Kanji (wrestler)

Last updated

Kanji
Birth nameWinona Makanji
Born (1994-06-23) 23 June 1994 (age 30) [1]
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England [2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Kanji
Trained byStixx
Debut2017

Winona Makanji (born 23 June 1994), known mononymously by her ring name Kanji, is an English professional wrestler, currently working as a freelancer. She has wrestled for Progress Wrestling, where she is a two-time Progress Wrestling World Women's Champion, as well as with other promotions from the British independent scene, such as Pro-Wrestling: EVE and Revolution Pro Wrestling, the latter in where she was a Southside Women's Champion.

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2018–2019)

Kanji was the last Queen Of Southside Champion in Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) when the promotion was taken over by Revolution Pro Wrestling in September 2019. [3]

WWE (2019)

Kanji briefly competed for WWE's NXT UK branch as indie developmental talent. She made her only appearance at WWE NXT UK #47 on June 14, 2019, where she competed in a number one contendership battle royal for the NXT UK Women's Championship won by Kay Lee Ray and also involving Candy Floss, Isla Dawn, Jazzy Gabert, Jinny, Killer Kelly, Nina Samuels, Piper Niven, Rhio, Rhea Ripley and Xia Brookside. [4]

Revolution Pro Wrestling (2021–present)

Kanji's first title defense of the Southside Women's title in RevPro was on 7 February 2021, at Epic Encounters 8, where she successfully defended the title against Bobbi Tyler. [5] Kanji continued to hold the title until 17 December 2022, at RevPro Uprising, where she lost the title to Dani Luna. [6] [7]

Progress Wrestling (2021–present)

Kanji made her Progress debut on 27 February 2021, at Chapter 105: Bring The Thunder, winning a Progress Women's Championship #1 contender's match also involving Taonga, Millie McKenzie, Lana Austin, Mercedez Blaze and Alexxis Flacon and Gisele Shaw. [8] [9] Soon after, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, reigning Progress World Women's Championship Jinny was forced to vacate the title. Therefore, a three match series between Shaw and Kanji was announced to determine the new champion. Kanji won the series 2–1 against Shaw to win the vacant title. [10] Shortly after Shaw won the vacant title at PROGRESS Chapter 117, Kanji defeated Shaw to win the women's title for the second time on 5 June 2022, at Chapter 135: Super Strong Style 16 Tournament Edition 2022. [11] Several months later, she lost the women's title again, this time to Lana Austin, at PROGRESS Chapter 146: They Think It's All Over... on 27 November 2022. [12]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

  1. ↑ Saalbach, Axel. "Kanji • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Kanji/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "RevPro to take over Southside Wrestling Operations". 19 September 2019.
  4. ↑ Mango, Anthony (14 June 2019). "WWE Spoilers: NXT UK Results from Download Festival Tapings (June 14-16, 2019)". smarkoutmoment.com. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  5. ↑ Defelice, Robert (8 February 2021). "RevPro Epic Encounters 8 (2/7) Results: New Women's Champion Crowned, Tournament Bouts, More". Fightful.
  6. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (17 December 2022). "RevPro Uprising Results (12/17): Great-O-Khan Wins Undisputed British Heavyweight Title". Fightful. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Lee, Joseph (17 December 2022). "RevPro Uprising Results: Great-O-Khan Is The Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Guzzo, Gisberto (27 February 2021). "PROGRESS Chapter 105: Bring The Thunder Results (2/27): Natural Progression Series Finals, And More". Fightful.
  9. ↑ Hamilton, Ian (27 February 2021). "Hamilton's PROGRESS Chapter 105: Bring The Thunder 02.27.21 Review". 411Mania.
  10. ↑ Guzzo, Gisberto (22 May 2021). "PROGRESS Chapter 111: One Leg In The Air Results (5/22) - New PROGRESS Women's Champion Crowned". Fightful.
  11. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (5 June 2022). "PROGRESS Super Strong Style 16 Final Day Results (6/5): New PROGRESS Champ Crowned". Fightful.
  12. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (28 November 2022). "PROGRESS Wrestling Chapter 146 Results (11/27): New PROGRESS Women's Champion Crowned". fightful.com. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Defiant Women's Championship". wearedefiant.com. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  14. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (29 May 2016). "HOP Women's Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  15. ↑ Wrestling Titles. "PROGRESS Women's Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50/100/150 for 2021". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  17. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (29 May 2016). "Southside Women's Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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