Awesome Kong, real name Kia Stevens departed AEW when her contract expired June 1, 2021, having not competed for 18 months. Since then, she hasn’t been active, and during Saturday night’s NWA Empowerrr pay-per-view, she would make her return to the ring and subsequently announced she was retiring.
She did this in a segment where she saved her longtime rival Gail Kim from Taryn Terrell, Jennacide, and Paola Blaze. Initially, it was teased that she would join in the imminent attack on Kim, but she instead chokeslammed Jennacide and gave Paola Blaze an Implant Buster as Terrell exited the ring and was then chased off by Kim. Following another confrontation tease between Kong and Kim, Kong would take the mic and made her announcement, which was followed by chants of, “Thank You Kong.“
Now some of you may not know I’m not much for words. Its been a long hard year in the Kong residence, and only one thing could get me off my couch and away from them delicious ice cream bars, and that’s this woman right here, and I said to myself, if gonna go out, I’m gonna go, with the toughest foe I know. I love you, I’m done, and I love you, Gail.
Awesome KongKim and Kong worked together in TNA initially between 2007 and 2008 and again throughout 2015. Hence, it was appropriate for Kong to end her career by sharing a ring with arguably her great rival. At one time, Kong appeared set to be the next big thing in women’s wrestling when she signed with WWE in 2010 and debuting in 2011 under the name Kharma. However, things didn’t work out for her as shortly after debuting, she needed to take a leave of absence due to being pregnant. Unfortunately, she lost the baby, and while she returned to the promotion for a Royal Rumble match appearance the following year, she ended up later being released.
Over her time wrestling, Kong would compete worldwide and held the WWWA World Single Championship, which was the top women’s title in All Japan in addition to twice being the TNA Knockouts Champion. It isn’t known at Kong plans to do going forward, but as she received rave reviews for her performance as The Welfare Queen in Netflix’s GLOW series, it wouldn’t be surprising if he pursues an acting career.
