Alexis Kaufman[8] was born on August 9, 1991, inColumbus, Ohio,[9][8][10] toteenage parents who were still in high school at the time of her birth.[10] She has been involved in sports since the age of five, competing intrack and field, softball, and gymnastics.[1] She was also a cheerleader atHilliard Davidson High School[11] and reachedDivision I status at theUniversity of Akron, where she graduated with an M.A. inmedical dietetics.[citation needed][12] She spent time in competitive fitness competitions, and has competed in theArnold Classic.[1] At the age of 15, she had a life-threateningeating disorder, but turning to fitness competitions helped her overcome it.[12] With her parents' permission, she also receivedbreast augmentation when she was 17 to help overcome her eating disorders by making her feel more feminine, as her breasts stayed small naturally when she finishedpuberty and helped contribute to her eating disorders.[13]
Having no prior wrestling training, Kaufman was signed byWWE in May 2013 and reported to WWE'sdevelopmental territoryNXT.[14] On the July 24 episode ofNXT (which was taped on June 20), she made her first televised appearance, congratulating theinauguralNXT Women's ChampionPaige.[15] In August, she was added to WWE.com's NXT roster page and assigned the ring name Alexa Bliss.[16][17] She acted as an unnamed ring announcer for the November 20 episode ofNXT.[18][19] Her first televised appearance on the main roster came atWrestleMania XXX on April 6, 2014, when she played a part inTriple H's entrance.[20][21] She made her televised in-ring debut on the May 8 episode ofNXT, playing aglitterfairy gimmick with her ring entrance set to the theme track "Bling Bling," competing in atournament for thevacant NXT Women's Championship.[22] She defeated formerDivas ChampionAlicia Fox in the first round, but lost toCharlotte in the semi-finals.[22][23][24] On the September 25 episode ofNXT, a new ring entrance theme track "Blissful" was debuted for the first time with her match againstBayley. After a failedDouble-Knees attempt, Bliss lost to aBayley-to-Belly suplex.[25]
After ahiatus due to alegit injury, Bliss returned on the March 11, 2015, episode ofNXT, where she defeatedCarmella.[26] The following week onNXT, she defeated NXT Women's ChampionSasha Banks bycountout in a non-title match,[27] which led to Bliss being granted a title match against Banks on the March 25 episode ofNXT, which she lost.[28] Bliss had an altercation with Carmella backstage on the April 29 episode ofNXT. After being slapped, Bliss was consoled byNXT Tag Team ChampionsBuddy MurphyandWesley Blake who were standing in the background.[29] On May 13 episode ofNXT, Bliss landed a Sparkle Splash and defeated Carmella after Blake and Murphy set up a distraction.[30] On May 20 atNXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, Bliss helped Blake and Murphy retain the NXT Tag Team Championship againstColin CassadyandEnzo Amore, forming analliance with them andturning into avillainess character for the first time in her WWE career.[31] On the May 27 airing ofNXT, in a non-title tag team match againstElias Samson andMike Rallis, Blake and Murphy were accompanied to the ring by Bliss, who had now changed the blue in her hair to red, as well as changed her ring attire to a red two-piece with matching name and markings to the Blake and Murphy ring gear. For this match Blake and Murphy won, and as an act of humiliation Bliss hit a Sparkle Splash to the incapacitated Elias.[32] With the effects of Takeover: Unstoppable still fresh, Bliss had asingles match with Carmella on the June 3 episode ofNXT. Starting with this match, "Opposite Ends Of The World" would be the theme track that was also used for Bliss to make her entrances, and she was accompanied by Blake and Murphy, who remained ringside for the duration of this match. Bliss won this encounter by securing aRoll-up and grabbing the second rope for additional leverage.[33][34] On the July 29 episode ofNXT, Bliss helped Blake and Murphy retain the NXT Tag Team Championship againstThe Vaudevillains (Aiden English andSimon Gotch) and slapped both English and Gotch after the match.[35] The Vaudevillians were granted a rematch for the NXT Tag Team Championship against Blake and Murphy atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22, which they won afterBlue Pants stopped Bliss from providing a distraction during the match.[36] For this Takeover appearance, Bliss incorporated her signature skeleton gloves[37] for the very first time on air. The interruptions at Brooklyn led to a match between the two, where Bliss would go on to defeat Blue Pants in a singles match on the September 2 episode ofNXT.[38] For this match she added her signature hand gesture to her entrance that she went on to use extensively for the next five years.[39]
Throughout October and November, Bliss was involved in afeud with Bayley over the NXT Women's Championship.[40][41] On the November 18 episode ofNXT, whilecutting a promo about her upcomingmain event match with Bayley, a referee came by to say that perWilliam Regal, Blake and Murphy would be banned from ringside for this match. When it came time for Alexa's entrance, a brand new theme track, "Spiteful" was introduced for the first time. Bliss was unsuccessful at capturing the title as Bayley slapped Bliss, then hit a Bayley-to-Belly Suplex to retain.[42] On the January 13, 2016, episode ofNXT, Bliss competed in a number one contender'sbattle royal, but lost.[43] On May 18 episode ofNXT, Bliss and Blake abandoned Murphy, officially disbanding the trio.[44] On the May 25 episode ofNXT, Bliss competed in atriple threat match against Carmella andNia Jax to determine the number one contender toAsuka's NXT Women's Championship, which was won by Jax.[45] On the July 6 episode ofNXT, in a match against Bayley, Bliss debuted the Goddess ring attire.[46] The match ended when Bayley executed a Bayley-to-Belly Suplex and secured the pinfall victory.[47] On the August 17 episode ofNXT, Bliss competed in asix-woman tag team match along withDaria Berenato andMandy Rose, in which they were defeated by Carmella,Liv Morgan andNikki Glencross in what would be also her last match in NXT.[48]
On the September 13 episode ofSmackDown, Bliss won afatal five-way match to earn a title match against Lynch atNo Mercy on October 9.[56] However, due to Lynch suffering a legit injury,[57] the match was rescheduled for the November 8 episode ofSmackDown, where Lynch successfully defended the title against Bliss.[58] Bliss participated in the Raw vs. SmackDown Women'selimination tag team match atSurvivor Series on November 20, where her team lost the match.[59] On December 4 atTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Bliss defeated Lynch in atables match to become the new SmackDown Women's Champion.[60]
On the January 17, 2017, episode ofSmackDown, Bliss successfully defended her title against Lynch in asteel cage match following an interference by the returningMickie James, who aligned herself with Bliss.[61] On February 12, Blissdropped the title to Naomi atElimination Chamber.[62] On the February 21 episode ofSmackDown, Bliss defeated Lynch to capture the title for the second time after Naomi was forced to vacate the title due to injury, becoming the first two-time SmackDown Women's Champion.[63] Bliss's partnership with Mickie James dissolved shortly after and the two would face off in a match onSmackDown, with James defeating Bliss.[64] On April 2, Bliss lost the title to Naomi in a six-pack challenge also involving Carmella, James, Lynch and Natalya atWrestleMania 33.[65] Bliss and Naomi faced off in a rematch on the April 4 episode ofSmackDown, where Bliss was once again defeated.[66]
On the April 10, 2017, episode ofRaw, Bliss was drafted to theRaw brand as part of theSuperstar Shake-up, confrontingRaw Women's ChampionBayley.[67][68] A week later, Bliss won afatal four-way match to become the number one contender for the title.[69] AtPayback, on April 30, Bliss defeated Bayley to become the new Raw Women's Champion, becoming the first woman to win the Raw and SmackDown Women's Championships in the process.[70][71] In a rematch between the two, which took place on June 4 atExtreme Rules, Bliss retained her title over Bayley in akendo stick-on-a-pole match.[72] Bliss then started a feud withSasha Banks, whom defeated her on July 9 atGreat Balls of Fire via count-out[73] before losing the title to Banks on August 20 atSummerSlam, ending her reign at 112 days. She regained the title eight days later onRaw.[74]
Bliss went on to defend her title on September 24 atNo Mercy in a fatal five-way match against Bayley,Nia Jax,Emma, and Sasha Banks.[75] Bliss was then confronted the following night onRaw byMickie James due to remarks Bliss made about her.[76] AtTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Bliss defeated James to retain the title,[77] and did so again on the October 30 episode ofRaw.[78]
On February 25, 2018, atElimination Chamber, Bliss won the inaugural women'selimination chamber match, after she successfully retained her title.[79][80] In parallel to her activities as a singles wrestler, she took a part of theMixed Match Challenge tournament withBraun Strowman as her partner,[81] and the duo was able to qualify to the semi-finals of the tournament,[82][83] where they were defeated by the eventual winnersAsuka andThe Miz.[84] On April 8 atWrestleMania 34, Bliss lost the title to Nia Jax, ending her reign at 223 days.[85] On May 6 atBacklash, Bliss invoked her rematch clause and challenged Nia Jax for the title; however, she was unsuccessful and suffered a shoulder injury during the match.[86]
Shortly after losing the title, in mid-May, Bliss won atriple threat match against Bayley and Mickie James to earn a spot at theMoney in the Bank ladder match,[87] which she would go on to win at theevent on June 17. That same night, Bliss cashed in her contract on Nia Jax and defeated her, after attacking both Jax andRonda Rousey, winning the Raw Women's Championship for a third time. This made her the first woman, and third wrestler overall, to cash in the Money in the Bank contract the same night after winning it.[88] AtExtreme Rules, Bliss retained the championship against Jax in the inaugural women'sextreme rules match, thereby ending their feud.[89] AtSummerSlam, on August 19, Bliss lost the championship to Ronda Rousey, ending her reign at 63 days.[90] She failed to regain the title in a rematch atHell in a Cell the following month.[91]
Limited in-ring competition and hosting roles (2018–2019)
Bliss at the Hall of Fame ceremony in 2018
In October, Bliss and Mickie James started afeud withWWE Hall of FamersTrish Stratus andLita,[92][93][94] which eventually led to the announcement of a tag team match between the two duos atWWE Evolution, the first ever all women's pay-per-view.[95][96] Just three days before the event, however, on October 25, it was announced that Bliss was pulled off the match due to a concussion she suffered during her match with Ronda at Hell in a Cell[citation needed] and she was replaced byAlicia Fox, however did get to accompany them to ringside.[97] During that time, it was also revealed that Bliss would be taking time off from in-ring competition to heal from various injuries that she had sustained.[98][99][100]
A few weeks later, Bliss was announced as the team captain of Team Raw in a non-wrestling role for the traditional interbrand women's five-on-five tag team elimination match at theSurvivor Series event, in which they were victorious.[101][102] The following night, on the November 18 episode ofRaw, Bliss was named the new head of the Raw women's division by Acting Raw General ManagerBaron Corbin.[103][104] In December, Bliss's role as well as those of other authority figures on Raw and SmackDown were removed after theMcMahon family announced they were taking charge again.[105]
On the January 7, 2019, episode ofRaw, Bliss debuted an interview segment titled "A Moment of Bliss", where she interviewed various guests as the segment's host.[106][107] AtRoyal Rumble on January 27, after a nearly five month in-ring hiatus, Bliss competed in her first women'sRoyal Rumble match, lasting 12 minutes and eliminatingEmber Moon andSonya Deville before she was eliminated byBayley andCarmella.[108] In April, Bliss hosted theWrestleMania 35 event.[109][110][111] The following night onRaw, Bliss defeated Bayley in her first singles match since her hiatus from in-ring competition in late 2018.[112] AtThe Shield's Final Chapter event, Bliss teamed up withLacey Evans to defeatDana Brooke andNikki Cross in adark match.[113] Shortly thereafter, Bliss was announced as a participant of the annualMoney in the Bank ladder match at thenamesake pay-per-view.[114][115] However, she was not medically cleared to compete in time for the event and therefore removed from the match.
Teaming with Nikki Cross (2019–2020)
In June, Bliss reignited her rivalry with Bayley after she won atriple threat match to become the number one contender for Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship atStomping Grounds,[116][117][118][119] where Bliss failed to win the title from Bayley.[120] Following the loss, in her first attempt at capturing theWWE Women's Tag Team Championship, Bliss teamed up with Nikki Cross to challengeThe IIconics (Billie Kay andPeyton Royce), during which Bliss and Cross were unsuccessful.[121][122] Bliss and Cross would challenge Bayley to a two-on-one handicap match atExtreme Rules, where Bayley once again retained the championship by pinning Bliss.[123]
Leading up toWrestleMania 36, Bliss and Cross reignited their feud with The Kabuki Warriors, as Bliss went on to defeat Asuka on the March 27 episode ofSmackDown to earn a match for the Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania.[134] At the event, the duo defeated The Kabuki Warriors to win the titles for a second time, becoming the first multi-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.[135][136] On the followingSmackDown, they defeated them again in a rematch for their titles,[137] and were subsequently challenged by Carmella and Dana Brooke, against whom they defended the titles onSmackDown two weeks later.[138] On May 18 episode ofRaw, Bliss and Cross retained their titles against The IIconics via disqualification, after losing to them in a non-title match the week prior.[139] On the June 6 episode ofSmackDown, the duo lost their titles to the team ofBayley and Sasha Banks, making their reign end at 62 days yet again.[140] AtBacklash, Bliss and Cross were unsuccessful in regaining their titles in atriple threat tag team match also involving The IIconics, as Banks managed to roll up Bliss for the win.[141][142]
Alliance with "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt (2020–2021)
AtThe Horror Show at Extreme Rules, Bliss appeared during the cinematic match betweenBraun Strowman andBray Wyatt.[143] Wyatt used Bliss's image as Strowman had an affection for her.[144] Bliss then became involved in the storyline between Strowman and Wyatt, as she was attacked by Wyatt's alter ego, The Fiend, on the July 31 episode ofSmackDown.[145] Bliss's involvement with The Fiend would continue in the coming months, with Bliss going into trance and using his finisher, Sister Abigail.[146][147]
As part of the2020 Draft in October, both Bliss and The Fiend were drafted to the Raw brand.[148] On the October 26 episode ofRaw, while hostingA Moment of Bliss with special guestRandy Orton, a feud was set off that involved The Fiend as well. During the opening of that segment, Bliss was also given a new ring entrance theme song "The Fury".[149] After the Fiend was written off television, Bliss then took over the feud with Orton, as she wanted him to face the repercussions of his actions at TLC.[150]
AtRoyal Rumble, she competed in the Women's Royal Rumble match, entering at number 27, but was eliminated byRhea Ripley after about a minute in the ring.[151] From January to March 2021, Bliss's appearance continually shifted darker as she began to constantly interfere in Orton's matches.[152] This transformation ramped up for her scheduled intergender match against Orton atFastlane.[153] During the match, she attacked Orton with supernatural powers like making a lighting rig fall and almost land on him and launching a fireball at him. At the end, The Fiend made his return and attacked Orton, allowing Bliss to defeat Orton.[154] AtWrestlemania 37, Bliss was in The Fiend's corner for his match with Orton, but eventually betrayed him by distracting him, allowing Orton to defeat him.[155] On the followingRaw, Bliss declared that The Fiend was her mentor, but now she no longer needed him. She then introduced her new friend, a demonic looking doll named Lilly.[156]
Various feuds (2021–2023)
On the May 31 episode ofRaw, Bliss would begin a feud withShayna Baszler with Baszler claiming that Bliss was the reason why Baszler and Jax lost the WWE Women's Tag Team titles. A match between Baszler and Bliss would then be announced forHell in a Cell.[157] At the event, Bliss would defeat Baszler.[158] Throughout the month of June, Bliss would take on an ever increasingly darker appearance, and for the June 21 episode ofRaw it was announced that Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross would be in a Money in the Bank Qualifier tag team match against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.[159] Bliss and Cross secured the victory after Cross pinned Baszler.[160] This was the first team win for Bliss and Cross since the May 12, 2020Raw taping (May 18 airing).[161][162] On the July 12 episode ofRaw, Bliss would then begin a feud withEva Marie. A match between Bliss and Marie was announced atSummerSlam on August 16 episode ofRaw.[163] At the event, Bliss would defeat Marie.[164][165] AtExtreme Rules, Bliss failed to win the Raw Women's Championship from Charlotte Flair, and after the match, Flair would tear up Lilly.[166] AtElimination Chamber, Bliss enteredcontendership Elimination Chamber match for Raw Women's Championship; eliminatingLiv Morgan and then eliminated byBianca Belair.[167] On the May 9, 2022, episode ofRaw, Bliss made her return by defeatingSonya Deville after the latter's contract as a WWE official got terminated.[168] During a six-woman tag team match on the July 18 episode ofRaw, Bliss won the24/7 Championship for the first time by pinningNikki A.S.H. before immediately losing the title toDoudrop.[169]
With the return of Bray Wyatt to WWE in late 2022, Bliss would begin to occasionally have backstage segments or in-ring moments interrupted by flickers of imagery connected to Wyatt and the related new Uncle Howdy character.[174][175] On the January 2, 2023, episode ofRaw, during a match against Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair, Bliss would be distracted by crowd members wearing Uncle Howdy masks and flickers of Wyatt's imagery on the video screen. The content would cause her to snap and viciously attack both the referee and Belair, causing Bliss to lose via disqualification and Belair to retain the title.[176] A rematch between the two for the title was later scheduled for theRoyal Rumble.[177] At the event on January 28, Bliss failed to win the title.[178]
Return from hiatus (2025–present)
Bliss made her return at2025 Royal Rumble following a 2-year hiatus.
Bliss began her career using afairy gimmick, which saw her wearing acheerleading uniform and blowingglitter during her entrance. In hindsight, she has spoken negatively about her early characterization and blamed her inexperience for creating it, noting that it was "a very unrelatable character" and "basicallyTinker Bell in a wrestling ring".[citation needed] The glitter also would stick to her and her opponents, and would be hard to remove, resulting in it being banned by WWE.[196] She eventually altered her gimmick to that of a cruel, calculating, unhinged, bullyingvillain, taking inspiration from the comic book characterHarley Quinn in personality, and appearance.[197] This gimmick led to her breakthrough into the main event scene and turned her into one of the biggest female stars in WWE. Furthermore, she is known to sport ring gear inspired bypop culture icons such asIron Man,The Riddler, andFreddy Krueger, among others.[198]
As her primary finisher, Bliss uses a divingbarani flip from the top rope dubbedTwisted Bliss, which originates from her background in gymnastics and was initially called theSparkle Splash.[199] As an alternate finisher, she also employs asnap DDT known as theTwisted DDT. During her alliance with"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, she adopted his finishing move, a swingingreverse STO calledSister Abigail.[200]
Kaufman was previously engaged to fellow professional wrestler Matthew Adams, better known by the ring name Buddy Murphy, and now known by the nameBuddy Matthews.[219] They ended their engagement in 2018, but remained friends.[220] She had a pet pig named Larry-Steve, whom she shared with Adams,[221][222] but the pig died on May 25, 2021.[223]
In March 2023, Kaufman revealed she had skin cancer, caused by use of tanning equipment.[228]
Impersonation
Photos of Bliss have been used by criminals runningromance scams against unsuspecting men.[229] In these scams, an unauthorized person pretended to be Bliss and to be interested in a romantic relationship.[229] Bliss is one of the most frequent celebrities impersonated by romance scammers, and some victims have sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to the impersonators, thinking that the money was being sent to her.[229][230]
^"WWE NXT Live".cagematch.net.Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. RetrievedFebruary 23, 2017.Bayley, Kendall Skye & Paige defeat Alexa Bliss, Emma & Sasha Banks
^PWMania.com Staff (April 24, 2020)."WWE SmackDown Results – April 24, 2020".PWMania – Wrestling News – WWE News, Payback 2023, Spoilers, Results, Rumors, AEW. PW Mania.Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. RetrievedJuly 27, 2021.
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