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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[]

  • Signature moves
    • Facebuster
    • Rope-hung DDT
    • Samoan Drop
    • Sitout Powerbomb

Championships and accomplishments[]

  • Dynamic Over-The-Top Action Wrestling
    • DOA UK Women's Championship (1 time)
  • European Catch Tour Association
    • ECTA Women's Championship (1 time)
  • Herts & Essex Wrestling
    • HEW Women's Championship (3 times)

External links[]

2015 PWI Top 50 Females
Nikki BellaPaigeSasha BanksSantana GarrettGail KimCharlotteNaomiCherry BombCourtney RushTaryn TerrellBayleyBrie BellaSexy StarCheerleader MelissaLufistoNicole MatthewsBecky LynchKimber LeeNatalyaJessicka HavokAwesome KongCandice LeRaeBrookeAthenaIvelisseJadeMadison RayneLeva BatesBarbi HaydenAngelina LoveEmmaSaraya KnightVeda ScottVelvet SkyMadison EaglesKay Lee RayMarti BelleKellie SkaterNikki StormEvieHeidi LovelaceTessa BlanchardPortia PerezAlicia FoxCat PowerCrazy Mary DobsonXandra BaleLa Rosa NegraMalia HosakaVanessa Kraven
2017 PWI Top 50 Females
AsukaCharlotte FlairAlexa BlissSasha BanksBayleyIo ShiraiNatalyaSiennaNaomiKairi SaneMercedes MartinezShayna BaszlerRosemaryLuFistoMayu IwantaniMia YimAllieEmber MoonBecky LynchMadison EaglesNicole SavoyNia JaxCandice LeRaeToni StormHiroyo MatsumotoChelsea GreenSaraya KnightShazza McKenzieKay Lee RayMickie JamesDakota KaiNicole MatthewsAlex WindsorDeonna PurrazzoAbbey LaithRisa SeraViperCarmellaRuby RiotNikki CrossVanessa KravenSantana GarrettTessa BlanchardArisa NakajimaLady LoryShotzi BlackheartVeda ScottAlpha FemaleMarti BelleZoey Skye
2018 PWI Top 100 Females
Ronda RouseyAlexa BlissCharlotte FlairIo ShiraiAsukaShayna BaszlerCarmellaNia JaxMayu IwataniKairi SaneBecky LynchSumei SakaiSu YungSasha BanksTessa BlanchardAllieBayleyKagetsuToni StormNatalyaEmber MoonRosemaryLufistoNikki CrossNaomiNicole SavoyCharlie MorganKris WolfMercedes MartinezDakota KaiRuby RiottMomo WatanabeSarah LoganHiroyo MatsumotoSarayaTaya ValkyrieChihiro HashimotoMia YimKelly KleinShazza McKenzieVanessa KravenMickie JamesTsukasa FujimotoMadison EaglesCheerleader MelissaMeiko SatomuraDelilah DoomJordynne GraceDeonna PurrazzoKimber LeeStarlight KidChelsea GreenLiv MorganViperSantana GarrettZoey SkyeNicole MatthewsFaby ApacheIvelisseHana KimuraJungle KyonaCandice LeRaeRhea RipleyTenille DashwoodKC SpinelliJessicka HavokKiera HoganLeva BatesMandy RoseDalys La CaribeñaBritt BakerSonya DevilleRisa SeraMadison RayneMari ApacheKaitlin DiemondJinnyShotzi BlackheartSammii JayneBea PriestleyKay Lee RayRhia O'ReillyXandra BaleBrandi RhodesBianca BelairKaren QMelanie CruiseNevaehKikyoRachael ElleringGisele ShawPeyton RoyceAlicia FoxHudson EnvyVeda ScottZoe LucasAlexia NicoleSamantha HeightsJewells MaloneSkylar
2019 PWI Top 100 Females
Becky LynchCharlotte FlairRonda RouseyShayna BaszlerTessa BlanchardBayleyNatalyaIo ShiraiMercedes MartinezNicole SavoyAsukaAlexa BlissToni StormSasha BanksTaya ValkyrieMayu IwataniAllieNikki CrossAllysin KayBea PriestleyRosemaryKagetsuLacey EvansCarmellaMia YimJordynne GraceEmber MoonArisa HoshikiKelly KleinJessicka HavokSu YungMomo WatanabeBritt BakerLuFistoRhea RipleyBianca BelairHiroyo MatsumotoShazza McKenzieSaraya KnightLady ShaniNaomiRuby RiottRihoFaby ApacheJinnyUtami HayashishitaKay Lee RayCheerleader MelissaPeyton RoyceBrandi RhodesSarah LoganDana BrookeAngelina LoveKiera HoganSumie SakaiSamantha HeightsBillie KaySantana GarrettMadison RayneSonya DevilleHana KimuraHikaru ShidaKacy CatanzaroJungle KyonaCandice LeRaeNyla RoseMandy RoseKonamiJessamyn DukeLiv MorganJazzy GabertMarina ShafirMickie JamesNicole MatthewsPiper NivenTam NakanoLeva BatesShotzi BlackheartRhia O'ReillyNevaehLady MaravillaMaya YukihiZoey SkyeSolo DarlingDeonna PurrazzoZoe LucasRachael ElleringKC SpinelliScarlett BordeauxKimber LeeXia BrooksideGisele ShawMaddison MilesAlexia NicoleHolideadIsla DawnThunder RosaVeda ScottJody ThreatKris Statlander
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