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WWE NXT star Izzi Dame was sending volleyballs into opponents’ faces just a few years ago, before her meteoric rise as North American Women’s Champion.
Dame, real name Franki Strefling, played collegiate volleyball for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and played professionally overseas until 2022 when she officially joined WWE and embarked on her professional wrestling journey.
She spoke to Busted Open Radio earlier this week about how she got her start in WWE and expanded on her origin story in a recent interview with PK Press Club Digital.
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Izzi Dame makes her entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on August 13, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (WWE/WWE via Getty Images)
Dame said she was on a break from playing volleyball in Cyprus when she received a message she thought was fake. But his decision ultimately had consequences for his career in the sport.
“So I played volleyball at the college level, and then after college I went to play professionally on a little island called Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. I spent a full year there,” she said. “I re-signed my contract to come back and play for another year, but you get three months of summer vacation. So the week after I got back to the States, I got what I thought was a scam recruiting message from WWE, as anyone would think, because why would WWE want something with little old me playing in the middle of the Mediterranean? Like, come on.
“It ended up being real. They took me to Nashville. I was offered a contract, then I had to break my contract in Cyprus to join WWE. So they banned me. Cyprus banned me from playing there for 10 years. A little dramatic, but yeah. I can’t play there! But I don’t think we’ll go back to volleyball anytime soon. We’re doing well here.”
Dame is similar to many WWE NXT wrestlers who have gone through the company’s recruitment process. Several top stars in the company started out with no professional wrestling experience.
She told PK Press Club Digital that she took the chance because she believed she had more in her than just serving.
“If I’m completely honest, I’m one of eight,” Dame explained. “I have a big family. So not only was I alone abroad — I was at least doing what I love — but for some reason there was always something inside me that said, ‘You’re meant for more.’ Volleyball highlights your athleticism, but you have so much more to offer.
Izzi Dame speaks during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on January 13, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE via Getty Images)
“So WWE was just the perfect mix of public speaking, performing, entertaining, all while still being an athlete, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ And I can go home. My parents, my family and my brothers and sisters can come and join me whenever they want. I’m no longer around the world 24 hours a day for any length of time. So this seemed like the perfect opportunity. »
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Dame won the North American Women’s Championship at New Year’s Evil to start 2026, but she said she hopes to show more of herself and increase the championship’s prestige over the next six months to a year.
She added that she wanted to break free from the stereotypes of a professional wrestler with blonde hair.
“Seriously, because I’ve said it before, how much this title has bounced back, I seriously hope I can take this title and give it meaning, give meaning to my name,” Dame said. “I feel like Izzi Dame is coming to her senses. We’re starting to understand who she is. How manipulative, how much of a mastermind she really is. I think people are still a little confused: ‘Is she just another blonde heel?’ Like, what does she really bring to the table?” So, in six months, hopefully it will be clear who Izzi Dame is.
Izzi Dame wins the NXT North American Women’s Championship during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on January 6, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images)
“We may all have the same hair color, but I don’t think there are as many of us as all the blondes in the industry. I think it’s really important that we all differentiate ourselves through our character work. Obviously, in the ring too. I don’t do a moonsault like Tiffany Stratton – that’s all yours, girl. That’s crazy. She’s crazy for that. I’ll stick to the more ‘big man’ stuff. But as far as character work goes, I’m really trying to lean into building depth and layers in a more manipulative, cerebral and calculated way and I think that’s going to make me just a little bit different from everyone else.”
Dame is the face of The Culling – one of the factions that have made a name for themselves on the NXT brand.
Shawn Spears, an industry veteran, has been one of the group’s leaders in the months since his return to WWE. Dame said she was able to lean on Spears as she gained a foothold between the ropes.
“Shawn Spears has been my pillar throughout this story, as a friend, mentor and coach,” she said. “He’s helped me, not just in the ring, but he’s really put this whole journey into perspective because it’s very taxing. You have to have a lot of patience and it’s all about timing. Sometimes it’s not. I feel like I’m not doing enough. Maybe I’m disappointed in the way I’ve done something, but he really understands everything and reminds me that I haven’t been in this industry that long and it’s okay to do things. mistakes – to learn from them and not do the same thing again. He has truly been an ally to me throughout this process.”
Ultimately, Dame said now is her time to shine as champion and stop the title from bouncing around the women’s locker room.
Izzi Dame makes her entrance with Tatum Paxley during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on August 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)
Since the creation of the championship in April 2024, Dame is the seventh to hold the belt. Other champions included Kelani Jordan, Fallon Henley, Stephanie Vaquer, Sol Ruca, Blake Monroe and Thea Hail.
Dame told PK Press Club Digital that keeping the belt would help give meaning to the title.
“I feel like that title has bounced around so much and I think I mentioned that as well,” she said. “For me, my goal with this title right now is to keep it with me. Not only to give myself depth, but to give this title depth, to give it meaning. I don’t want to say I want an Oba Femi reign, but I’m not opposed to an Oba Femi reign. Give me a little something!”
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Dame added that she was going to choose who gets the next shot at her title.
“Unfortunately, not everyone is going to get a chance, because now I decide who, what, where, when, how someone approaches the title. I’m going to be a little more strategic with who I give opportunities to, unlike Tatum (Paxley) who just gave anyone an opportunity and we see how well that worked out for her.”
