Awesome Kong (Kia Stevens) appeared at the NWA’s all Women’s PPV Empowerrr event on Saturday night in St. Louis to announce she has retired from professional wrestling.
Per F4WOnline, Gail Kim came out, and said she was happy to take part in the show. Taryn Terrell, Jennacide, and Paola Blaze then came out and confronted Kim. Kong made her way to the ring and took out all three. Kong then grabbed a microphone, and told Kim that she was her greatest foe, and that there was no other way to end her career than being in the ring with Kim. It was then Kong said that she was done with professional wrestling. Kong and Kim then hugged.
Kong, 43, was last seen in AEW, where she was part of the Nightmare Collective with Brandi Rhodes. She left AEW in early 2020 to take part in filming the Netflix series GLOW. However, the show was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were some reports this past summer indicating that AEW chose not to renew Kong’s contract.
Awesome Kong began her professional wrestling career in 2002. She is best known for her time in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling. She held the Knockouts Championship twice, the Knockouts Tag Team Championhip with Hamada. She is also a former NWA Women’s Champion. Kong also spent time in WWE from 2010-12 using the in-ring name of Kharma.