Top NXT UK Star Appears At TakeOver 36

This former NXT UK title-holder made a splash last night.

by Andy H Murray
Kay Lee Ray silhouette
WWE

Former NXT UK Women's Champion Kay Lee Ray appeared on last night's TakeOver 36 show in the United States, staring Raquel Gonzalez down after a successful NXT Women's Title defence over Dakota Kai.

Gonzalez ended up putting her friend-turned-rival away after hitting the Chingona Bomb for the decisive pinfall. KLR's music then hit as the champion was celebrating and the Scot walked out onto the ramp, locking eyes with Gonzalez from the other side of the building.

Check out the confrontation for yourself:-

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PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported earlier in the month that Ray was in the United States, training at the WWE Performance Center. This was her first appearance on camera since then.

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KLR is best known for her 649-day run with the NXT Women's Championship. This commenced at TakeOver: Cardiff in August 2019, when she unseated Toni Storm, and ended with a defeat to joshi legend Meiko Satomura this June. Ray hasn't wrestled for WWE since that defeat.

Whether or not last night represents a full-time switch to the United States remains to be seen, though Ray has history on the main NXT brand, having last competed there in January 2020.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.