Naomi recently made her return to ‘SmackDown,’ complete with a new intro and look. (WWE.com)
Weeks after being drafted to SmackDown, WWE superstar Naomi has earned herself a match at the company’s biggest event of the summer.
Naomi, whose real name is Trinity Fatu, started with the WWE during the third season of NXT in 2010. She placed second in that show’s competition. Her first televised match was in 2012, when she challenged WWE Divas Champion Eve at the Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view.
She has continued to appear sporadically on Raw and SmackDown over the years, and in the July 2016 draft, Naomi was assigned to SmackDown. On August 16th’s episode, she premiered a brand new entrance and style, appearing in an all neon suit that dazzled the crowd. She now functions as a face, attempting to go up against Eva Marie but having her match cancelled when Marie didn’t show up.
Here’s everything you need to know about WWE’s Naomi.
1. She Was a Backup Dancer for Flo Rida
Before joining the WWE, Naomi had a career as a dancer. (WWE.com)
Before getting into wrestling, Naomi had a career in dance. She began dancing from the young age of eight, and over the years she received several medals from state and national competitions, according to her official website.
When she was 18-years-old, she started dancing professionally for the NBA Orlando Magic basketball team. She later worked as a backup dancer for Flo Rida, according to WWE.com.
Her love of dance influenced her early days with the WWE, as she made her main roster debut as one of the backup dancers for Brodus Clay. She and Cameron (Ariane Nicole Andrew) were nicknamed The Funkadactyls.
2. She Was Inspired to Join the WWE After Seeing a Live Show
Naomi’s catchphrase is “Feel the Glow.” (WWE.com)
Many WWE superstars dreamed of becoming professional wrestlers from when they were young, but that wasn’t really the case with Naomi. In fact, she did not see a WWE live show until she was an adult.
In an interview with Ebony, Naomi said that while she was living in Florida and dancing with Orlando Magic, the WWE came to Orlando for a show, and she decided to attend. It was this that made her instantly realize the career she wanted to pursue.
“I just knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of,” she said. “I saw all the girls’ muscles and I was so excited watching that I just started picturing myself being in there. From there I got a tryout and I’ve been here ever since.”
Naomi told Jet Magazine that her parents were shocked by her decision.
“They see me as a graceful dancer,” she said. “Wrestling is the complete opposite. But they were fully supportive. They love watching me on TV.”
3. She Wrote a Song and Produced the Music Video
In addition to dancing and wrestling, Namoi is also a talented singer, as evidenced by her debut single.
In 2014, Naomi wrote “Dance All Night,” the song which premiered on the WWE’s official YouTube channel. The video was directed by Evan Zissimopulos and produced by Naomi herself.
As of August 2016, the video has amassed 1.7 million YouTube views. She had not since produced any other music.
4. She’s Married to Jimmy Uso
Naomi is married to fellow WWE superstar Jimmy Uso, and they have two children together. (WWE.com)
Naomi is one of many WWE superstars who is married to one of her coworkers, with her husband being Jonathan Fatu, a.k.a Jimmy Uso.
Fans will recall that their relationship was incorporated into the Monday Night Raw storyline in 2014, when Naomi managed the Usos and became a part of their feud with The Miz. The Miz actually became somewhat flirtatious with Naomi, which made Jimmy Uso quite angry.
This whole storyline took place after Naomi and Jimmy Uso were already married, as their wedding was held on January 16, 2014. They have two children together, Jonathan’s kids from a previous relationship.
“One of the happiest days in my life,” Jimmy Uso wrote on Instagram after the wedding. “Still trying to believe it!”
Naomi said of Jimmy Uso, “He’s my best friend, my supporter and we’re inseparable, seriously.”
5. She Was Recently On Hiatus Due to an Injury
Naomi made her return on August 16th’s episode of SmackDown. (WWE.com)
2016 has been quite an eventful year for Naomi. In February, Team B.A.D., the group consisting of Naomi, Tamina and Sasha Banks, was disbanded after Banks left the team. This lead to a feud between Naomi, Tamina and their former teammate, culminating in a match at the Fastlane pay-per-view. Naomi also got to participate in a 10-Diva tag team match at Wrestlemania, but in May, she tore ligaments in her knee and was forced to undergo surgery. Tamina also had surgery due to torn ligaments around the same time.
This injury came at an unfortunate time for Naomi, as she had been receiving a lot of momentum earlier in the year. She ended up being absent for four months, not returning until the August 16th episode of SmackDown. On this episode, she received an all new look and was established as a face, hopefully meaning she has great things ahead of her for the remainder of the year.
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Naomi, WWE Superstar: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know