Kay Lee Ray On How NXT UK Being Available Earlier Would’ve Changed Her Career

Kay Lee Ray is now the longest-reigning NXT UK Women’s Champion in the short history of that brand. Speaking with The National, Ray was asked about a potential shift in her career had an opportunity like NXT UK been available early in her career, she called that hypothetical situation “a double-edged sword.”

“I feel like that’s a double-edged sword because I don’t know if I would have necessarily been ready for [NXT UK] when I was younger, but the training and everything they give you here is beyond anything you’d receive anywhere. For young people now, I think it’s unique for them that they have this here and to be able to train right straight on their doorstep. But you do have to work hard to be here – it’s not just a walk in the park.”

She continued, “It’s been 10 years since I’ve been doing this and I have had a wonderful career on the independent scene and I wouldn’t change that for the world,” she says. “I’ve seen some amazing places but I’m glad I had that experience before coming to WWE. I think if I had been younger, I would have been too young or too naive, whereas now I feel I’ve really honed my craft and I’m in the place where I need to be.”

NXT UK has been back in business for almost a month now with new tapings at the BT Sports studio in London, England. Right now, much of the attention on the brand is on the Heritage Cup Tournament but Kay Lee Ray successfully defended her Championship in a recent episode against Piper Niven.