Lena Yada

Lena Yada

Yada in February 2009
Birth name Lena Yada
Born November 12, 1978[1]
Honolulu, Hawaii[2]
Resides Los Angeles, California[3]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Lena
Lena Yada
Ninja Yada
Billed height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[4]
Billed weight 108 lb (49 kg)
Billed from Los Angeles, California
Trained by Ultimate Pro Wrestling
Florida Championship Wrestling[2]
Jesse Hernandez
Debut January 4, 2008

Lena Yada (born November 12, 1978) is an American model, actress and professional tandem surfer who is known for her time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a backstage interviewer, valet, professional wrestler and WWE Diva on its ECW Brand.

Modeling and surfing

Yada was first runner-up in the 2002 Ms. Venus Swimwear International pageant,[5][6] and is also a former Miss Hawaiian Tropic Japan.[7]

Yada modeled for Bench Warmer International Trading Cards beginning in 2004. She was featured in trading card sets again in 2006, 2008[8] and 2009.[9] As a Bench Warmer model, Yada has attended red carpet events to promote the cards.[10]

Yada competed in the quarter finals of the 2007 World Title of Tandem Surfing,[11] making it to an eighth place ranking.[12] In March 2008, her pair was ranked 14 for the 2008 WTT.[13]

Yada was one of Sprite's campaign models when they changed their logo and could be seen in commercials, online advertising, and in movie theaters. Yada was also a campaign model two years in a row for Sheiki Jeans (whose past campaign model included Jenna Jameson) and for Western Star. Yada's latest project was lead for Disturbed's music video "The Animal".

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment (2007-2008)

Yada first came to WWE auditioning for the 2005 WWE Diva Search and made it to the Top 30.[1] She auditioned again in 2007 and made it to the final eight and placed third overall in the competition.[3] On the October 22, 2007 edition of Raw she became the sixth contestant eliminated. On November 10, 2007, however, Yada was signed to WWE and made her SmackDown! television debut on January 4, 2008 as a backstage interviewer, interviewing Matt Striker and Big Daddy V.[14]

After appearing only once on SmackDown!, on January 8, Yada was transferred to ECW. She hosted a "Diva Dance Off" between Kelly Kelly and Layla El, only to suddenly include herself at the end and crown herself the winner.[15] She later became a heel and joined forces with Layla against Kelly Kelly, who had defeated them in a "Best Body" contest.[16] Yada continued as a valet to both Victoria and Layla for the next couple of weeks, but then Yada returned to her role as a backstage interviewer. In the Summer of 2008, Yada began in-ring training at the Ultimate Pro Wrestling facility in California.[2]

Yada participated in the Cyber Sunday annual Halloween Costume Contest. Yada was dressed as a Ninja. On November 3, 2008, on the 800th episode of Raw, Yada won her in-ring televised debut in a 16-Diva tag team match after then WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix pinned Mae Young, although, she was never tagged in.[17] On November 10, 2008 she was released from her WWE contract just a week after her in-ring debut.[18]

Independent circuit

After the WWE, Yada won her first singles match against Christina Von Eerie at Pro Wrestling Revolution's show on June 6, 2009 in San Francisco as part of ChickFight, pinning Christina with a schoolgirl roll-up.[19]

Personal life

On 25 September 2011, Yada married David Draiman, the lead singer of Disturbed and Device,[20][21] On September 12, 2013, at 12:58 AM, David and Lena welcomed the birth of the first child together, a son, Samuel Bear Isamu Draiman. He was born after 29 hours of labor.

In Wrestling

Filmography

Year Film/Television Role Role Notes
2002 Son of the Beach Nokia[22] 1 episode
2004 Naked in the 21st Century Herself[22]
2005 Casting Ripe Live Herself[22]
2007 VH1's The Shot Red Carpet Model[23] Episode 7
2007 I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry Hooters Girl[22]
2008 Squeegees Red Bikini Girl[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Yada's official website". Lena-Yada.org. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Lena Yada's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Contestants". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  5. ↑ "News Archive - July - September 2001". Pageant News Bureau. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  6. ↑ "To be or not to be (famous)". Pageant News Bureau. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  7. ↑ "Diva Search Finalist Speaks On The Contest, Playboy, WWE & Much More". Canvas Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  8. ↑ http://www.benchwarmer.com/interior.html?section=bwtradingcards&subsection=2008_checklist2
  9. ↑ http://www.benchwarmer.com/interior.html?section=bwtradingcards&subsection=2009_ultimate
  10. ↑ http://www.wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?igi=241982&s=lena%20yada&sfld=C&vwmd=e
  11. ↑ "World Title of Tandem action hots up as final approaches". Surfers Village. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  12. ↑ The LilsBoys (2008-01-28). "Lena - WWE's Asian sensation". The Sun (London). Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  13. ↑ WTT 2008. ITSA Tandem. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  14. ↑ "SmackDown! results". Online World of Wrestling. January 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  15. ↑ "ECW results". Online World of Wrestling. January 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  16. ↑ "ECW results". Online World of Wrestling. January 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  17. ↑ "Raw results". Online World of Wrestling. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  18. ↑ "Kenny Dykstra, Elijah Burke and Lena Yada released". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Former WWE Diva, Lena Yada takes on Christina Von Eerie in San Francisco".
  20. ↑ "Lena Yada got married". Online 24Wrestling. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  21. ↑ http://loudwire.com/david-draiman-child-on-the-way-calls-for-unity-metal/
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 "Lena Yada's profile". IMDB.com. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
  23. ↑ http://www.vh1.com/shows/the_shot/series.jhtml

External links