Awesome Kong
A physically dominant powerhouse who shattered the mold of women's wrestling, bringing unprecedented intensity and a fearsome presence to the global stage.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: September 4·Generation X
Biography
Kia Stevens didn't just enter the wrestling ring; she occupied it with a terrifying, game-changing authority. Trained by the legendary Jesse Hernandez, she debuted as Awesome Kong in Japan, where her size, power, and agility made her a sensation. But her true impact was felt in TNA Wrestling. There, she was the unstoppable centerpiece of the Knockouts division, engaging in brutal, headline-stealing feuds that treated women's matches as main events, not novelties. Her rivalry with Gail Kim is considered one of the most physical and compelling in women's wrestling history. Kong’s persona was a force of nature—silent, scowling, capable of tossing opponents with ease. She later brought this aura to WWE as Kharma, where a brief but memorable run, including a Royal Rumble appearance, hinted at a dominance that was cut short. Beyond the ring, she proved her versatility as an actor, most notably in the Netflix series 'GLOW,' bringing the same formidable authenticity to the screen.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Awesome was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Awesome Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Awesome's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- She was a two-time TNA Knockouts Champion, with her first reign lasting over a year, establishing her as the division's defining force.
- Won the WWE Divas Championship tournament in 2011, though she never officially held the title due to her departure.
- Her match against Gail Kim at TNA Final Resolution 2007 is widely credited with elevating the prestige of the TNA Knockouts division.
- Portrayed the wrestler 'Welfare Queen' on the critically acclaimed Netflix series 'GLOW.'
Did You Know?
She was a standout collegiate basketball player at the University of Southern California (USC).
Before wrestling, she worked as a bodyguard for celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Brandy.
She is one of the few women to have entered the WWE Royal Rumble match, doing so in the 2012 edition.
She trained in the dojo of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling early in her career.
“I am not a diva; I am a monster you created.”
