27-year-old Kimberly Frankele is better known to wrestling fans as Kimber Lee. The former Chikara Grand Champion was released from her WWE contract earlier this year and has since returned to the independent scene.
Ahead of her participation in this weekend’s “the Northern” tournament with Smash Wrestling in Toronto, Kimber Lee spoke with Slam! Sports. During the interview, Kimber Lee spoke about her time in WWE developmental and her career on the independents.
Kimber Lee Interview Highlights
Kimber Lee was asked about the difference between the independent circuit and the year she spent in WWE developmental.
“When you’re on the independent circuit your schedule really depends on yourself,” she said. “If there are three [NXT] shows on the weekend you can work one or none at all.”
“When I first started at NXT I didn’t get to travel as much, I mainly stayed in Florida and trained a lot,” Kimber Lee continued. “I got to work with trainers like Robbie Brookside and Norman Smiley.”
Hey guys! Are you going to see me at a show this weekend? Well I’m collecting fun kid friendly bandages to be distributed to hospitals, schools, and shelters all over the world! Bring me some boxes and let’s get a massive donation! @HogwartsRunners #SoMuchGood pic.twitter.com/oyRTSRacg9
— Kimber Lee (@Kimber_Lee90) May 22, 2018
Abbey Laith in NXT
Kimber Lee wrestled under the name Abbey Laith while in NXT. She only appeared on 3 episodes of NXT television. She lost to Ruby Riot on the April 5th, 2017 episode and also participated in two battle royals, neither of which she won. Abbey Laith did regularly compete at NXT house shows, however. She lost most of her matches but did have a good showing in the inaugural Mae Young Classic. Laith made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament before losing to Mercedes Martinez. She had defeated Jazzy Gabert and Rachael Evers to reach that point in the tournament.
Kimber Lee was also asked about her experiences being a woman in the business and what her experience has been like with inter-gender matches.
Lee will wrestle in an inter-gender match in the 1st round of this weekend’s Northern tournament. She takes on Wheeler Yuta. Both Yuta and Lee were trained by 205 Live Superstar, Drew Gulak. Here is what Lee had to say about her upcoming opponent.
“He’s going to have a strong technical base because Drew is such a technical mat wrestler,” she said. “It’s going to be more of a grappling battle than people think.”
More information on Smash Wrestling’s tournament this weekend can be found here.
In addition to Lee, Matt Riddle, Joey Mercury, Joe Hendry, Joey Janela, and Mia Yim are also entered into the tournament.
Lee concluded the interview by stating, “The Crown Jewel is very much alive, so never count me out.”
