Nhooph Al-Areebi (November 23, 1994) is a Canadian female professional wrestler previously signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) performing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Aliyah.
Early life
Areebi was born in Toronto, Ontario. She is of Arab descent and grew up in a strict, conservative family. In 2012, she graduated from St. Joseph's College School, and later attended George Brown College, where she studied nursing. She also attended a circus training school.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2013–2015)
Areebi wrestled on the independent circuit, debuting for Squared Circle Wrestling (SCW) in January 2013. She wrestled for a variety of promotions in Canada and the United States, including Pure Wrestling Association (PWA), Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), and New England Championship Wrestling (NECW). Between 2013 and 2015, Areebi won Women's Championships in Pure Wrestling Association and Great Canadian Wrestling.
World Wrestling Entertainment
NXT (2015–2021)
On March 17, 2015, it was reported that Areebi had signed a developmental contract with WWE. Her signing was confirmed by WWE on April 13. Areebi made her first appearance for WWE's developmental branch NXT at the NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable event on May 20, as part of Tyler Breeze's entrance. She made her in-ring debut on the June 20 NXT house show, teaming with Alexa Bliss and Lina in a losing effort against Carmella, Devin Taylor and Cassie. In October, Areebi was given the ring name Aliyah.
Aliyah's television debut took place on the January 13, 2016, episode of NXT where she competed in a number one contender's over-the-top-rope battle royal for Bayley's NXT Women's Championship, which was won by Carmella. On March 24, she had her first title match for the NXT Women's Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion Bayley. Her second title match opportunity came on April 16 where she was defeated by the defending champion Asuka. She wrestled in an extensive number of tag team and singles matches before wrestling her third title match on October 7 in a rematch against Asuka, but was unsuccessful in winning the NXT Women's title. On October 20, Aliyah participated in a number one contender battle royal for Asuka's NXT Champion, which was won by Ember Moon. Afterwards, she spent the remainder of the year wrestling tag team and singles matches, ending 2016 with two singles matches, both won by Liv Morgan.
SmackDown (2017)
Aliyah made her main roster show debut on SmackDown on January 3, where she was defeated by Carmella.
Return to NXT (2017-2021)
Aliyah returned to NXT on January 5, where she defeated Mandy Rose in a dark match. On January 20, she and Ember Moon won a 12-man battle royal. Shortly after, she wrestled Ember Moon in three matches, all by Ember Moon during that same month. On April 19, Aliyah joined a Number One Contender battle royal for the NXT Women's title, that ended in no contest. A month later on May 13, a second battle royal was held to determine a number one contender, this time with a decisive winner in Bianca Blair. On June 9 during the first night of the 2017 NXT At Download event, she teamed with Drew McIntyre & Kassius Ohno in winning a mixed tag match against members of SAnitY (Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain & Nikki Cross). During July, she wrestled singles matches won by Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. During the months of August and September, Aliyah wrestled solely tag matches picking up a handful of successful match wins against various tag team combinations. On October 4, Aliyah competed in a losing effort against Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane, while also displaying a villainous persona. Three weeks later, Aliyah competed in a battle royal for the final spot in the NXT Women's Championship Fatal Four Way at NXT Takeover: War Games, but she was eliminated by Sage Beckett.
After spending months competing as a heel at live events, Aliyah turned heel on the August 15, 2018 episode of NXT, when she was shown being advised by Shayna Baszler regarding her match against Kairi Sane. Later in the event, Aliyah was defeated by Sane via submission.
After some time away, on the February 13, 2019, episode of NXT, Aliyah returned working full-time, as she defeated Taynara Conti after interference from Vanessa Borne. The duo then started an alliance and picked up their first victory against Conti and Xia Li, two weeks later on the February 27 episode. In mid November on an episode of NXT, Aliyah went up against Li in a losing effort, who had kayfabe injured Aliyah's nose in the process with a spin kick. This was done to write her off television, so that she could get cosmetic surgery on her nose.
Aliyah returned to in-ring competition in 2020 on the March 25 edition of NXT, where she lost to Io Shirai in a qualifying match. Aliyah had a match a few weeks later against Li in a losing effort. On the May 6 episode of NXT, she helped Chelsea Green get a victory over Li and tried to get on the Robert Stone Brand. The following week, on the May 13 episode of NXT, she tried to impress Stone in a match against Kayden Carter which she lost. When she tried to ask him if she could join his brand, he turned her down. Stone eventually changed his mind and officially joined forces with Aliyah on the June 17 episode of NXT, after he helped her get a victory over Xia Li. Aliyah and Stone would feud with Rhea Ripley as she lost to her on the June 24 episode of NXT. The following week on Night 1 of NXT: The Great American Bash, Aliyah competed alongside Stone against Ripley in a handicap match, with the stipulation that if Ripley lost then she would join the Robert Stone Brand, but they were defeated.
On the July 13, 2021, edition of NXT, Aliyah turned on Stone after losing a tag team match with herself and Jessi Kamea versus Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter turning face in the process.
SmackDown (2021 - 2023)
On the October 1 edition of Talking Smack, it was announced that Aliyah was drafted to SmackDown as a part of the 2021 WWE draft.
Personal life
Areebi first decided she wanted to become a wrestler at a taping of Raw on May 5, 2008 after watching Beth Phoenix and Mickie James. Her favorite wrestlers include Edge and Jeff Hardy. Areebi is good friends with professional wrestler Gionna Daddio, known in WWE as Liv Morgan.
In September 2015, a number of racially insensitive comments made several years prior on Areebi's Twitter account were discovered by fans. WWE subsequently issued a statement regarding the controversy, stating that her account was used by another person at the time.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing moves
- As Aliyah
- Total Aliyah-Nation
- Boujee Buster (half nelson facebuster)
- As Jasmin Areebi
- Arabian Night (Moonsault)
- Magic Carpet Ride (Inverted leg drop bulldog into a split-legged pin)
- As Aliyah
- Signature moves
- Diving leg drop
- Full nelson with bodyscissors
- Lotus lock
- Running crossbody, to a cornered opponent
- Somersault neckbreaker
- Seated surfboard
- Northern Lights Suplex Hold
- European Uppercut
- Big boot
- Rolling Elbow
- Entrance music
Championships and accomplishments
- Ground Xero Wrestling
- GXW Women's Championship (1 time)
- Great Canadian Wrestling
- GCW Women's Championship (1 time)
- Impact Pro Wrestling
- IPW Women's Championship (2 times)
- New England Championship Wrestling
- World Women's Wrestling Championship (1 time)
- Queens of Chaos
- World Queens of Chaos Championship (1 time)
- Pure Wrestling Association
- PWA Women's Championship (1 time)
- Southland World Wrestling
- SWW Laddies Championship (1 time)
- SWW Women's Championship (2 times, final)