Kiana James to be spotlighted for Black History Month and enters SmackDown Elimination Chamber qualifier
kiana james will be featured in a Black History Month spotlight on Feb. 18 and is booked to face Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax in a Triple Threat on the Feb. 20, 2026, episode of Friday Night SmackDown at 8 p. m. EST — a qualifier for the Women's Elimination Chamber in Chicago and a shot at a WrestleMania opportunity.
Kiana James in Elimination Chamber qualifier on Feb. 20
The Triple Threat on Feb. 20 pairs Charlotte Flair, Kiana James and Nia Jax with the winner advancing to the Women's Elimination Chamber; the SmackDown episode airs at 8 p. m. EST on Syfy from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. This match offers a direct path to the Elimination Chamber field and a route toward a WrestleMania opportunity for the victor.
Black History Month spotlight traces her training and early work
The Black History Month feature scheduled for Feb. 18 will look at Kiana James's path into pro wrestling, beginning with her training in 2021 under Shawn Spears and Tyler Breeze at Flatbacks Wrestling School and additional time at the WWE Performance Center. Before joining WWE, she first appeared under the ring name Xtina Kay in a match for AEW.
NXT run, injury layoff and recent resume highlights
Kiana James made her WWE debut on the NXT brand "just four years ago in February, " then spent a little over two years in NXT before earning a call-up to the Raw brand; she is a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion alongside Fallon Henley and is one of three Black women (along with Ember Moon and Kayden Carter) to have held those belts before they were deactivated. A leg injury sidelined her for more than a year after her main roster arrival, and after returning she moved to SmackDown where she has split time between in-ring work and managing Giulia.
Her recent highlights include lasting over 27 minutes in the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble and teaming with Giulia to challenge for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships, though the pairing came up short in that title match.
Fans can see whether the Feb. 20 Triple Threat sends Kiana James into the Elimination Chamber when Friday Night SmackDown airs at 8 p. m. EST on Syfy from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
