Stevens could not travel during the pandemic.
During the launch stage of All Elite Wrestling, one of the names that was brought in to be part of their women’s division was Kia Stevens (Awesome Kong).
She wrestled a total of five matches for the company from 2019-2020. Her last match for them was at a January 1st, 2020 taping of AEW Dark. While guest appearing on Victoire, Stevens said herself and AEW parted ways amicably.
She stepped away from the company to film Netflix’s GLOW series and while that was happening, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Due to certain ‘ailments’ that she has, Stevens was not able to travel. She appreciates AEW for continuing to pay her despite not being able to come to the shows in Jacksonville, Florida.
At the beginning of 2019, right from the jump — whenever AEW started, like for real, for real, I was there, okay?… I had to leave for a little bit to go shoot GLOW and then, while we were shooting GLOW, the pandemic happened, and because of certain ailments that I have, I could not travel, and God bless them. They paid me way longer than I thought they would or should. God bless ‘em, forever, and we just parted ways, because I couldn’t come back and why keep paying someone? We parted amicably, seriously, and they paid me way longer than I would’ve paid somebody who’s just not coming in a job. I’m just saying, so, yeah.
In 2021, Stevens was inducted into the IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Fame. She returned to in-ring action in the fall of 2023 for the 1,000th episode of IMPACT.
If the quote in this article is used, please credit Victoire with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
