Janai Kai

Janai Kai
Kai in March 2024
Birth nameJanai Ruiz
Born (1994-09-25) September 25, 1994 (age 30)[1]
Washington, D.C., United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gaia Terra
Janai Kai
Billed height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Billed weight57 kg (126 lb)
Trained byMecha Wolf 450
Santana Garrett
Debut2018

Janai Ruiz (born September 25, 1994) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW), where she performs under the ring name Janai Kai and is a member of Contra Unit. She is the current MLW World Women's Featherweight Champion, in her first reign. She is best known for her tenure with the professional wrestling promotion Game Changer Wrestling and various others from the American independent scene.[3]

Professional wrestling career

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American independent circuit (2018–present)

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Ruiz made her professional wrestling debut in Pro Wrestling 2.0, at a house show named PW2.0 And Justice For All which took place on July 3, 2018, where she teamed up with her "Diamond Dynasty" teammates Robyn Reid and Salem, and Sofia Castillo in a losing effort to The Dream Team (Gabrielle Arce, Lacey Lane, Santana Garrett and Tessa Blanchard).[4] In Ring of Honor, she made her first appearance at ROH Women's Division Wednesday #32 on December 1, 2021, where she fell short to Trish Adora.[5] Ruiz made her first AEW appearance at AEW Dynamite #17 on December 3, 2021, where she fell short to Jade Cargill.[6] At Warrior Wrestling 22, an event promoted by Warrior Wrestling on May 28, 2022, she unsuccessfully challenged Athena for the Warrior Wrestling Women's Championship.[7] At Major League Wrestling's MLW Slaughterhouse event from October 14, 2023, Ruiz defeated Delmi Exo to win the MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship.[8]

Game Changer Wrestling (2021–present)

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Ruiz competed in one of Game Changer Wrestling's signature events, the GCW Bloodsport, in which she made her debut in GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 6 on April 8, 2021, where she fell short to Karen Tran in singles competition.[9] At Barnett's Bloodsport 8 on March 31, 2022, Ruiz fell short to Masha Slamovich.[10]

She also worked in other events promoted by the company. At The Wrld on GCW on January 23, 2022, she competed in a 20-person Pabst Blue Ribbon kickoff battle royal won by Big Vin and also involving notable opponents such as Psycho Clown, Ruckus, B-Boy, Lufisto, Dark Sheik and Thunder Rosa.[11] In the second part of the sixth Joey Janela's Spring Break event, she competed in the signature Clusterfuck Battle Royal, bout won by The Second Gear Crew (AJ Gray, Mance Warner and Matthew Justice) which also involved notable opponents such as Billie Starkz, Blake Christian, Jimmy Wang Yang, Maven, Edith Surreal and many others.[12] Another signature pay-per-view she competed in is the GCW Cage Of Survival, making her first appearance at the second edition from June 4, 2023, where she fell short to Maki Itoh.[13] At JCW Big Ass Extreme Birthday Bash on July 9, 2023, she unsuccessfully faced Utami Hayashishita in singles competition.[14]

Japanese independent circuit (2023–present)

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Gleat (2023)

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Ruiz made her debut in the Japanese promotion Gleat at GLEAT Ver. 6 ~ 2nd Anniversary on July 1, 2023, where she teamed up with Aoi, Michiko Miyagi and Risa Sera to defeat Itsuki Aoki, Rydeen Hagane, Unagi Sayaka and Yukari Hosokawa.[15] One month later, it was revealed that Ruiz alongside Aoi, Miyagi and Sera formed the "Diamond Egoist" villainous stable and had their first match as a group at GLEAT Ver. Mega on August 4, 2023, where they fell short to Dash Chisako, Kyoko Inoue, Unagi Sayaka and Yukari Hosokawa in an eight-woman tag team match.[16] At GLEAT G PROWRESTLING Ver. 60 ~ Max Voltage on September 20, 2023, she teamed up with stablemate Miyagi and Hiragi Kurumi in a losing effort against Kairi, Nanae Takahashi and Yukari Hosokawa.[17]

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (2023)

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Ruiz made her first appearance in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling on the finals night of the 2023 Max Heart Tournament from February 11, where she teamed up with Hikari Noa to defeat Yuki Arai and Rika Tatsumi.[18] She briefly moved to title scene at TJPW City Circuit Winter ~ Nagoya Performance on February 18, where she unsuccessfully challenged Miu Watanabe for the International Princess Championship.[19]

Major League Wrestling (2023–present)

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On October 14, 2023, at MLW Slaughterhouse Janai Kai defeated Delmi Exo via submission to become the MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship holder.[20] On May 18, 2024, at MLW Fury Road Janai Kai was revealed as the newest member of Contra Unit.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Janai Kai • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Janai Kai/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  3. ^ InternetWrestling Database (IWD). "Janai Kai Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 3, 2018). "PW2.0 And Justice For All". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  5. ^ TheSmackDownHotel. "ROH Women's Division Wednesday 2021". thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  6. ^ AEW (December 4, 2021). "AEW Rampage Results for December 3, 2021". allelitewrestling.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (May 29, 2022). "Warrior Wrestling 22 Results (5/28): Brian Cage, Athena, Deonna Purrazzo In Action". fightful.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Sinha, Saptarshi (October 15, 2023). "New Champions Crowned At MLW Slaughterhouse, Gisele Shaw, Updated Lineups For NJPW Events". ewrestlingnews.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Evagood, Jerry (April 10, 2021). "JOSH BARNETT'S BLOODSPORT 6 (APRIL 8) REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.co. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Knipper, Justin (March 31, 2022). "GCW Bloodsport 8 live results: Josh Barnett vs. JONAH, Jon Moxley vs. Biff Busick". f4wonline.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Powell, Jason (January 24, 2022). "GCW "The WRLD on GCW" results: Jon Moxley vs. Homicide for the GCW Championship, Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe defend the GCW Tag Titles in an open challenge, Allie Katch vs. Ruby Soho, Joey Janela vs. Matt Cardona, Jeff Jarrett vs. Effy". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Wolstanholme, Danny (April 2, 2022). "GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break 6 Part 2 Results (04/02) – The Greatest Clusterf*** Battle Royal". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Wolstanholme, Danny (June 5, 2023). "GCW Cage Of Survival 2 Results (6/4): New GCW World Champion". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  14. ^ Vetter, Chris (July 10, 2023). "JCW "Big Ass Extreme Birthday Bash" results: Vetter's review of Alex Shelley, Kushida, and Lee Moriarty vs. Nick Wayne, Jordan Oliver, and Starboy Charlie, Bunkhouse Stampede match, Blake Christian vs. Beastman for the GCW Title". prowrestling.net. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Daly, Wayne (July 2, 2023). "GLEAT Results: Ver. 6 ~ 2nd Anniversary Show – Tokyo, Japan (7/1)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Brennan, Corey (August 5, 2023). "RESULTS & RECAPS GLEAT Ver. Mega Results (8/4/23)". bodyslam.net. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Lidet Entertainment (September 20, 2023). G PROWRESTLING Ver.60 -MAX VOLTAGE- 2023年9月20日 (水) 開場 17:30 開始18:30. lidet.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Pavon, Alex (February 12, 2023). "TJPW Max Heart Tournament Finals 2023". prowrestlingpost.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Black, Ethan (February 18, 2023). "TJPW City Circuit Winter In Nagoya Results – February 18, 2023". pwmania.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "BREAKING: Phantom Challenger replaces B3CCA in Exo Title Fight". Major League Wrestling. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  21. ^ Wrestling Titles. "MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2021". profightdb.com. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Internet Wrestling Database. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 250 Female for 2024". profightdb.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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