5 things you didn't know about Kacy Catanzaro

It is being reported that NXT Superstar Kacy Catanzaro is leaving WWE. Catanzaro bagged an opportunity for a tryout with WWE at their Performance Center in early 2017. Months later, her signing was announced during the Mae Young Classic. Catanzaro made her in-ring debut against Reina González at an NXT live event on April 19, 2018, in a losing effort.

Catanzaro returned the favor to González on the 2nd episode of the Mae Young Classic, defeating her in the first round match, and went on to lose to Rhea Ripley on the 5th episode. She also appeared in the Royal Rumble Match earlier this year. One of her latest tweets saw Catanzaro talk about going your own way and thinking outside the box. She is currently dating WWE Superstar Ricochet.

You just gotta do things your own way. Think outside the box. Push away that voice in your head that tells you to conform. Trust that little voice in your mind that tells you that you don’t have to be like everybody else. 😈 pic.twitter.com/ZlLTX6YLiY

— Kacy Catanzaro (@KacyCatanzaro) August 31, 2019

According to a report, a back injury is the reason Catanzaro is leaving the company. She wrestled her final NXT match against Io Shirai. Let's take a look at five things you probably didn't know about Kacy Catanzaro.

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#5 She is a former NCAA gymnast

Catanzaro is a former gymnast

Catanzaro, while studying at Towson University in Mayland, was named the "Southeast Regional Gymnast of the Year". This honor was bestowed upon her by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

She once spoke about starting gymnastics when she was four-five years old, and dropping everything else in an attempt to build a career in it. In a chat with ESPN, Catanzaro talked about how her past training as a gymnast helped her succeed in American Ninja Warrior.

It was one of the best times of my life. When you get to the competition, most people don't know how their body will react to the pressure. But I do. I've competed literally hundreds of times in gymnastics and trained how to do what I need to do at just the right time.

#4 She credits a lot of her success to her ex-boyfriend

Kacy with Brent Steffensen

Long before Catanzaro got into a relationship with WWE Superstar Ricochet, she was involved with Brent Steffensen. When Steffensen was offered a job to test out the obstacle course for Alpha Warrior, he asked the people in charge whether they needed a woman too. Upon receiving a positive response, he suggested Catanzaro.

He moved from L.A. and I moved from New Jersey. We met in Texas and then about two months later we started dating. That was almost a year and a half ago, February 2013.

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#3 Her dream was to become a TV stunt woman

Catanzaro in American Ninja Warrior

Before joining WWE and showing off her in-ring skills down in NXT, Catanzaro had other dreams. She wanted to become a television stunt woman and once opened up on wanting to do stunts for a video game, or an action TV show, like her boyfriend at the time did. Catanzaro added that it's incredibly hard to get into, and people work for years on end without getting a break.

It’s so hard to get into, people are in Hollywood for 10 years and they never get a break in stunts.

#2 She is obsessed with Vikings

A still from Vikings

A while ago, a bunch of WWE Superstars were seen going crazy over the final season of Game of Thrones, the hit HBO TV show. Seth Rollins' WrestleMania 34 entrance was inspired by The Night King, the show's villain, as he came down to the ramp wearing blue lenses.

Catanzaro, on the other hand, is a fan of another hit show, Vikings. She has made it clear that she is obsessed with the show. Back in 2016, she took to Instagram and shared a picture of one of the characters, Ragnar Lothbrok, talking about how excited she was for the fifth season to kick off.

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#1 She was the first woman to qualify for the ‘American Ninja Warrior’ finals

Catanzaro going through an obstacle course

Before heading down to WWE developmental, Kacy Catanzaro made a name for herself in ‘American Ninja Warrior’. The sixth season of the show saw Catanzaro become the first-ever female athlete to beat the intermediate obstacle course.

One of the obstacles in the show was a 14-foot high wall that the competitors needed to run up to, and tap the buzzer. Catanzaro also became the first woman to scale the wall, and has stated that it is her favorite obstacle.

She went on to host Team Ninja Warrior, coaching none other than "Arrow" star Stephen Amell on one of the episodes.