Kiana James Faces Wardrobe Slip During Live Elimination Chamber Showdown
During the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match, Kiana James encountered a significant wardrobe slip that caught the eyes of viewers. The 28-year-old wrestler donned a striking purple two-piece outfit for the bout held on Saturday, February 28.
As she battled her opponents, a portion of her crop top slipped down, leading to an unexpected exposure. “Kiana had an unfortunate wardrobe mishap inside [the] Elimination Chamber,” noted a fan on Threads, detailing the incident. “She was in an uncomfortable position, and everything was visible on TV, yet the cameraman did not move away from her.”
Despite the mishap, James continued to compete until she was ultimately eliminated by Raquel Rodriguez. Rhea Ripley later emerged victorious in the match, securing her place in the next round.
James, who recently transitioned from a corporate career to pursue wrestling full-time, has not publicly commented on the incident. “I fell in love with wrestling and quit my job to train,” she shared with Us Weekly prior to the match. “I have an education and a career to fall back on, but I never thought about falling back. That was never an option. I was going to become a WWE superstar and I was going to put the work in until that happened.”
Describing her career shift as “two different lives,” James expressed how her background has shaped her journey. “I like to think that my journey, every piece of it, led me here,” she explained. “I come from a corporate background but grew up as a competitive gymnast. In college at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, I did competitive dance and cheer. I’ve performed in front of crowds and have a love for that energy. The acrobatics, athleticism, and competition blend perfectly. I have to do this. I was born for this.”
Her husband, Zach Klingensmith, has been a steadfast supporter of her wrestling ambitions. “I decided, ‘Hey, I want to be a WWE superstar,’ and he was like, ‘Well, it seems like Florida is the place to do it,’” James recalled. “I didn’t have a contract or anything, and he was like, ‘Let’s quit our jobs. I believe in you.’ From day one, he quit his job and moved to Orlando just for me to chase my dream. He’s my ride or die.”
James made her WWE debut in February 2022 at an NXT event, coinciding with her marriage to Klingensmith. She later appeared on Raw for the first time in June 2024.
“I always like to say, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,’” she remarked regarding her training regimen for the Elimination Chamber. “The Chamber is like nothing else, but it gets me excited. My competitive edge lies in my mind and strategic thinking. Now, I have a cage and pods and weapons and no rules.”
