Julia Hamer-Bevis (October 19, 1971) is an English professional wrestler known by her ring names Sweet Saraya and Saraya Knight.
Professional wrestling career[]
In 1990, Hamer left her home in Halifax to take up employment as a chef at the Pontins holiday camp in for the summer season. One day while working in the restaurant she met Ricky Knight, a professional wrestler, part of the cabaret circuit. The two became inseparable and Julia soon left Pontins to travel with Rick full-time. She became involved in making wrestling costumes and putting the rings up and down. A few months later, Ricky said he wanted her to be part of the show, as a manager in his corner. At Camber Sands, Julia made her debut as Saraya. When the summer season finished Julia joined the Sensational Superflys (Ricky & Jimmy Ocean) as their manager. In 1993 Ricky put it to Saraya that she may want to wrestle. She readily agreed, and was a quick learner, debuting in later that year against Nikki Best.
Shimmer Women Athletes[]
Saraya made her debut for the all-female promotion Shimmer Women Athletes on March 26, 2011, at the tapings of Volume 37, along with her daughter and tag team partner Britani Knight. Saraya and Britani were managed by the returning Rebecca Knox and made an open challenge, which was answered by Nikki Roxx and Ariel. The Knight Dynasty won the match via disqualification after Saraya tried to hit Ariel with brass knuckles and Ariel grabbed them and got caught hitting Saraya with them. Later that same day, at the tapings of Volume 38, the Knight Dynasty unsuccessfully challenged the Seven Star Sisters (Hiroyo Matsumoto and Misaki Ohata) for the Shimmer Tag Team Championship. During the October 1 and 2, 2011, tapings Britani entered a losing streak, which eventually caused Saraya to turn on her. Saraya and Britani faced each other in a no disqualification match on Volume 44, where Britani managed to pick up the win in her final Shimmer appearance, before heading to Florida Championship Wrestling. During the March 2012 tapings, Knight feuded with Cheerleader Melissa. The feud drew inspiration from a previous incident between the pair at a Real Quality Wrestling event in Colchester, England in 2007, where Knight suffered a career-threatening knee injury at the hands of Melissa. This culminated in a match on March 18 on Volume 48, where Knight defeated Melissa to win the SHIMMER Championship.
Knight made her first defense of the title at the SHINE 4 iPPV in Ybor City, Florida on October 19, defeating Jazz, and again at AAW in Berwyn on October 26, against MsChif. Knight successfully defended her Shimmer Championship during the October 2012 tapings, defeating Athena on Volume 49, Kellie Skater, MsChif and Hiroyo Matsumoto in a four-way elimination match on Volume 51, and in a rematch with Cheerleader Melissa on Volume 52. On April 6, 2013, at Volume 53, Knight lost the Shimmer Championship back to Cheerleader Melissa in a steel cage match.
World Association of Women's Wrestling[]
In November 2011, Saraya revived her all-female promotion WAWW, the sister promotion to her husbands World Association of Wrestling. The first show was called "The Return" and featured Shimmer star Alison Danger(USA) in the main event against Saraya for the vacant World Championship. Danger was victorious via submission using an armbar with extra leverage from her manager Tommy Lee. The company’s second show "Bellatrix" was held in March and main-evented by 80's star Busty Keegan teaming with Destiny to face "The Twisted Sisters" of Sweet Saraya and EWW Women’s Champions Skarlett in a 2 out of 3 falls tag match. The Twisted Sisters defeated Keegan and Destiny 2 falls to 1. At the company's third show in June, Saraya faced Liberty for the British Championship, a title Liberty won from Saraya's Daughter Britani Knight at "The Return". After an impressive technical exchange, Liberty surprised many when she defeated Saraya(who was Shimmer World Champion at this point) clean by pinfall with an Air Raid Crash. The main event was for the RQW European Championship as Queen Maya from Italy defended her title against Aurora Flame from Norway, and ended with Maya retaining the title after Jetta interfered and stated she would turn the locker room against Saraya. In September 2012 WAWW held The Queen of the Ring Tournament featuring Saraya, Skarlett, Destiny, Lady Lori (Germany), Violet O'Hara, Miss Mina (Norway), Chanel and Penelope. The final saw Destiny faces Saraya with Destiny victorious after further interference from Jetta, who then brawled with Saraya causing the WAW roster to separate them. Destiny then left with Jetta siding with her against Saraya.
Personal life[]
Julia is married to Ricky Knight. Together they have 2 children, both professional wrestlers: Britani Knight and Zak Knight. Julia is also the step-mother of Roy Knight. Julia once wrestled while she was unknowingly seven months pregnant with Britani. The family runs the World Association Of Wrestling (WAW) promotion in Norwich. She owns and operates Bellatrix Female Warriors, a women's wrestling promotion also based in Norwich.
In July 2012, Channel 4 produced a documentary about the Knights entitled The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family. The documentary is being turned into a feature film by Stephen Merchant with Dwayne Johnson producing, titled Fighting with My Family.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Saraya Cradle (Bridging Cradle Suplex)
- Knightmare (Single Leg Boston Crab)
- Saraya Cradle/Bridle Horse (Modified Leg Trap Camel Clutch)
- Superplex
- Signature moves
- Facebuster
- Rope-hung DDT
- Samoan Drop
- Sitout Powerbomb
- Entrance themes
- "Faint" by Linkin Park
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Blackcraft Wrestling
- Blackcraft Women's Championship (1 time)
- Dynamic Over-The-Top Action Wrestling
- DOA UK Women's Championship (1 time)
- European Catch Tour Association
- ECTA Women's Championship (1 time)
- German Stampede Wrestling
- GSW Women's Championship (1 time)
- Herts & Essex Wrestling
- HEW Women's Championship (3 times)
- New Horizons Pro Wrestling
- IndyGurlz Australia Championship (1 time)
- Premier Wrestling Federation
- PWF Ladies Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Britani Knight
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #8 in the 2012 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #3 in the 2013 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #14 in the 2014 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #32 in the 2015 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #27 in the 2017 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #35 in the 2018 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #39 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
- Queens of Chaos
- World Queens of Chaos Championship (1 time)
- Real Deal Wrestling
- RDW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- RDW Women's Championship (1 time)
- TNT Extreme Wrestling
- TNT Women’s Championship (1 time)
- World Association of Wrestling
- WAWW British Championship (2 times)
- World Association Of Women's Wrestling
- WAWW World Championship (2 times)
External links[]
2015 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Nikki Bella • Paige • Sasha Banks • Santana Garrett • Gail Kim • Charlotte • Naomi • Cherry Bomb • Courtney Rush • Taryn Terrell • Bayley • Brie Bella • Sexy Star • Cheerleader Melissa • Lufisto • Nicole Matthews • Becky Lynch • Kimber Lee • Natalya • Jessicka Havok • Awesome Kong • Candice LeRae • Brooke • Athena • Ivelisse • Jade • Madison Rayne • Leva Bates • Barbi Hayden • Angelina Love • Emma • Saraya Knight • Veda Scott • Velvet Sky • Madison Eagles • Kay Lee Ray • Marti Belle • Kellie Skater • Nikki Storm • Evie • Heidi Lovelace • Tessa Blanchard • Portia Perez • Alicia Fox • Cat Power • Crazy Mary Dobson • Xandra Bale • La Rosa Negra • Malia Hosaka • Vanessa Kraven |
2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |