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]
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]
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 managerJimmy 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)
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]
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
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]
^Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p.111.
^Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p.145.
^ abcdefJohnson, Steven (August 8, 2007). "Return of a "Glamour Girl"". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abcShields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p.105
^Nevada, Vance (June 30, 2005). "Results for Velvet McIntyre". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abcdDuncan, Royal and Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4. Information also available at Solie's Title Histories.
^ abShields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p.164
^Schramm, Chris (October 15, 2003). "NWA 55th anniversary show shines". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
