LUX (Kingsley & Xena)
Kinglsey. Photo: New Photography
Individually the personalities of Kingsley and Xena couldn't be any more different. Together though, LUX has become one of Australia's top tag team attractions.
Kingsley is the sharp-tongued trash-talker of the duo. While Xena is the quiet, menacing assassin. However, when these two young ladies come together as LUX they provide the yin one another's yang, which makes them incredibly tough to overcome.
For Xena, the journey into professional wrestling began as a fan watching the likes of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay hone their craft at home in Professional Wrestling Australia (PWA) before eventually signing with WWE.
"I used to watch PWA shows at the Masonic Centre with my sisters," recalled Xena.
Kingsley, on the other hand, had a much much more “cliché" introduction to the craft.
"It was a whole family affair for me," said Kingsley, "I have an older brother so I started watching wrestling on Foxtel with him and my Nan, and we would also play the Nintendo wrestling games."
While tag team wrestling wasn't the initial plan for either member of LUX it has been a fortuitous turn of events. As the pair explained to Pario joining together was essentially a random spur-of-the-moment decision.
"It started when we were at a show and I randomly asked Kingsley if she would come out with me," said Xena before Kingsley added, "We didn't have a lot happening individually. We were just training a lot and weren't on a lot of shows so we thought why not test out some tag stuff and now we're here."
Since joining forces in 2018 the pair have learned that they were coincidently both big fans of the Hardy Boyz. This now makes a lot of sense as their tag team personas echo those of Matt and Jeff Hardy, although it may be surprising to hear who was the Matt fan and who was the Jeff fan.
Xena
"It's funny, Xena is the Jeff Hardy fan and I'm the Matt Hardy fan," said Kingsley.
Despite all of their success as a tag team, both ladies are not shy to capitalise on any singles opportunities which come their way.
"We work well together as a tag but we have our own goals and are very supportive of each other," said Kingsley.
A sentiment that Xena echoed by saying, "We've had a good run as a tag so why stop now? Whatever opportunity comes to us we're going to take it, we're not going to turn things down on the basis that we're only a tag team."
In the future, both ladies have set some lofty goals. They would love to compete overseas, whether that be Japan or the United States. The latter of which may be happening sooner rather than later if Kingsley's comments are anything to go by, "SHIMMER is in the works, and maybe also RISE." Back at home in PWA LUX would also love to go after the PWA tag team championships, currently held by The Velocities (Jude London & Paris De Silva).
"Let's beat up some people, maybe The Velocities," said Kingsley before Xena interjected, "Stuff The Velocities, who are they anyway?!" To which Kingsley answered, "Jude's fine."
Wrestling against The Velocities is always special for Kingsley, as she is dating Jude London, "he's annoying because he's so good,"
To which Xena was quick to say, "He brings out the best in you when you wrestle though,"
"He really does. I learn a lot from Jude and aspire to be as good as him," said Kingsley.
To close out our conversation with LUX as part of Pario’s International Women's Day celebration issue we had to touch on the dark side of being a woman in professional wrestling. When asked whether they had experienced sexism in wrestling both ladies let out a big laugh before clarifying.
Without "spilling the tea" and. going into any details Xena told Pario, "I think a majority of the female talent has, I know I certainly have." However, according to Kingsley, the industry is evolving, "Everyone is more educated about what is right or wrong now. Plus, all of us girls can fuck you up!"
There is a bright side for women in wrestling, particularly regarding self-confidence and empowerment.
"Compared to the first time I stepped into the ring I'm so much more confident now," said Xena, "I can wear whatever I want and walk out there with confidence now."
Find LUX on social media at @kingsley_pw & @_xena.k
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