Head Baddie In Charge: Mia Yim
The Head Baddie is still in charge! Mia Yim is a Los Angeles native, the daughter of an African American father and a Korean mother. She graduated from Washington, D.C.’s James Madison High School. She subsequently attended Marymount University to get a bachelor’s degree in information technology.
Mia Yim worked in Ring of Honor (ROH) throughout her formative years. Yim worked in promotion with the assistance of Daizee Haze, who coached her and assisted her in making her debut in 2011. She supported the group “The Embassy” as a valet. She subsequently began wrestling in ROH, where she faced Sara Del Ray and a few other wrestlers.
Yim later became a member of Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW). During her earliest performances, she served as a manager for Adam Cole. She then started working with Cole in a collaborative capacity. Soon after, she assisted Cole in winning his matches. They two feuded with Excellent in 2011 at the ROH Down with the Sickness pay-per-view, which she assisted Cole in winning. Later that night, during Night of Infamy 10, she fought Excellent in an intergender match, which she lost. Then, in a rematch versus Excellent in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, she won, and, after a number of matches, she left the company.
Mia Yim later went on to work for Shine Wrestling, where she defeated Sassy Stephie. She then wrestled in a variety of Shine pay-per-view events. She later beat numerous more high-profile opponents, including Jessica Havok and Tina San Antonio. On Shine 10, she competed against Mercedes Martinez. After a few bouts, she established the “Lucha Sisters” tag team with Leva Bates and won the Shine Tag Team Championships. Yim won the Shine Championship on November 16, 2014, defeating Ivelisse.
In 2015, Mia Yim debuted with Impact Wrestling. She made a few appearances before to obtaining a contract with TNA on a full-time basis. Where she worked for the pay-per-view event Knockouts Knockdown. She debuted in the ring under the new ring name Jade after becoming full-time and met Laura Dennis in a bout that ended in a disqualification. Soon thereafter, Jade partnered with Marti to assist Terell in retaining her TNA Knockout Champion title. They founded the “Dollhouse” faction. Jade and Marti often assisted Terell in retaining her championship, which prompted her to join Jade’s squad. Additionally, the Dollhouse beat the stable in a 3-on-2 handicap match against Gail Kim and Awesome Kong.
They were quickly beaten in another 3-on-2 Handicap Match at Slammiversary XIII by Awesome Kong and Brooke. Jade challenged Gail Kim to a TNA Knockout Women’s Championship contest on September 23. Which she was unsuccessful in. However, she was given a rematch against Kim, which she lost. Jade won a three-way match in April 2016 over Madison Rayne and Gail Kim. She became the first person to win the TNA Knockouts Championship. Later that day, she was forced to compete in a gauntlet match, which she won after defeating Leva Bates and Madison Rayne. Jade also successfully defended her title during her April 12th fight against Madison.
Mia Yim made her WWE debut in 2014 as Rose buds to Adam Cole. She quickly transitioned to NXT, where she performed as an enhancement talent. In July 2017, she beat Sarah Logan in a one-off appearance in the “Mae Young Classic.” However, she lost in the subsequent rounds against Shayna Baszler. In 2018, she returned to the event, this time defeating Allysin Kay and Kaitlyn in the first two rounds but losing in the quarterfinals against Toni Storm. Mia made her NXT debut against Aliyah in September 2017. Mia then had a rivalry with Bianca Belair, who overcame her since she was the top babyface at the moment and had the belt. Following the conclusion of Bianca Belair’s reign, she beat her twice in NXT, thereby ending the rivalry.
Yim then faced Shayna in the NXT Takeover event, which she lost. She was then a part of the build-up to the survivor series, where she was mixed with the NXT team. Yim was later selected to compete in the War Games as a member of the Rhea Ripley squad but was assaulted backstage and was unable to attend the competition. After being assaulted backstage by Dakota Kai, she proceeded to have a grudge match against her, which she lost. Later in her career, she departed NXT to make her WWE RAW debut.
Mia Yim made her main roster debut on RAW in 2020, wrestling for a group known as the “Retribution.” She was given the name Reckoning. The stable was originally intended to be a “Heel” stable. Additionally, the organization went on to demolish other WWE superstars, and Mustafa Ali subsequently became the movement’s head. She faced Dana Brooke in a singles match, which she lost. Soon after Mustafa Ali created havoc, the Retribution group dissolved. Mustafa Ali was choke slammed by Mace and T-bar, separating the group. And Mia Yim departed Retribution that evening. Mia Yim was selected to RAW in 2021 and was kept inactive. She was terminated by WWE in November 2021.
In February 2022, Yim and fiancé Keith Lee tied the knot. Lee and Yim have been together for a long time, and they’ve been engaged since last February. During WrestleCon weekend, Yim made her in-ring return at Supershow against former WWE Superstar Ember Moon now known as Athena.
At Impact Wrestling’s Under Siege, Mia Yim makes her way back home to the knockouts division where she belongs. After a gruesome match between Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo, the HBIC made her presence known that she is here to stay and is ready to throw down with some new and old rivalries. A while back, when I caught with Yim during WrestleCon, she dropped a hint that her and Impact have been in contact, and I am so happy to see her back in her element. Mia is undoubtedly a popular ticket and a must-see.