Gail Kim
Professional Debut: 2000, TNA Debut: 2005
Managed: America's Most Wanted (TNA), Chris Harris (TNA), Eric Young (TNA), Jeff Jarrett (TNA), Molly Holly (WWE), Petey Williams (TNA)
WWE Debut Match: Women’s Championship Battle Royal (RAW, 06/30/03)
TNA Debut Match: Gail Kim & America's Most Wanted vs. Daniels, Styles & Sirelda (Victory Road, 07/16/06)
Achievements: TNA Knockouts Champion (1), WWE Women's Champion (1)
MASKING GAIL KIM
Health-conscious Gail Kim attended the York Memorial Collegiate Institute in Toronto where she spent time participating in numerous sports, as a result earning the title of ‘Athlete of the Year’ twice. Upon graduation Gail studied kinesiology - the study of the anatomy and physiology of humans mostly - and then later changed to studying nutrition at the Ryerson University. Having obtained a degree Gail Kim found an interest in professional wrestling and ultimately joined Ron Hutchinson’s School of Pro Wrestling in Toronto.Her training came from a reputable source, a man known for training such wrestlers as Edge (of WWE) and Christian Cage (of TNA) as well as providing basic training to legendary female wrestler Trish Stratus. Gail Kim’s in-ring debut came in 2000 where she wrestled under the alias of La Felina. Her major feud in the organisation (AWF) was a mask vs. hair match involving current TNA Knockout Traci Brooks. Unfortunately for La Felina she lost the match and consequently unmasked for all to see. From there she continued wrestling under the alias but without a mask.
In 2002 she participated in the WXW Women’s Elite 8 Tournament where she defeated Nikki Roxx (currently Roxxi LeVeaux in TNA), April Hunter and eventually lost to Traci Brooks. It was around this time that Gail Kim began looking for work on a much more global level. At a WWF Fan Axxess event in 2001 Gail Kim was introduced to Nora Greenwald (a.k.a. Molly Holly). Gail Kim provided Nora with a videotape of herself which was passed on to management, by October of 2002 Gail Kim was hired by WWE and was reporting to Ohio Valley Wrestling.
MAKING HISTORY
By December Gail Kim made her in-ring debut for the WWE at a Live Event where she lost to Dawn Marie in a bra and panties match. To this date Gail Kim speaks highly of her experiences with Dawn Marie citing they were some of the best matches she’s ever had. Gail Kim continued travelling and participating in house shows where she then debuted on the RAW brand in June of 2003. Prior to her debut several vignettes aired promoting a ‘matrix-style’ gimmick. Her first appearance saw her capture the Women’s Championship in a battle royal where she last eliminated Victoria.By winning the match Gail Kim made history three times over. Firstly it was the quickest acquisition of the title by any female, secondly she was the first female of Korean descent to hold the Championship, and finally she was the first woman to capture the belt in her debut. Gail Kim’s reign lasted four weeks where she dropped it to Molly Holly. On July 28, after having helped Stratus in the weeks before, Gail Kim levelled Trish with a spine buster to signify a heel turn.
From there Gail Kim and Molly Holly joined forces expressing their distaste for Trish Stratus. Eventually Gail and Molly defeated Trish Stratus in a handicap match and then proceeded to beat away at her. Lita made her return on this night by chasing away Molly Holly and Gail Kim who were preparing to destroy Stratus with the use of a steel chair. Unforgiven 2003 played host to the anticipated tag team match which was won by Lita and Trish Stratus. Gail Kim was unfortunately sidelined with an injury on a November 10 taping of HeAT after she suffered a broken right collarbone during a match with Trish Stratus.
The injury caused Gail Kim to be out of the ring for five months, however upon her return she immediately reformer her alliance with Molly Holly. Her introductory style of ‘high-flying’ moves became redundant as she debuted more of a submission style of wrestling - critics cite that this was to avoid further injury. Upon the switch she dubbed herself as ‘wrestling’s submission specialist’ which led her to Bad Blood 2004 where she was billed to face Women’s Champion Victoria. Merely a week before the event plans changed as Lita and Trish Stratus were injected into the match to create a fatal fourway; Trish Stratus walked out as the winner.
By this time her career with the WWE was unfortunately winding down. The last few months of her time in WWE saw her team alongside Trish Stratus (as well as Molly Holly) during their feud with Nidia, Stacy Keibler and Victoria. Gail Kim’s last appearance was on a RAW broadcast where she aided Trish Stratus in an attack on Lita. On November 2 2004 Gail Kim was released by the WWE alongside many other females such as Jazz and Nidia. Her release allowed her to compete, after ninety days, in independent promotions across the world including Mexico, Australia and South Korea. Whilst in Korea she posed topless for mobile phone company.
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
By September Gail Kim had signed with TNA and on the October 8 edition of iMPACT! Gail debuted as a heel aligning herself with NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett and America’s Most Wanted. Gail Kim aided her tag team, AMW, to NWA World Tag Title success when they defeated The Naturals. One month into her career and Gail Kim began a slow-developing feud with former WWE Diva Jackie Gayda. The rest of 2005, and early 2006 saw Gail Kim spending time filming ‘Royal Kill’.February and April saw the continuation of the Gail Kim and Jackie Gayda feud. Gail watched over Gayda as she was blackmailed into joining the Jarrett stable. At Sacrifice 2006 Gail Kim fired Jackie Gayda during an interview after finding out she was pregnant. With the TNA Knockouts roster growing the division earned itself a DVD in mid-2006. Gail Kim and Traci Brooks wrestled a dark match on May 15 as an extra for the DVD release. This match marked the first female match in over a year and also Gail’s first match in America since being released in 2004.
Gail Kim then engaged in a feud with newcomer Sirelda, a muscle-blonde similar in appearance to Nicole Bass and Chyna. Sirelda debuted as an equalizer for AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels who were continually being screwed out of the titles by Gail Kim’s interference. At Victory Road 2006 AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Sirelda beat Gail Kim and America’s Most Wanted and then one month later Gail Kim scored the singles win at Hard Justice.
A feud developed between America’s Most Wanted and LAX after Hernandez delivered a Bordertoss to Gail after an eight-man tag match on iMPACT! At Genesis AMW lost a tag match to LAX, and then at Turning Point they lost a Flag Match to LAX after James Storm accidentally plastered Chris Harris with a beer bottle. They were granted a final opportunity in a Title vs. Team match where if AMW lost they were to disband. Latin American Xchange won the bout and after the match Storm smashed a beer bottle in the face of Chris Harris.
GAIL CREATES A STORM
Gail continued to manage James Storm during Chris Harris’ absence. At Final Resolution 2006 Storm pinned Petey Williams, however Gail prevented a beat down after snatching Storms’ beer bottle away from him and then giving him a low blow. Jacqueline Moore, a former WWE Women’s Champion - then debuted with TNA as the new manager of James Storm. Gail Kim then paired with Petey Williams as the four engaged in a feud.At Against All Odds 2007 Storm and Moore beat Williams and Kim, after the match though Chris Harris returned to chase away James Storm who was preparing to beat down Gail Kim. One month later a double bull rope match was made which again saw James Storm and Jacqueline Moore pick up the win. Throughout the months Jacqueline Moore and Gail Kim engaged in several brawls and cat fights which led to a steel cage match at Lockdown - the first of it’s kind in TNA for the ladies. Gail Kim won the match with a cross-body from the top of the cage. A re-match saw the ladies compete in a Street Fight which saw Jacqueline Moore lose several teeth after a painful dropkick to a chair shot.
After a short absence Gail Kim returned at Slammiversary as part of the Eric Young and Robert Roode feud. She kissed Eric Young to encourage him to focus on his match and not on Traci Brooks who was trying to play mind games with the innocent Young. This of course initiated a feud between Gail Kim and Traci Brooks which led to a singles match on iMPACT! which was won by Gail. By September of 2007 the TNA Knockouts Division began working towards the Knockout Championship.
KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION
At Bound for Glory, in a ten woman Gauntlet, Gail Kim outlasted ten and pinned Roxxi LeVeaux to become the very first Champion. A tearful Gail Kim celebrated her win and then on an edition of iMPACT! was awarded her belt in a Champion Ceremony by Jim Cornette. By winning the TNA Knockouts Championship Gail Kim has become the first woman to hold both the Knockouts and WWE Women’s Championships - making history once again.Her first challenger came in the monstrous form of Awesome Kong. The two ladies worked towards their first pay-per-view match which witnessed Gail Kim retain her belt. Furious at the loss Kong got herself a re-match in a No DQ stipulation. Fortunately for Gail Kim a roll-up allowed her to continue her reign as Champion. The following Thursday on iMPACT! however things were different when Awesome Kong beat Gail Kim to become the Champion. The two ladies main evented the iMPACT! show making them first ladies to achieve that in TNA.
