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Leilani Kai

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Leilani Kai
Birth namePatty Seymour[1]
Born (1957-01-23) January 23, 1957 (age 67)[2]
Tampa, Florida, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Leilani Kai
Patty Stone Grinder
Billed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3]
Billed weight162 lb (73 kg)
Billed fromHawaii
Trained byThe Fabulous Moolah[4]
Debut1975[3]
Retired2015

Patty Seymour[1][discuss] (born January 23, 1957) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Leilani Kai. She began training with The Fabulous Moolah right after finishing high school. In the 1980s, as part of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)'s Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection, a storyline that combined wrestling and music, Kai defeated Wendi Richter to become the Women's Champion. Kai, however, lost the title at the inaugural WrestleMania event. She was later paired with Judy Martin, in a tag team that would become known as The Glamour Girls. The team held the Women's Tag Team Championship twice (managed by "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart) and the LPWA Tag Team Championship once.

In her later career, Kai returned briefly to the WWF in 1994, challenging for the Women's Championship at WrestleMania X. She also wrestled for World Championship Wrestling under the name Patty Stonegrinder and held the NWA World Women's Championship.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1975–1985)

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Seymour was trained by The Fabulous Moolah in 1975 right after she finished high school.[3] She was originally from Florida, but because Moolah thought she looked a little bit Hawaiian, Seymour was given the ring name Leilani Kai,[5] as in the Hawaiian language Leilani translates to "heavenly flowers" and Kai to "ocean water".[2] Her fellow wrestlers also bestowed upon her the nickname "The Hawaiian Princess" during her early career.[3] Four weeks after beginning her training, Moolah sent her on a two-week tour of Alaska.[1] Over the next few years she worked for promotions throughout the United States, including in Oklahoma, Minnesota, California, and New York.[1] It was in 1979 in North Carolina, that Kai first began working with Judy Martin, who would be her future tag team partner.[1][6]

World Wrestling Federation (1985–1989)

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Women's Champion (1985)

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See also: Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection

On July 23, 1984, Wendi Richter defeated The Fabulous Moolah at MTV's The Brawl to End it All for the WWF Women's Championship, ending what was billed as the longest championship reign in professional wrestling history (Moolah's 28-year reign, though in reality she had won and lost the title on numerous occasions and Richter actually ended a 7-year reign).[7][8] As a result, in early 1985, Kai—who had been trained by Moolah—wrestled Richter and defeated her for the title at The War to Settle the Score, with Moolah in her corner and singer Cyndi Lauper in Richter's corner.[7] Richter, however, regained the title at the first-ever WrestleMania one month later.[9] These matches were part of the WWF's "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection", an era that combined both music and professional wrestling.[7][9]

The Glamour Girls (1985–1989)

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Main article: The Glamour Girls

Kai was then paired with Judy Martin, and the duo won the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship from the champions Velvet McIntyre and Desiree Petersen in Egypt in August 1985, although this match's existence has been disputed.[6][10][11] Meanwhile, in August 1986, Kai traveled to Japan where she won All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling's All Pacific Championship from Chigusa Nagayo, whom she also lost the title to in April 1987.[11]

In November 1987, Kai and Martin became known as The Glamour Girls, and she underwent an image change that involved bleaching her dark hair platinum blonde at the suggestion of their manager Jimmy Hart.[1][11] The duo appeared at the first Survivor Series in 1987 as part of then champion Sherri Martel's team to face the Fabulous Moolah's team.[12] Martel's team—Martel, the Glamour Girls, Dawn Marie, and Donna Christanello—lost to The Fabulous Moolah's team—Moolah, Velvet McIntyre, Rockin' Robin, and the Jumping Bomb Angels (Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki).[12] Kai and Martin feuded in 1988 with Japanese imports the Jumping Bomb Angels for the Women's Tag Team Championship.[6] The two teams staged a two out of three falls match at the first Royal Rumble event in 1988, with the Jumping Bomb Angels capturing the gold.[6] Kai and Martin recaptured the title months later in June 1988 before the belts were once again abandoned in 1989 when the company lost interest in the women's division.[6]

Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (1990–1991)

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The Glamour Girls then surfaced in the newly formed Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (LPWA), managed by Adnan El Kassey.[6] In February 1991, they won the LPWA Tag Team Championship from the team of Misty Blue and Heidi Lee Morgan. Leilani Kai appeared on the November 10, 1991 episode of WCW Main Event, losing to Madusa.[13] They retained the Tag Team Championship against Malia Hosaka and Bambi at the only LPWA pay per view Superladies Showdown in 1992.[14] The title was abandoned when the promotion closed.[13]

Later career and retirement (1991–2015)

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Kai returned to the WWF on March 20, 1994, at WrestleMania X to unsuccessfully challenge Alundra Blayze in a Women's Championship match.[15] On October 20, 1996, she wrestled Madusa in a losing effort during WCW WorldWide.[16] In the later 1990s, Kai returned to World Championship Wrestling under the name Patty Stonegrinder, usually wrestling against Madusa.[17]

Kai traded the NWA Mid-Atlantic Women's Championship with Strawberry Fields in 2000, holding the belt a total of three times.[13] In the summer of 2002, Kai challenged Lexie Fyfe for the Professional Girl Wrestling Association's (PGWA) championship in Branson, Missouri and won the belt.[18] In 2002, however, Pippa L'Vinn defeated her for the title.[19]

On March 12, 2003, she defeated Madison to win the NWA World Women's Championship in a dark match on a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view.[13][18] She defended the belt at the NWA 55th Anniversary Show against AJ Sparx in October 2003.[20] She was later stripped of the title by NWA President Bill Behrens on June 19, 2004, after Kai no-showed several events.[21]

After becoming less active in the ring, she also began training female wrestlers, including Amber O'Neal.[22] She also served as a trainer for the California-based Women of Wrestling.[1]

On September 5, 2013, it was announced that Kai will debut at Pro Wrestling Syndicate Bombshells against Sumie Sakai on September 28 in Iselin, NJ.

On May 31, 2014, Kai appeared on West Coast Wrestling Connection, slapping Kylie Sutton for allegedly implying that she was old. The following week, Kai was scheduled to face Sutton in a match. After refusing to participate, she forced her manager Jonny Fairplay to take her place. Sutton won the match by DQ after Kai entered the ring and attacked her, before referees pulled her off. She then subsequently retired from professional wrestling in December 2015.

Personal life

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In addition to wrestling, Seymour has trained with nunchucks for at least two years.[3] She also rides motorcycles, deep sea fishes, and hunts wild boar.[3] Seymour previously owned an apartment in Hawaii.[1] On September 18, 2024, Seymour went under a successful total right hip replacement surgery.[23][24]

Championships and accomplishments

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Monneyham, Mike (July 7, 2013). "'Moolah's Girls' made mark on wrestling world". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Laprade, Pat; Murphy, Dan (April 11, 2017). Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling. ECW Press. ISBN 9781773050140 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Leilani Kai". GLORY Wrestling. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  4. ^ Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p.111.
  5. ^ Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p.145.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Steven (August 8, 2007). "Return of a "Glamour Girl"". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p.105
  8. ^ Corliss, Richard (April 15, 1985). "Hype! Hell Raising! Hulk Hogan!". Time. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Banks, Bill (February 1999). "Fantasy Warefare [sic]: Sable vs. Wendi Richter". Raw Magazine. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Nevada, Vance (June 30, 2005). "Results for Velvet McIntyre". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  11. ^ a b c d Duncan, Royal and Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. Information also available at Solie's Title Histories.
  12. ^ a b Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p.164
  13. ^ a b c d e "Title History". LeilaniKai.com. 2003. Archived from the original on December 6, 2003. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  14. ^ Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (2000). Super Ladies Showdown: 1 (DVD).
  15. ^ "WrestleMania X results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
  16. ^ "WCW Worldwide: October 20, 1996". Blog of Doom. October 31, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "Nitro results 1999". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Explosion in Nashville!". LadySports. 2003. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  19. ^ "Pippa L'Vinn to Face Nikki Roxx in England". GLORY Wrestling. April 12, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  20. ^ Schramm, Chris (October 15, 2003). "NWA 55th anniversary show shines". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  21. ^ "NWA World Women's Championship". Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  22. ^ "Amber O'Neal". Lethal Women of Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
  23. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (September 18, 2024). "Leilani Kai to Undergo Total Hip Replacement Surgery". Fightful. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Currier, Joseph (September 19, 2024). "Leilani Kai 'feeling amazing' after total hip replacement surgery". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "World Women's Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com.
  26. ^ "PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME MOVING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO TEXAS". PWInsider. November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  27. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

References

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