Wendy Choo: A Brief Biography
Wendy Choo, an American professional wrestler of Chinese American heritage, is currently showcasing her talents in WWE's NXT brand. Before her tenure with WWE, she established herself in promotions such as Ring of Honor (ROH), Impact Wrestling, and various independent circuits. Her trademark moves include the "Spring Roll," a modified Boston crab, a Fujiwara armbar, and a rear naked choke, along with a range of impressive suplexes.
Real Name | Karen Yu |
Born | January 18, 1992 |
Birthplace | New York City, New York, United States |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
Husband | Bison XL |
Debut | September 6, 2014 |
Early Life
Wendy Choo's real name is Karen Yu. She was born on January 18, 1992, in New York City and embarked on her gymnastics journey at the tender age of five. In her hometown of Bayside, Queens, New York City, she finished her high school education at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. Upon her high school education, she obtained a bachelor's degree in physical education from Queens College, where she competed for the Queens Knights through an NCAA Division II volleyball scholarship.
Wendy later advanced her education by pursuing a master’s degree in Nursing and Teaching from Herbert H. Lehman College. Her career then led her to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, where she took on the role of a physical education instructor, and she further demonstrated her expertise as a gymnastics coach at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School.
Professional Wrestling Career
Victory Pro Wrestling (VPW)
Wendy Choo began her wrestling career under her personal moniker in Victory Pro Wrestling (VPW) in 2014. She captured the VPW Women's Championship in April 2016 and held it until June 9, 2017, when she lost the title to White Girl. Notably, she engaged in significant rivalries with Nikki Addams and concluded her tenure in VPW by competing in the 2018 King of New York Tournament.
East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA)
In 2016, Wendy demonstrated her resilience in the ECWA Super 8 Chick-fight Tournament, making it to the finals but ultimately falling short against Deonna Purrazzo. Unfazed by this loss, she came back even stronger in 2017, not only clinching the victory in the Super 8 Chick-fight Tournament but also seizing the ECWA Women’s Championship title, cementing her dominant position in the promotion.
RISE Wrestling × TNA Impact (Impact Wrestling)
In 2017, Wendy joined RISE 5: Rising Sun and soon after formed the tag team Bones of Contention with Ray Lyn. Despite some initial success, the team faced challenges and lost key matches, including a championship challenge against Paradise Lost at RISE Ascent. During this period, Wendy also made her Impact Wrestling debut, where her team was defeated by Holidead and Thunder Rosa.
World Wrestling Entertainment – WWE (2018 - present)
Wendy Choo, originally debuting as Karen Q, entered the WWE spotlight in August 2018 during the Mae Young Classic, where her standout performance caught the eye of WWE executives. This led to her securing a multi-year contract with WWE in February 2019, after which she began training at the Performance Center. She initially debuted in NXT as Xia Li's tag team partner, competing in several dark matches. However, her momentum was abruptly halted by a severe injury in July 2019, sidelining her for nearly two years.
Following her return from injury in December 2020, Wendy was reintroduced as "Mei Ying," the leader of the faction Tian Sha, alongside former WWE Superstars Xia Li and Boa. By August 2021, Wendy Choo resumed her in-ring action, marking her return with a decisive victory over Virginia Ferry.
Repackaged again in November 2021, Wendy Choo teamed with Dakota Kai in the 2022 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. She later faced Mandy Rose for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT In Your House 2022 but lost. In August 2022, she engaged in a feud with Tiffany Stratton, emerging victorious in a lights-out match. After a storyline injury in February 2023, Wendy returned to WWE in May 2024 with a more aggressive demeanor. She briefly allied with Tatum Paxley before turning on her at NXT: The Great American Bash in July 2024.
In August 2024, Wendy Choo, embodying her newly adopted dark persona, emerged victorious over Lola Vice and Brinley Reece in two successive episodes of NXT. However, at WWE NXT No Mercy 2024, her quest for the NXT Women's North American Championship ended in disappointment as she fell short against Kelani Jordan. The aftermath of the match saw Tatum Paxley exact revenge with a brutal Dragon Sleeper, further intensifying the feud.
Wendy Choo Net Worth 2024
While Wendy Choo's career trajectory continues to rise within WWE's NXT brand, her exact net worth remains undisclosed. Similarly, the specifics of her salary under her current NXT contract cannot be determined.
Wendy Choo Family
Insights regarding Wendy Choo’s parents remain elusive online, and no details about her siblings have been made public. Nonetheless, it is known that Wendy Choo has Chinese-American heritage, which she may have inherited from either or both of her parents.
Wendy Choo Husband
According to The Sportster, Wendy Choo is romantically involved with Bison XL, a freelance professional wrestler. After years of being together, the couple announced their engagement in August 2020.
Championships Won
Promotions | Championships | Days Held |
Victory Pro Wrestling (VPW) | VPW Women's Championship (one time) | 406 days |
East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) | ECWA Women's Championship (one time) | 43 days |
Awards and Achievements
Organization | Name of the Awards / Achievements |
East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) |
|
Pro Wrestling Illustrated | Ranked No. 86 of the top 100 female wrestlers in the PWI Women's 100 in 2018 |
Women's Wrestling Revolution (WWR) | Greatest Rivals Round Robin Tournament Winner (2018) |
FAQ's on Wendy Choo
A. Wendy Choo's real name is Karen Yu.
A. Wendy Choo's gimmick was a constantly tired wrestler who performed in a onesie.
A. No, Wendy Choo is of Chinese-American descent.
A. Wendy Choo suffered from a knee injury that kept her out of the ring for 12 months.