Lena Yada
Encyclopedia
Lena Yada is a Japanese-American model
, actress, professional tandem surfer
, and professional wrestler
, who is known for working for World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) as a backstage interviewer, valet
and WWE Diva
on its ECW Brand
.
International pageant, and is also a former Miss Hawaiian Tropic
Japan.
Yada modeled for Bench Warmer International Trading Cards beginning in 2004. She was featured in trading card sets again in 2006, 2008 and 2009. As a Bench Warmer model, Yada has attended red carpet events to promote the cards.
Yada competed in the quarter finals of the 2007 World Title of Tandem Surfing, making it to an eighth place ranking. In March 2008, her pair was ranked 14 for the 2008 WTT.
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 (who's past campaign model included Jenna Jameson) and for Western Star. Yada's latest project was lead for Disturbed's music video "The Animal".
(WWE) auditioning for the 2005 Diva Search and made it to the Top 30. She auditioned again in 2007 and made it to the final eight and placed third overall in the competition. 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.
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. She later became a heel
and joined forces with Layla against Kelly Kelly, who had defeated them in a "Best Body" contest. 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.
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. On November 10, 2008 she was released from her WWE contract just a week after her in-ring debut.
at Pro Wrestling Revolution's show on June 6, 2009 in San Francisco as part of ChickFight
, pinning Christina with a schoolgirl roll-up.
, the lead singer of Disturbed.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, actress, professional tandem surfer
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, and professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, who is known for working for World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) as a backstage interviewer, valet
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
and WWE Diva
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
on its ECW Brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
.
Modeling and surfing
Yada was first runner-up in the 2002 Ms. Venus SwimwearVenus Swimwear
In 1984, Daryle Scott created Venus Body Wear, selling ladies' leotards and exercise apparel via full-page ads in Cosmopolitan and other national magazines. A year later, the company expanded to include women’s swimwear and became known as Venus Swimwear. In 1999, Venus acquired WinterSilks, a...
International pageant, and is also a former Miss Hawaiian Tropic
Hawaiian Tropic
Hawaiian Tropic is a brand of suntan lotion sold around the world, but more widely available in the United States.The Company was founded by Ron Rice in 1969. It was the largest private manufacturer of sun care products in the United States until being acquired in May 2007 by Playtex Products, Inc...
Japan.
Yada modeled for Bench Warmer International Trading Cards beginning in 2004. She was featured in trading card sets again in 2006, 2008 and 2009. As a Bench Warmer model, Yada has attended red carpet events to promote the cards.
Yada competed in the quarter finals of the 2007 World Title of Tandem Surfing, making it to an eighth place ranking. In March 2008, her pair was ranked 14 for the 2008 WTT.
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 (who's past campaign model included Jenna Jameson) and for Western Star. Yada's latest project was lead for Disturbed's music video "The Animal".
World Wrestling Entertainment (2008)
Yada first came to World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) auditioning for the 2005 Diva Search and made it to the Top 30. She auditioned again in 2007 and made it to the final eight and placed third overall in the competition. On the October 22, 2007 edition of Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
she became the sixth contestant eliminated. On November 10, 2007, however, Yada was signed to WWE and made her SmackDown! television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debut on January 4, 2008 as a backstage interviewer, interviewing Matt Striker and Big Daddy V.
After appearing only once on SmackDown!, on January 8, Yada was transferred to ECW. She hosted a "Diva
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
Dance Off" between Kelly Kelly and Layla El
Layla El
Layla El is an English dancer, model and professional wrestler of Moroccan and Spanish descent. She is employed by WWE as a WWE Diva and appears on the SmackDown brand as Layla...
, only to suddenly include herself at the end and crown herself the winner. She later became a heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
and joined forces with Layla against Kelly Kelly, who had defeated them in a "Best Body" contest. Yada continued as a valet to both Victoria
Lisa Marie Varon
Lisa Marie Varon , is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and fitness competitor of Puerto Rican and Turkish descent...
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.
Yada participated in the Cyber Sunday annual Halloween Costume Contest
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
. Yada was dressed as a Ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
. 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
Beth Phoenix
Elizabeth Kocianski is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE where she wrestles on the Raw brand under the ring name Beth Phoenix, where she is the reigning WWE Divas Champion....
pinned Mae Young
Mae Young
Johnnie Mae Young is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler and currently a WWE Ambassador.Young was an influential pioneer in women's wrestling, helping to increase its popularity during World War II and training many generations of wrestlers...
, although, she was never tagged in. On November 10, 2008 she was released from her WWE contract just a week after her in-ring debut.
Independent circuit
After the WWE, Yada won her first singles match against Christina Von EerieChristina Von Eerie
Christina Maria Kardooni is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Christina Von Eerie. She is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Toxxin and is also known for working for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Asistencia Asesoría y...
at Pro Wrestling Revolution's show on June 6, 2009 in San Francisco as part of ChickFight
ChickFight
ChickFight is an all-female professional wrestling promotion based in San Francisco, California. It is cited as the home promotion of female professional wrestler, Cheerleader Melissa.-History:...
, pinning Christina with a schoolgirl roll-up.
Personal Life
On 25 September, 2011, Yada married David DraimanDavid Draiman
David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the lead singer for the metal band Disturbed. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and rhythmic singing style...
, the lead singer of Disturbed.
Wrestling
- Signature moves
- Camel clutch, often preceded by a drop toe-hold
- Hair pull snapmare
- Headscissors takedown
- Japanese arm drag
- Overhead belly to belly suplex
- Rope hung Boston crab
- Russian legsweep
- Scoop slam
- Straight jacket
- SuplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- LaylaLayla ElLayla El is an English dancer, model and professional wrestler of Moroccan and Spanish descent. She is employed by WWE as a WWE Diva and appears on the SmackDown brand as Layla...
- VictoriaLisa Marie VaronLisa Marie Varon , is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and fitness competitor of Puerto Rican and Turkish descent...
- Layla
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Asian Sensation"
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Body Talk" by EliZe (WWE)
- "Earthquake" by Family Force 5Family Force 5Family Force 5 is a Christian crunk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. They consist of Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Jacob "Crouton" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin, and Derek "Chap Stique" Mount...
(Independent circuit)
Filmography
| Year | Film/Television Role | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Son of the Beach Son of the Beach Son of the Beach is an American sitcom that aired from 2000 to 2002 on the FX network. The series was a spoof of Baywatch, with much of the comedy based on sexual jokes, innuendo and the like. The studly David Hasselhoff character is instead an average, pot-bellied, out-of-shape bald man but... |
Nokia | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Naked in the 21st Century | Herself | |
| 2005 | Casting Ripe Live | Herself | |
| 2007 | VH1's The Shot | Red Carpet Model | Episode 7 |
| 2007 | I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry | Hooters Girl | |
| 2008 | Squeegees | Red Bikini Girl |