All Elite Wrestling: Getting to Know “Smiley” Kylie Rae
While there was already speculation about it happening, it was confirmed last night that independent star Kylie Rae signed with All Elite Wrestling and looks to be a focal point of their women’s division right from the start. Some fans may know her, but for those who don’t, Smiley Kylie is a breakout star who has a very bright future ahead of her.
Based on the hype for her arrival and signing with All Elite Wrestling, fans might be surprised to realize Kylie Rae is barely entering her fourth year in the business. A bubbly native of Chicago, Illinois, a town certainly known for connections to the wrestling industry, Rae actually got her start in Houston, Texas. In 2016, Kylie Rae made her debut at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling and won the ROW Diamonds Division Championship in her very first match.
To add some context to that championship, it’s been held by former NXT Women’s Champion and current Raw superstar Ember Moon. Current champion Hyan will be doing a tour of Japan this year, and challengers for the title have included Barbi Hayden, Laynie Luck, Kiera Hogan, and Jordynne Grace.
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Kylie Rae is also the only 3-time ROW Diamonds Division Champion. While she got her start in ROW, in her short career Kylie Rae has already competed in House of Hardcore, RISE Wrestling, Inspire Pro Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling, Freelance Wrestling, Zelo Pro, Shimmer, CZW, and Stardom.
She’s also the current Freelance Wrestling Champion, AAW Women’s Champion, and Zelo Pro Women’s Champion. Rae was actually the inaugural Zelo Pro Women’s Champion before losing the title to Tessa Blanchard, but she defeated Blanchard last month to recapture the title.
While her in-ring skill and talent has helped her have great matches throughout the independent scene, it’s perhaps Rae’s own personality that has endeared so many fans to her. An unabashed fan of Pokemon, Kylie Rae often makes her independent appearances with a remix of the original Pokemon television show theme song as her entrance music and has worn ring gear inspired by Pikachu and Charmander.
Combine that with an infectious joy and smile that has earned her the nickname Smiley Kylie, and it’s not surprising that she eventually found her way onto UpUpDownDown, the YouTube channel of WWE’s Xavier Woods. Rae first appeared in a Battle of the Brands episode in November, and then got her own Special Guest Savepoint episode just last month.
In the episode, it’s also mentioned that Kylie Rae wasn’t able to compete in the WWE Mae Young Classic due to a collarbone injury. It’s clear that she’s risen up the ranks to have already been on WWE’s radar, but Rae is now poised to be a key part of All Elite Wrestling.
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Tensions started between Rae and another signee, Nyla Rose, at yesterday’s event and they could already be on the path to a collision at Double or Nothing. Regardless of who she tangos with first, fans need to pay close attention to Kylie Rae as she could be one of AEW’s top stars in the future.