Kay Lee Ray in PROGRESS Wrestling a fearless trailblazer before global success

Long before she would become WWE’s NXT UK Women’s Champion and later thrive under the name Alba Fyre in NXT and WWE Kay Lee Ray made a powerful impression in PROGRESS Wrestling Known for her fearless in ring style undeniable charisma and reputation for pushing boundaries Kay Lee Ray was a key figure in laying the groundwork for what the PROGRESS women’s division would become

Her time in PROGRESS wasn’t lengthy but it was significant With matches against some of the most respected names of the era including Toni Storm and Katey Harvey Kay Lee Ray helped elevate the women’s roster during a formative period for the company’s female talent Her matches combined technical prowess high risk offence and raw intensity earning her the respect of fans and peers alike

Kay Lee Ray made her PROGRESS debut at Chapter 37 A Sudden Sense Of Liberty on 16 October 2016 scoring a victory over Kimber Lee in Manchester The match was a spirited affair that saw Kay Lee Ray establish her style fast paced fearless and full of grit She was already a known name on the independent circuit but this match was her proper arrival on the PROGRESS stage

At Chapter 41 Unboxing Live in December 2016 Kay Lee Ray went toe to toe with Toni Storm in their first PROGRESS encounter Though she came up short the bout was a standout moment on the card and planted the seeds for a future title showdown

By mid 2017 Kay Lee Ray began chasing the top prize in the women’s division At Chapter 49 Super Strong Style 16 Day 3 she defeated Katey Harvey to become the number one contender for the PROGRESS Women’s Championship This set up a long awaited rematch with Storm at Chapter 50 I Give It Six Months this time with the title on the line

In what would become one of her most talked about PROGRESS matches Kay Lee Ray pushed Toni Storm to the limit in an intense 11 minute contest Though she narrowly missed out on capturing the championship her performance solidified her as one of the top women’s wrestlers in the UK at the time

Her final appearance in PROGRESS came during the company’s international expansion at Chapter 67 Bourbon Is Also A Biscuit held in Louisiana during WrestleMania weekend Teaming with Will Ospreay Kay Lee Ray faced Austin Theory and Jinny in a mixed tag team match that showcased her ability to perform on a global stage

Match highlights in PROGRESS include Kay Lee Ray vs Kimber Lee at Chapter 37 Kay Lee Ray vs Toni Storm at Chapter 41 and Chapter 50 Kay Lee Ray vs Katey Harvey at Chapter 49 and Kay Lee Ray and Will Ospreay vs Austin Theory and Jinny at Chapter 67

While she never won a championship in PROGRESS Kay Lee Ray’s role in shaping the women’s division cannot be overstated She brought international star power intensity and credibility to a division that was still finding its identity Her matches helped set the standard that others would follow and her influence continues to be felt in PROGRESS today

After her time in PROGRESS Kay Lee Ray continued to rise eventually becoming one of the defining stars of NXT UK She joined the WWE system officially in 2019 and quickly climbed to the top of the division In August 2019 she defeated Toni Storm her long time rival from PROGRESS and beyond to win the NXT UK Women’s Championship

Her reign would go on to become the longest in the title’s history surpassing 649 days During that time she defended the belt against top challengers including Piper Niven Meiko Satomura and others establishing herself as one of WWE’s most dominant women’s champions across all brands

In late 2021 she transitioned to NXT 20 in the United States where she would later rebrand as Alba Fyre Embracing a darker and more intense persona she continued to excel in the ring forming an alliance with Isla Dawn The two would go on to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships continuing her legacy of success in the WWE system

She was drafted to SmackDown in 2023 becoming a regular presence on WWE’s main programming where her unique look character evolution and hard hitting style stood out in a crowded women’s division

Kay Lee Ray’s legacy in PROGRESS is one of influence elevation and excellence Though she never captured the championship in the promotion her matches and presence elevated the calibre of the division and provided a bridge between the UK independent scene and the global stage

Her transition from PROGRESS standout to record setting WWE champion is one of the clearest examples of the British wrestling boom’s global impact And for those who watched her tear down the house in Camden and Manchester her rise to the top came as no surprise

She helped define a generation and she is far from finished.

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