Wendy Choo
Wendy Choo | |
---|---|
Birth name | Karen Yu |
Born | Queens, New York, New York, United States | 18 January 1992
Alma mater | Queens College (BSc) Lehman College (MA) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Karen Kwan Karen Q Karen Yu Mei Ying Wendy Choo |
Billed height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
Billed from | "Chinatown, N.Y." (as Karen Q) |
Trained by | Damian Adams Johnny Rodz WWE Performance Center |
Debut | 2014 |
Karen Yu (born January 18, 1992) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to the promotion WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name, Wendy Choo. She is also known for her appearances with WWE as Mei Ying and for her appearances with WWE, Ring of Honor, and on the independent circuit as Karen Q.
Early life
Yu grew up in the Bayside, Queens neighborhood of New York City, attending Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. Yu participated in gymnastics for over a dozen years. She received an NCAA Division II scholarship for volleyball, earning a bachelor's degree in physical education from Queens College and a master's degree in teaching from Lehman College. Before becoming a full-time professional wrestler, she taught physical education in an elementary school.
Professional wrestling career
Yu was first trained to wrestle by Johnny Rodz at Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, then by Damian Adams at the Team Adams Pro Wrestling Academy in Wharton, New Jersey. She debuted in 2014 under her birth name, appearing with the Centereach, New York-based Victory Pro Wrestling (VPW) promotion. Over the following years, she competed on the independent circuit, primarily in the Northeastern United States. In 2016, she adopted the ring name "Karen Q". She won her first title in April 2016, defeating Nikki Addams for the VPW Women's Championship. In 2017, she won the East Coast Wrestling Association Women's Championship. She took part in the ECWA Super 8 ChickFight Tournament in 2016 and 2017, losing to Deonna Purrazzo in the finals in 2016 and winning the tournament in 2017.
In April 2017, Yu began appearing with Ring of Honor. At Survival of the Fittest in November 2017, she lost to Deonna Purrazzo in a no disqualification match. At Final Battle in December 2018, Yu took part in a four way match for the Women of Honor World Championship that was won by Kelly Klein, marking her first pay-per-view appearance.
Yu made her first appearance with WWE in August 2018, competing in the Mae Young Classic tournament under the ring name "Karen Q". In February 2019, she signed a contract with WWE and was assigned to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida for further training. From February to July 2019, she wrestled for WWE as "Karen Q", primarily teaming with Xia Li on NXT house shows. In July 2019, Yu suffered a fractured lateral malleolus; she spent the next two years rehabilitating, undergoing two surgeries. In December 2020, Yi was reintroduced on NXT as "Mei Ying", the leader of the stable "Tian Sha" alongside Xia Li and Boa. She returned to the ring in August 2021. In November 2021, the Ying character was dropped and Yun was again repackaged, this time as "Wendy Choo". In March 2022, Choo and Dakota Kai competed in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, losing to Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray in the finals.
Professional wrestling style and persona
Choo wrestles in a "technical" style with a mix of "technical wizardry and breathtaking aerial assaults". Her finishing moves have included a modified Boston crab (dubbed the Spring Roll) and a fujiwara armbar. She utilizes "an array of stunning suplexes".
In 2020 and 2021, Yu portrayed the "enigmatic and destructive" character of "Mei Ying", a 1,000 year old woman who acted as a "Yoda" for the Tian Sha stable. In 2022, she adopted the gimmick of "Wendy Choo", a constantly tired wrestler who performs in a onesie.
Personal life
Yu is Chinese American.
Championships and accomplishments
- East Coast Wrestling Association
- ECWA Women's Championship (1 time)
- Victory Pro Wrestling
- VPW Women's Championship (1 time)
- 1992 births
- 21st century professional wrestlers
- American female professional wrestlers
- American people of Chinese descent
- Lehman College alumni
- Living people
- People from Bayside, Queens
- Professional wrestlers from New York (state)
- Queens College, City University of New York alumni
- Schoolteachers from New York (state)