Injured WWE Star Makes WWE Return
A WWE main roster superstar is back on television after missing over a year of action.
It has been reported for several weeks that former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Kiana James was ready to return to the ring. In fact, WWE even featured James on the Evolution poster, which showcased dozens of women’s wrestlers. James did not appear on the Evolution show.
Over the past year, Charlotte Flair posted numerous training videos from the ring as she prepared to return, with James by her side. Like Flair, James suffered a torn ACL that cost her over a year of in-ring action.
The last time that Kiana James wrestled on WWE TV was on the June 17, 2024 edition of Raw in a triple threat Money in the Bank qualifying match against Iyo Sky and Zelina Vega. Since then, James had surgery on her knee and spent over a year rehabbing to return to the ring.
Kiana James Appears On WWE SmackDown With Giulia
During a backstage segment on WWE SmackDown in San Antonio, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were talking about Flair’s upcoming match. As they were talking, the Women’s US Champion Giulia was shown talking to Kiana James, which suggests a possible alliance for whenever James returns to the ring.
Kiana James and Giulia were seen in the background during Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss’ segment
👀#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/ycOc5ag9bi
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) July 19, 2025
Before being drafted to the main roster in May 2025, James was a regular on the NXT brand. Her gimmick was that of a businesswoman who happened to be a wrestler too. She was part of a long-term storyline where she was enemies with Fallon Henley, yet they managed to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team Title story. James also had Brooks Jensen as a love interest, but it was revealed that the evil James was just using him.
Kiana James is 28 years old, was trained to wrestle by WWE’s Shawn Spears and Tyler Breeze at their Flatbacks wrestling school. If you’re wondering, she is not related to WWE legend Mickie James. James debuted in WWE in early 2022.
You can see James on the Evolution poster in the upper left.
