British wrestling star Aleah James has only been in the ring for five years – yet she’s wrestled for WWE, AEW and Ring of Honor. The 27-year-old, who is set to face TNA talent Harley Hudson at Burning Heart Pro Wrestling’s Wolverhampton show on Saturday (November 16), has managed to amass more experience of top promotions than most do during a lengthy career.
And having also been a part of WWE’s NXT UK brand for several months before it shut down in 2022, she now only has one thing on her mind – to have fun. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star ahead of her BHPW appearance – her last UK bout for a while before heading to the United States for an independent show tour – she said: “Before NXT UK I didn’t really do many independent shows, and I’ve kind of rewound and I’m doing that now.
(Image: Aleah James/Burning Heart Pro Wrestling)
“I’m enjoying it and meeting new people and places I’ve never been – it does feel like five years in maybe I should be so new . . . but it is what it is. I feel like I should know more, be more experienced or have more matches under my belt but it hasn’t worked that way.
“Everyone’s journey is different and maybe someone else would have more experience five years in, but for me this journey is right for me and I feel like the lack of pressure doing the indies now without having a name behind you helps me a lot. I quite like being in control of where I’m going and what I’m doing.”
(Image: Aleah James/Burning Heart Pro Wrestling)
Aleah’s short career has seen her wrestle many of WWE’s top female talent, from former WWE women’s tag team champion Isla Dawn, to TNA star Xia Brookeside and ex-TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion Dani Luna – with a match against current top female star Lyra Valkyria also taking place during her run.
She also faced current WWE NXT Assistant General Manager Stevie Turner – a battle she won during her final NXT UK appearance in March 2022. Since then, she has faced top AEW female star Hikaru Shida, as well as making an appearance on Ring of Honor where she lost to current ROH Women’s champion Athena.
“I feel grateful, because without wrestling those people I wouldn’t be where I am and who I am. Wrestling in the stressful capacity – because I was so new at the time – it did help me function and focus on scenarios that are less stressful or just as stressful and I can remind myself that if I’ve done that then I can do this.”
(Image: Aleah James/Burning Heart Pro Wrestling)
On making it to WWE like the illustrious list of talent she’s faced so far: “I try not aim for certain things that I don’t know are the outcome, so I take every match and situation as it comes – if that ends up being the outcome then I’ll be so happy and grateful, but if it isn’t I’ll be OK with that.”
Something she can control is her battle against Harley Hudson this weekend. Her opponent won TNA’s female Gut Check competition during their recent UK tour, and Aleah had one message for her: “I know she has a lot to say, and thinks highly of herself – I would love for her to show me what she’s got because I’m ready.”
Aleah James will be taking on Harley Hudson at Burning Heart Pro Wrestling in Wolverhampton on Saturday, November 16. For ticket details, click here.
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