With less than a week until Elimination Chamber, the WWE Universe is buzzing about the heavy hitters aiming for WrestleMania glory. While names like Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton are dominating the headlines, a different kind of intrigue is brewing on the sidelines. Kiana James has officially entered the conversation, and not just as an “associate.” She’s starting to command a spotlight that was originally intended for her “client,” Giulia.
James surprisingly earned a spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match this past Friday, scoring an upset victory over Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax to punch her ticket. Securing such a high-profile win is a clear sign that WWE is rewarding the incredible work ethic she has been displaying lately.
For the past seven months, James has served as the on-screen representative and manager for Women’s United States Champion Giulia. A primary reason for this partnership is to bridge the language gap for domestic audiences, allowing Giulia to deliver promos with maximum intensity, while Kiana provides the English interpretation.
Despite managing one of only two women’s champions on SmackDown, Kiana James’s recent performances at the Royal Rumble and her qualification for the Elimination Chamber suggest a shift. It is becoming clear that James isn’t just managing Giulia anymore; she’s starting to overshadow her. Before exploring that possibility, it’s important to look back at Kiana’s rise to WWE stardom.
Beginnings and Rise to WWE Stardom
Kayla Inlay was born on May 23, 1997, in Sioux City, Iowa. Before starting her wrestling career, she attended Morningside University, where she earned a degree in science in 2019. Alongside her academic interests, she also excelled in athletics, pursuing weightlifting, swimming, and modeling.
Two years after earning her degree, she began her professional wrestling journey at the Flatbacks Wrestling School in Orlando, Florida, and was trained by Shawn Spears and Tyler Breeze. Inlay also spent time training at the WWE Performance Center, where she received further coaching from Sara Amato.
Her wrestling career didn’t start under the name Kayla Inlay, but rather as Xtina Kay, appearing in a match on AEW Dark against The Bunny in September 2021. She would transition to WWE shortly afterwards.
Her first appearance in WWE happened on NXT in February 2022, initially competing under her real name before being repackaged as Kiana James. It was during this transition that she introduced her famous “heel businesswoman” gimmick. Despite not winning the 2022 NXT Breakout Tournament, the competition served as the perfect launchpad for the persona she is known for today.
Kiana found success in the NXT women’s division, most notably winning tag team gold alongside Fallon Henley at NXT Vengeance Day in February 2023. During the 2024 WWE Draft, which allows for roster trades and NXT call-ups, James was among those selected to join the main roster on Raw.
She had her first main roster match on June 3, 2024, defeating the veteran Natalya for her first victory as a member of the Raw brand. However, the momentum was short-lived; just two weeks later, she suffered a serious leg injury during a Triple Threat Money in the Bank qualifying match against IYO SKY and Zelina Vega.
The injury was severe enough to require surgery and an extensive rehab process. James spent over a year on the sidelines; however, reports surfaced that her work ethic and dedication during this time impressed WWE management, reportedly securing her a “significant push” upon her return.
Early last year, James was spotted training alongside 14-time Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair as she worked toward her in-ring return. Kiana finally made her long-awaited comeback on July 18, 2025, at a WWE Main Event taping in San Antonio, Texas. The very next week, she made her live SmackDown return, appearing alongside Giulia.
Fast forward to today, and Kiana has been maximizing every opportunity. While she earned praise serving as Giulia’s manager and representative, she is now gaining recognition from fans online for her impressive in-ring work.
It started at this year’s Royal Rumble, where she entered as the third entrant and lasted approximately 27 minutes and 30 seconds in the match. While she didn’t record any eliminations, she had a standout moment where she displayed her raw strength, performing a Samoan Drop on Nia Jax.
While fans expected Kiana to be the supporting act, her recent performances have been impossible to ignore. It begs the question: Is the “Personal Assistant” already becoming the main attraction?
Is Kiana James on the Path to Overshadow Giulia?
Since we have been seeing Kiana James in the ring more than supporting Giulia at ringside, the burning question some fans are asking is whether she is on a path to overshadow her. For many, however, it’s more about distinction, rather than simply overshadowing the champion.
Since returning from injury last year, James has seen an increasing push. Her role began as Giulia’s “legal advisor” and “mouthpiece,” but has since evolved from a manager-client dynamic into a full-fledged tag team. In fact, when they squared off in a Triple Threat match on the January 23, 2026, episode of SmackDown, James and Giulia emerged victorious against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax & Lash Legend.
By winning, they secured their spot as number one contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, with James, not Giulia, who secured the pin.
Just over a week later, both women made their first appearances at the Royal Rumble, and the argument could be made that James had the stronger showing. While Giulia did eliminate one contestant, James lasted just over 27 minutes, nearly double the time of her client.
James’s biggest showing to date took place during the Elimination Chamber qualifying match on last Friday’s SmackDown, where she was pitted against Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax for a coveted spot. Seen as the underdog, James pulled off the upset victory by pinning Flair while she had Jax locked in a submission hold.
James pinning someone as established as Charlotte Flair is a rare booking decision, considering Flair is one of the most prominent women on the roster. For any superstar to be given the privilege of pinning someone of her magnitude signals high levels of faith and trust from WWE Creative.
Another element generating social media buzz is the growing charisma gap between the two. While Giulia is viewed as the superior “pure” wrestler, Kiana’s “businesswoman” persona appears to be translating much more effectively with the casual North American audience. Many fans have noted that in WWE, a performer needs to be well-rounded in both technical skills and character depth, making the lack of development for Giulia glaringly obvious even to casual fans.
While Kiana James currently holds a broader character appeal, from a pure wrestling standpoint, Giulia is still ahead. She displayed just how great a wrestler she is in a match this past Friday against Rhea Ripley, where she delivered a stiff kick that left Ripley with a black eye.
Ripley has said in the past that she loves a strong, striking style, and has even, on some occasions, asked her opponents to hit her with full force, something Giulia was more than capable of delivering. What was noticeable, however, was the underwhelming crowd reaction Giulia received as she entered the ring for the match.
Giulia is still the technical wrestling attraction and the current Women’s United States Champion, giving her the edge in prestige. However, James has the “it” factor of a rising underdog-turned-spoiler. If Kiana has a standout performance in the Elimination Chamber this Saturday in Chicago, she could officially move from being Giulia’s “associate” to being one of the primary focuses of the SmackDown women’s division heading into WrestleMania 42.
This past Friday saw more than just Kiana James qualifying for the Elimination Chamber. She stole the spotlight by pinning Charlotte Flair, a legend in women’s wrestling, as Giulia watched from the locker room. While Giulia gained momentum from her viral moment with Rhea Ripley, Kiana has the opportunity to upstage her this Saturday truly. If she accomplishes the impossible, the idea of Kiana James overshadowing Giulia won’t just be a theory, but a reality.
