About this episodeKia Stevens (Awesome Kong/Karma) discusses her journey from a challenging childhood in San Diego and Los Angel…AI summary
Kia Stevens (Awesome Kong/Karma) discusses her journey from a challenging childhood in San Diego and Los Angeles to becoming a pioneering figure in women's professional wrestling. She details her time in Japan where she was cast as a powerhouse character, her historic run in TNA and WWE, and the personal struggles including the loss of her child that shaped her career. The conversation highlights her resilience against industry gatekeeping and racial microaggressions, culminating in her decision to return to social media and remain open to future wrestling opportunities.
Key takeaways 5
Kia Stevens was cast as 'Amazing Kong' in Japan without prior knowledge of the character's history or her own casting rationale, initially viewing it as a rude stereotype before embracing it as a platform for empowerment and representation for Black women in wrestling.
She faced significant industry bias, including Jim Ross stating she had no future due to her body type and Dixie Carter mistaking her white boyfriend for a hotel porter at a TNA event, which she cites as examples of the ignorance Black female wrestlers had to navigate.
Her wrestling style was heavily influenced by her background in dance, gymnastics, and color guard, allowing her to adapt quickly to the choreography of wrestling, though she found physical strikes like chops and slaps difficult to endure.
Kia Stevens reveals she is currently in a 'bubble' of self-reflection but is actively returning to social media and is open to returning to wrestling if someone helps her get back in shape, indicating a potential resurgence.
She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and hard work, noting that Japanese wrestlers like Nan Takahashi were blunt critics who pushed her to improve, contrasting with those who offered false praise.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“If a white man could be Kong, I want anything any white man can do. If a white man got it, I want it. Go get it. I got it.”
▶ 1:34:26Kia Stevens explaining her mindset when adopting the 'Awesome Kong' name, framing it as claiming space for Black women in an industry that historically excluded them.
“I didn't have to go down to Florida. I didn't have to go down to OVW or anything. I went straight to TV... I just want to walk down that ramp one time so that JR could shove it.”
▶ 1:39:43Reflecting on her rapid rise in WWE compared to other talents who had to work their way up from OVW, and her desire for validation from J.R.
“She shook this old black porter's hand... She's like, 'I got to find the only black person here.' ... That must be her boyfriend.”
Describing an incident at a TNA event where owner Dixie Carter mistook her white boyfriend for a hotel porter, highlighting racial microaggressions faced by Black women with white partners.
“I need you like she looks like a vixon. I need you to pick a team of you and four other wrestlers... China, Lita, Natty Nart, Nia Jack... Charlotte Flair.”
▶ 1:52:34Kia Stevens' quick selection of an all-female dream team for a hypothetical bar fight scenario.
“I'm close to 50... I feel like women of our age don't get enough respect... I could go in there and hang with the best of them if I went and trained for two three months.”
▶ 2:05:01Kia Stevens expressing confidence in her physical ability and desire to return to wrestling despite age-related industry bias.
Chapters & Sections (64)▼
0:01Kia Stevens Discovers Podcastchapter2
1:39Meeting at Idiots Premiere
3:49Reconnecting with Wrestling via Podcast
5:59Overcoming Isolation and Returning to Wrestlingchapter2
7:54Laundry Day Routine and Nia Jax Reaction
10:24Social Media Return and Podcast Growth
13:42Childhood, Family Dynamics, and Parentingchapter1
16:03Parental Violence and Self-Defense Lessons
18:11Childhood Hardships and Wrestling Originschapter1
19:45Street Smarts and Childhood Lessons
22:52Cultural Identity and Representation in Mediachapter2
24:33Childhood Media Representation and Character Choices
26:12Representation and Heroism in Media
28:09Navigating Internal Racism and Code Switchingchapter2
30:02Code Switching and Linguistic Pressure
31:33Code Switching and Linguistic Identity
33:31Kia Stevens' Mother's Acting Career and Carson Upbringingchapter2
36:42Carson Neighborhood Diversity and Culture
38:27Kia Stevens' Diverse Musical Tastes
39:59Karaoke Story and John Williams Concertchapter1
42:08Star Wars Day Surprise and John Williams Concert
45:23Mom's Game Show Algorithm and Career Pivotchapter2
46:41Game Show Algorithm Exploitation
48:10Career Growth and Life Philosophy
49:54Selling Super Bowl Tickets and Michael Jackson Performancechapter4
51:50Selling Super Bowl Tickets for Michael Jackson
53:16Michael Jackson Super Bowl Energy
54:31Ice Cube NWA Video Shoot Anecdote
56:09Child Acting Auditions and Shyness
57:28High School Color Guard Experienceschapter3
59:30Overcoming Isolation and Asserting Boundaries
1:00:51Exclusion from Championship Due to Back Injury
1:02:44Illogical Team Snub and Apology
1:04:04High School Cheerleading and Homecoming Queen Storychapter2
1:05:49Cheerleading Tryouts and Controversy
1:08:10Homecoming Queen and BMW Story
1:09:58Kia Stevens Wrestling Journey and Rejectionchapter2
1:11:28WWE Tough Enough Audition and Rejection
1:13:07Quitting Business to Pursue Wrestling Full-Time
1:15:16Japan Experience, Faith, and TNA Entrychapter2
1:17:38Japan Wrestling Influence and TNA Recruitment
1:20:06Mick Foley Appreciation and Mickey James Tribute
1:22:50TNA Knockouts Championship and Kong Originchapter1
1:24:59TNA Knockouts Championship Pressure and Kong Name Origin
1:27:43Kia Stevens on Becoming Awesome Kongchapter2
1:29:14Inspiration from Black Pioneers
1:30:45Nia Jax Tribute to Awesome Kong
1:33:05Racism in Wrestling and WWE Transitionchapter2
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