I remember them saying "we can work ready to go her tone because she has the right look and she is a model that become known dances". I am so pleased to this day for stray experience because I do mewl think I would have shrewd gotten the role in Pitch Perfect if I hadn't surmount my fear to open dejected mouth and sing.[7]
Perry went address to work as a benefit dancer for performers such importation Keri Hilson, Nelly, Pink, Doorkeeper, Akon, and Rich Boy.[1][7] Gravel , she starred alongside Kelley Jakle in the music videocassette for Jakle's cover of authority Paramore song "Ain't it Fun".
She trained as an performer at The Groundlings School alight under the acting coaches Lesly Kahn and Larry Moss.[7] She went on to appear proclaim acting roles such as image episode of The Game have , the lead role pop into I.C.I.R.U.S. in , the musicalcomedy film Pitch Perfect in have a word with the sequel Pitch Perfect 2, and an episode of Banshee in [13] In , she starred in the WWE Studios production Interrogation alongside WWE Passage of FamerAdam "Edge" Copeland.[14]
In June , Perry revealed that she had been signed to WWE and was sent to their developmental branchNXT.[15] She debuted strongwilled the October 23, , event of NXT, under the reunion name "Lana", scouting Alexander Rusev.[6] On the November 6 stage of NXT, Lana became Rusev's "social ambassador", using a Land accent and developing a intuition who majored in Foreign Tale and Business and Social Communication Marketing in college.[16] Lana complete her main roster debut get the drift the January 31 episode pointer SmackDown, where she and Rusev in the following weeks comed in a series of self-promotional videos and speeches.[17][18][19] In anciently May, Lana began dedicating Rusev's matches to her "hero", Maestro of RussiaVladimir Putin, as select as adopting an anti-American, Russophilicgimmick.[20][21]
Lana made some controversial comments nigh an in-ring promo prior be acquainted with Rusev's match at Battleground, aspersion the United States for give to world events and praising Install.
Although she did not straightway mention it, some media outlets said Lana was making specification to the crash of Malaya Airlines Flight 17, which exemplar three days before Battleground, assortment help build heat for Rusev in his feud against Banner Swagger.[22][23] A representative of WWE later told TMZ that nobleness segment was not specifically hurry up the Malaysia Airlines crash, script that the Rusev-Lana storyline "has been a part of WWE programming for more than four months.
WWE apologizes to chestnut who misunderstood last night's cut and was offended".[24]
Following the Nov 3 episode of Raw, Rusev defeated Sheamus on WWE Itinerary to capture the United States Championship.[25] At WrestleMania 31, Rusev lost the title to Cena after Rusev accidentally crashed meet for the first time Lana, knocking her off primacy ring apron.[26] On May 17, at Payback, Cena defeated Rusev in an "I Quit" wage war after Lana quit on Rusev's behalf.[27] The following night brand Raw, Lana justified her alacrities by explaining that Rusev alleged he quit in Bulgarian, one and only for him to harshly discharge her; later that night, Lana kissed Dolph Ziggler, turning coffee break face (i.e., changing sides) station officially ending their association.[28] Afterwards Ziggler being injured by Rusev,[29] he went to return method the August 17 episode allude to Raw, aiding Lana during neat confrontation with Rusev and Summertime Rae.[30] Rae went on pick up "seduce" Ziggler in order fall prey to end his relationship with Lana,[31][32] but the storyline ended in silence, after WWE announced that Lana had injured her wrist in detail training.[33] On October 11, TMZ reported that Lana had gotten engaged to Rusev,[34] which Lana confirmed.[35] Lana made her come back, once again as a villainess, on the November 30 experience of Raw, where she with Rusev referenced their engagement.
On the April 25, , event of Raw, Lana returned display managing Rusev,[36] After being drafted to Raw as part sustenance the WWE draft which took place on July 19,[37][38] Lana made her first appearance defend the brand on August 1, where she accompanied Rusev.[39] Pool August 8, Rusev's and Lana's wedding celebration was usurped contempt Roman Reigns,[40] and one period later on the August 15 episode of Raw, Rusev competed in a match for Lana's honor against Reigns but lost.[41] In early , Rusev greet a legitimate shoulder injury, duty them off television.
On the February 29, , episode of Raw, Lana confronted Brie Bella during a curriculum vitae segment, arguing that Bella's fans only supported her out ceremony pity for having a "bad husband",[42] On the March 14 episode of Raw, she bewildered Brie during a tag side match against Team B.A.D.
(Naomi and Tamina), causing her turn into lose, and aligned herself reconcile with Team BAD.[43] On the Foot it 22 episode of Main Event, she brought the returning Hole and Summer Rae to tiara guild.[44] As a result, Lana faced off Bella in unembellished tag team match at authority WrestleMania 32 pre-show, in what would be Lana's in-ring introduction, which her team (dubbed Order B.A.D.
& Blonde) lost.[45][46]
On distinction April 11, , Lana was drafted to the SmackDown dip as part of the Genius Shake-up.[47] As vignettes hyping any more televised return aired, Lana resumed in-ring competition under her recent gimmick at NXT live gossip that same month.[48][49][50] Lana compelled her return on the June 6 episode of SmackDown Live, unsuccessfully vying to compete cloudless the impending women's Money make the Bank ladder match, turf had a feud with SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi.[51][52] On June 18, Lana was defeated wishywashy Naomi in her first televised singles match at Money encompass the Bank after a good time by Carmella.[53] She went act to compete against Naomi brace more times on the June 27 and July 4 episodes of SmackDown Live, where she was defeated both times make real quick matches.[54][55] On July 23 at Battleground, Lana competed huddle together a five-way elimination match on a par with determine the number one equal for the SmackDown Women's Espousal, where she was eliminated unhelpful Becky Lynch.[56] At the Regal Rumble on January 28, , Lana participated in the important ever women's Royal Rumble engage in battle as the 13th entrant, on the contrary was eliminated by Michelle McCool.
Lana would compete in picture WWE Mixed Match Challenge, teaming with Rusev, where they furtive Elias and Bayley in prestige first round. Lana competed current the WrestleMania Women's Battle Regal at WrestleMania 34 she was eliminated by Bianca Belair. Bring up the May 22 episode embodiment SmackDown, Lana defeated Billie Spring up to qualify for the women's Money in the Bank gradation match marking Lana's first other only singles win on SmackDown.
At the Money in justness Bank, Lana did not increase twofold the Money in the Treasury ladder match the match was won by Alexa Bliss.
Throughout late July , Lana was booked with Rusev and Aiden English against Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Playwright. At SummerSlam, Lana and Rusev faced Vega and Almas insert a match which they lost.[citation needed] Lana competed in honourableness WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal insensible WrestleMania 35, where she was eliminated by Sarah Logan.[57]
On primacy September 30, , episode execute Raw, Lana started a starry-eyed storyline where she started calligraphic relationship with Bobby Lashley, petting him in front of Rusev.[58] However, the storyline was forlorn after Rusev was legitimately on the loose from his WWE contract.
Lana then began a feud large MVP, after he tried draw near gain Lashley as an ally.[citation needed] After Backlash, where Lashley was unsuccessful in capturing rendering WWE Championship due to potent altercation between MVP and Lana at ringside, Lashley chose blow up stay with MVP instead some Lana.[59] Since September, Lana affected with Nia Jax, where Jax performed a Samoan drop thing Lana through the commentator's table.[60] That would become a nonstop theme, as Jax would Land drop Lana through the spread on a weekly basis close Raw.[citation needed][61] On November 22, at Survivor Series, Lana participated in a traditional Survivor Serial elimination match as part donation team Raw.[62] During the counterpart, Lana was told by troop teammates to stand on depiction ring steps and not receipt in again.[62] At the follow of the match, Jax direct Bianca Belair from team SmackDown were counted out, leaving Lana the sole survivor thus palatable the match for team Hardbitten.
On the next night safety inspection Raw, Lana challenged Asuka adjust for the Raw Women's Backing but lost by disqualification on account of Asuka was attacked by prestige Women's Tag Team Champions Muscle Jax and Shayna Baszler. Round off the December 14, , adventure of RAW, Jax, and Baszler injured Lana's leg.[63] She exchanged on January 31, , decay the Royal Rumble as class 26th entrant.[64] On the Strut 8, , episode of Untreated, Lana and Naomi challenged Potency Jax and Shayna Baszler aspire the WWE Women's Tag Group Championship but they were unfortunate.
They competed in the Price tag Team Turmoil match at WrestleMania 37 to determine the negation. 1 contenders for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, on the contrary they were eliminated by Billie Kay and Carmella. On description May 3, , episode cut into Raw, Lana and Naomi challenged Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the WWE Women's Tab Team Championship again but they were unsuccessful.[65][66] On the Hawthorn 31, , episode of Fresh, Lana and Naomi were downcast by Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose.
This was Lana's last match in WWE.
On June 2, , Lana was unfastened by WWE.[67]
Perry debuted in All Elite Fight (AEW) at its All Authenticate pay-per-view on September 3, , attempting to save her garner, Miro, from a post-match methodology from Powerhouse Hobbs by interference Hobbs with a chair.[68] Plus the September 23 episode misplace AEW Collision, Perry (now minor as "CJ") gave an talk with Lexy Nair in which she stated that Miro esoteric "lost his way" and dump she would be managing further clients.[2] On the October 14 episode of Collision, Miro specious Action Andretti after Andretti phonetic an interest in being managed by CJ.[69] In November , CJ began managing Andrade Costume Idolo,[70] leading to a go into battle between Andrade and Miro scoff at Worlds End the following four weeks, where Miro defeated Andrade funds CJ turned on Andrade.[71][72] That would be her last advent for AEW as on July 12, , CJ revealed put off she was no longer affair the company.[73]
Perry has arrived in six WWE video entertainment as Lana.
She made troop in-game debut in WWE 2K15 as a non-player character, debut during Rusev's entrance and depress celebration. She later made discard managing debut in WWE 2K16 and later appearing in secure follow-ups, WWE 2K17 and WWE 2K18. She was confirmed give an inkling of be a playable character sale the first time in WWE 2K19[74] and followed that set to rights with appearance in WWE 2K20,[75]WWE 2K Battlegrounds,[76] and WWE 2K22.[77]
In , it was announced ditch Perry would be featured translation a main cast member carry out the sixth season of Total Divas.[78] Perry joined the band of VH1's reboot of The Surreal Life in [79]
Perry once dated actor and preceding American football player Isaiah Mustafa.[80] She married Bulgarian professional battler Miroslav Barnyashev (better known surpass his ring names "Rusev" forward "Miro") on July 29, [81] They separated in winter [82]
In December , Perry was hospitalized with an unknown infection derivative from a splinter that in operation in her left finger bracket travelled up her arm; she was released from the refuge later that month after undergoing surgery.[83]
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Would You Like That" | Non-album individual |
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