Kay Lee Ray

Kayleigh Rae (born 11 August 1992), better known by her ring name Kay Lee Ray, is a Scottish professional wrestler signed to WWE, where she currently performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Alba Fyre.^[1][2] Known for her high-flying style and ruthless in-ring aggression, she rose to prominence on the British independent circuit before signing with WWE in 2019.^[2][3] Rae began her professional wrestling career in May 2009 at age 16, training and competing primarily in Scotland with promotions like Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), where she became a three-time ICW Women's World Champion and one-time ICW Scottish Women's Champion, holding the Women's World title for a combined duration exceeding 500 days across her reigns.^[3][4] Her early successes also included a stint as the Southside Wrestling Entertainment Queen of Southside, establishing her as a dominant force in European women's wrestling.^[5] Upon signing with WWE's NXT UK brand, Kay Lee Ray captured the NXT UK Women's Championship on 31 August 2019 by defeating Toni Storm at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, embarking on a historic 649-day reign—the longest in the title's history and the longest women's championship reign in modern WWE era—which lasted until her loss to Meiko Satomura on 10 June 2021.^[6][7] Repackaged as Alba Fyre in 2022, she transitioned to the main roster, formerly of the tag team The Unholy Union with Isla Dawn and winning the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship in 2024, while continuing to compete actively as of January 2026 as a member of The Green Regime, including recent involvement in SmackDown title contention.^[2][8]

Early and personal life

Kayleigh Kerr (née Rae) was born on 11 August 1992 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. She grew up in nearby Johnstone.^[1][9] In July 2021, Kerr married fellow professional wrestler Stephen Kerr, better known by his ring name Stevie Boy Xavier.^[10] In May 2024, her mother, Bridgeen Mitchell, died after being struck by a car while crossing a pedestrian crossing in Florida during a visit to her daughter.^[11]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2009–2019)

Rae made her professional wrestling debut on 30 May 2009 at age 16, competing in a battle royal for Scottish Wrestling Alliance (SWA) at their Battlezone event in Bellahouston, Scotland, where she was eliminated early in the match to determine the number one contender for the NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship.^[1][12] Early in her career, she primarily competed in Scottish independent promotions, including SWA and Revolution Championship Wrestling (RCW), honing her high-flying and technical style against local talent such as Blue Nikita and Leah Owens. By 2011, Rae expanded to other UK circuits, appearing in events for Pro Wrestling: EVE and Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE), where she established herself as a versatile performer capable of hardcore and multi-woman matches.^[13][14] Throughout the 2010s, Rae became a mainstay across the British independent scene, wrestling for promotions such as Pro-Wrestling Elite (PWE), Progress Wrestling, and What Culture Pro Wrestling (WCPW, later rebranded as Defiant Wrestling). In SWE, she captured the Queen of Southside Championship twice, with her first reign beginning on 28 February 2015 after defeating Candice LeRae, Nixon Newell, and Saraya Knight in a fatal four-way match; her second reign began on 7 August 2016 in a three-way match.^[14][5] She also held the SWA Undisputed World Women's Championship once, showcasing her elevation to title contention in her home region.^[15] In WCPW/Defiant, Rae won the Women's Championship on 16 June 2017 by defeating Bea Priestley, holding the title for 247 days in her longest independent reign to that point, during which she defended against competitors like Little Miss Roxxy and Veda Scott in high-profile bouts.^[16][17] Rae's independent tenure included international exposure, with appearances in U.S.-based promotions like SHIMMER Women Athletes and Ring of Honor (ROH) starting in 2016, where she competed in showcase matches against the likes of Io Shirai and Evie, earning acclaim for her athleticism and adaptability. In Progress Wrestling, she participated in the 2016 Women's Super Strong Style 16 tournament, advancing through multi-woman eliminators before elimination, which highlighted her growing reputation among European fans.^[13][18] By 2019, having amassed over 200 matches across more than 20 promotions, Rae's independent career positioned her as one of the UK's top female wrestlers, known for her innovative offense and role in elevating women's divisions on the circuit.^[17]

Insane Championship Wrestling (2011–2019)

Kay Lee Ray made her debut in Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) on 6 February 2011 at the event The Notorious I.C.W., defeating Carmel in a singles match.^[19] She competed in three additional matches that year, including a rematch victory over Carmel on 23 October, a win against Jasmine on 19 November, and a tag team victory alongside Chaos over Liam Thomson and Carmel on 3 December.^[13] Her early appearances established her as a rising talent in the promotion's women's division, characterized by her agile, high-flying style. Throughout 2012 and early 2013, Ray's ICW schedule was sporadic, with key bouts including a loss to Viper on 6 April 2013, marking her first defeat in the company.^[20] She rebounded with a victory over Viper in a rematch on 8 June. The ICW Women's Championship was introduced on 15 November 2015, won by Viper. Ray captured the title for the first time on 20 November 2016 at Fear & Loathing IX by defeating Viper and champion Carmel Jacob in a three-way match, beginning her initial reign of 251 days until losing to Kasey Owens on 29 July 2017. She regained it on 1 October 2017 at an ICW event, holding for 49 days before dropping it to Martina on 19 November 2017.^[17] The title was rebranded as the ICW Women's World Championship in 2018. Ray won it on 2 December 2018 at Fear & Loathing XI in the Queen of Insanity deathmatch tournament final against Viper, holding for 216 days until losing to Kasey on 6 July 2019 at Shug's House Party 8. Ray's three reigns totaled over 500 days, elevating the women's division with defenses blending technical skill and hardcore elements, including her acclaimed rivalry with Viper.^[21][22]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014–2015)

In 2014, Kay Lee Ray debuted for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) through the second season of the reality competition series British Boot Camp, which aimed to scout and train British wrestlers for potential TNA contracts.^[23] Auditions began in August 2014, with Ray competing among a group of female talents including Nikki Storm and Kasey Owens during the Glasgow leg.^[24] She advanced past initial tryouts by demonstrating her high-flying and technical skills in showcase matches, impressing evaluators with her athleticism and in-ring presence.^[25] Ray progressed through the competition's early rounds, including the London auditions and UK qualifiers, where she participated in multi-woman bouts to secure a spot in the U.S. training phase.^[26] In episode 4's UK finals, she competed in a four-way match against Leah, Kasey Owens, and others, showcasing her agility with moves like springboard attacks.^[27] As the sole female to reach the semi-finals, Ray faced increased scrutiny, wrestling in intergender and singles matches during the Nashville tapings, including a loss to Gail Kim that highlighted her resilience despite the setback.^[28] Although Mark Andrews ultimately won the season's TNA contract in the December 2014 finale, TNA president Dixie Carter expressed interest in Ray, suggesting a potential developmental opportunity.^[25] Following British Boot Camp, Ray made additional appearances for TNA during their January 2015 Maximum Impact Tour of the United Kingdom. On January 29, 2015, at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, she teamed with fellow Boot Camp contestant Noam Dar to defeat Gail Kim and Rampage Brown in a mixed tag team match taped for TNA Xplosion, with Ray securing key offense including a top-rope dropkick and assisting in the pinfall victory.^[29] Two days later, on January 31 in Newcastle, Ray joined Noam Dar, Mandrews, and Crazzy Steve in an eight-person intergender tag team match on the same program, defeating Madison Rayne, Samuel Shaw, Dave Mastiff, and Rampage Brown; she contributed with high-impact moves like a hurricanrana before her team earned the win via pinfall.^[29] These matches, aired on Xplosion episodes in February and March 2015, marked her final televised outings for TNA, as she did not sign a contract and returned to the independent circuit thereafter.^[30]

World of Sport (2018–2019)

In May 2018, Kay Lee Ray debuted for the revived World of Sport Wrestling (WOS) promotion, a British series that returned to ITV after a 25-year hiatus, and quickly established herself in the women's division.^[31] On 10 May 2018, during a taping in Norwich, England, she captured the inaugural WOS Women's Championship in a three-way match by defeating Bea Priestley and Viper, pinning Priestley after a competitive bout highlighted by high-flying maneuvers and submission attempts.^[32] This victory marked Ray as the first champion of the title, which was created to spotlight emerging female talent in the promotion's classic format. Ray's reign lasted 253 days, during which she made several successful defenses on WOS's televised events and live tours. On 22 September 2018, she retained the title against Viper in a singles match taped at Epic Studios in Norwich, countering Viper's power-based offense with her agile style to secure the win via her signature Gory Bomb. Another notable defense occurred in a multi-woman battle royal on 25 August 2018, where Ray outlasted Viper, Ayesha Raymond, Kasey Owens, and Bea Priestley, eliminating Viper last to retain amid chaotic eliminations over the top rope.^[33] These matches underscored her versatility, blending technical prowess with resilience against established rivals from the UK indie scene.^[34] The championship run concluded on 18 January 2019, at a live event in Southampton, England, as part of WOS's UK tour. In a three-way title match, Viper defeated Ray and Bea Priestley, pinning Ray following a Fireman's Carry Cutter to end her reign.^[35] This loss came amid growing tension between Ray and Viper, who had clashed multiple times across promotions, adding personal stakes to their rivalry.^[31] Ray's WOS tenure from 2018 to 2019 solidified her status as a top women's competitor in British wrestling, bridging her indie success with broader television exposure before transitioning to WWE later that year.^[36]

WWE

Early appearances and Mae Young Classic (2015–2017)

Kay Lee Ray signed with WWE in January 2019 following her participation in the 2017 Mae Young Classic tournament, where she competed in the first round but was eliminated by Kairi Sane. Prior to her full-time contract, she had attended a WWE tryout in 2015, showcasing her high-flying style that had garnered attention on the independent circuit.^[37]

NXT UK Women's Champion (2019–2021)

Her initial WWE appearances included dark matches and house show events in 2018, building toward her debut on the NXT UK brand. Ray made her televised NXT UK debut on April 19, 2018, aligning herself with Jinny and establishing a dominant heel persona known as the "Scary Queen of Scots." She quickly rose through the ranks, capturing the NXT UK Women's Championship on 31 August 2019 by defeating Toni Storm at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, ending Storm's 137-day reign. Ray's reign became historic, lasting 649 days—the longest in the title's history and the longest women's championship reign in modern WWE era—defending against challengers like Piper Niven, Nina Samuels, and Jinny, while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that halted live events.^[38] Her title run ended on June 10, 2021, when she lost to Meiko Satomura in a hard-fought match, marking the end of NXT UK's women's division hiatus.^[7]

NXT (2021–2022)

Following her NXT UK tenure, Ray transitioned to the main NXT brand in late 2021, competing in singles matches against talents like Cora Jade and Raquel Gonzalez. In April 2022, she adopted the ring name Alba Fyre to better align with WWE's main roster branding, emphasizing her Scottish heritage and fiery in-ring style.

The Unholy Union (2022–2025)

Fyre formed a tag team partnership with Isla Dawn, dubbing themselves The Unholy Union, which debuted with a supernatural gimmick blending mysticism and aggression; their alliance culminated in winning the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship on 1 April 2023 by defeating Fallon Henley and Kiana James at NXT Stand & Deliver. The duo held the titles for 83 days before dropping them to Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey on 23 June 2023 at NXT Gold Rush in a unification match with the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.^[39] Fyre and Dawn were called up to the main roster in July 2023, debuting on SmackDown with a win over the remnants of Damage CTRL. The Unholy Union achieved further success by capturing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on 15 June 2024 by defeating Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill at Clash at the Castle, holding the belts for 77 days until losing them back to Belair and Cargill on 31 August 2024 at Bash in Berlin.^[40] They were drafted to Raw during Night 1 of the 2024 WWE Draft on April 26, 2024, but subsequently appeared on SmackDown. However, following Isla Dawn's release from WWE on 8 February 2025, the Unholy Union disbanded, leaving Fyre to compete solo initially.^[41]

The Green Regime (2025–present)

In March 2025, Fyre joined The Green Regime, a SmackDown stable led by Chelsea Green, serving as an enforcer alongside Piper Niven in Green's "Secret Service" subgroup. This alliance positioned Fyre in high-profile storylines, including aiding Green in retaining the Women's United States Championship during a Street Fight against Michin on 7 March 2025.^[42] By November 2025, Fyre remained an integral member of The Green Regime, contributing to Green's second Women's US Title win on the 7 November episode of SmackDown against Giulia, solidifying the group's heel presence on the blue brand.^[43] Continuing the rivalry with Giulia, on the 19 December episode of SmackDown, Fyre lost to Giulia in a singles match.^[44] On the 26 December episode, Fyre teamed with Green but they were defeated by Giulia and Kiana James in a tag team match.^[45]

Championships and accomplishments

WWE

• NXT UK Women's Championship (1 time)
  Reign 1: August 31, 2019 – June 10, 2021 (649 days)^[6]
• NXT Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time, with Isla Dawn)
  Reign 1: April 1, 2023 – June 23, 2023 (83 days)^[39]
• WWE Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time, with Isla Dawn)
  Reign 1: June 15, 2024 – August 31, 2024 (77 days)^[46]

Insane Championship Wrestling

• ICW Women's World Championship (3 times)
  Reign 1: November 20, 2016 – July 29, 2017 (251 days)
  Reign 2: October 1, 2017 – November 19, 2017 (49 days)
  Reign 3: December 2, 2018 – July 6, 2019 (216 days)
  Total days: 516^[47]

Southside Wrestling Entertainment

• Queen of Southside Championship (3 times)
  Reign 1: February 28, 2015 – October 24, 2015 (238 days)
  Reign 2: August 7, 2016 – October 2, 2016 (56 days)
  Reign 3: November 25, 2017 – June 23, 2018 (210 days)^[48]

World of Sport Wrestling

• WOS Women's Championship (1 time)
  Reign 1: May 10, 2018 – January 18, 2019 (253 days)^[31]

Defiant Wrestling

• Defiant Women's Championship (1 time)
  Reign 1: June 16, 2017 – February 18, 2018 (247 days)^[16]

Scottish Wrestling Alliance

• SWA Scottish Women's Championship (1 time)
  Reign 1: May 4, 2013 – May 29, 2015 (755 days)^[49]

Scottish Wrestling Entertainment

• SWE Speed King Championship (1 time)
  Reign 1: August 9, 2014 – October 25, 2014 (77 days)^[50]

Extreme Wrestling Entertainment

• EVE Championship (1 time)
  Reign 1: March 9, 2019 – June 30, 2019 (113 days)^[51]