Leva Bates

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American professional wrestler (born 1983)

title: "Leva Bates" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1983-births", "american-female-professional-wrestlers", "cosplayers", "living-people", "murray-state-university-alumni", "people-from-madisonville,-kentucky", "professional-wrestlers-from-kentucky", "american-twitch-(service)-streamers", "21st-century-american-sportswomen", "21st-century-female-professional-wrestlers", "21st-century-american-professional-wrestlers", "shimmer-tag-team-champions", "youtubers-from-kentucky", "sportspeople-from-kentucky"] description: "American professional wrestler (born 1983)" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leva_Bates" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American professional wrestler (born 1983) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox professional wrestler"]

FieldValue
nameLeva Bates
imageFile:Leva new acting headshot.jpg
captionBates in 2023
birth_date
birth_placeMadisonville, Kentucky, U.S.
alma_materMurray State University
namesLeanna Hyde

Leva<ref name		"Roster"
Leva Bates
Baby Cakes Dejo
Bimbo
Emo Leigh
height5 ft 2 in
weight115 lb
billed"Gotham City, Florida"
"The Clearance Rack" (as Blue Pants)

| | trainer | Bubba Ray Dudley D-Von Dudley | | website | | | debut | 2006 | | birth_name | Leva Kay Bates | ::

| name = Leva Bates | image = File:Leva new acting headshot.jpg | caption = Bates in 2023 | alt = |birth_date = | birth_place = Madisonville, Kentucky, U.S. | alma_mater = Murray State University | names = Leanna Hyde

Leva Leva Bates Baby Cakes Dejo Bimbo Emo Leigh | height = 5 ft 2 in | weight = 115 lb | billed = "Gotham City, Florida" "The Clearance Rack" (as Blue Pants)

Fairvale, California (As "The Librarian") | trainer = Bubba Ray Dudley D-Von Dudley |website = | debut = 2006 | retired = |birth_name= Leva Kay Bates

Leva Bates ( ,) (born May 21, 1983) is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with All Elite Wrestling. She also had a successful tenure on the independent circuit, most notably for Shimmer Women Athletes. She has also appeared in WWE on their developmental territory NXT under the ring name Blue Pants.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2006–2009)

Leva Bates was trained at the Team 3D Academy under D-Von Dudley and Bubba Ray Dudley (The Dudley Boyz), and made her professional wrestling debut in 2006. She spent the next three years wrestling primarily in the Southeastern United States, for promotions such as Southeastern Championship Wrestling (SCW) and Coastal Championship Wrestling. In SCW, she won the SCW Women's Championship on November 8, 2008, by defeating Betsy Ruth and Lexie Fyfe in a three-way match. She also appeared for World Xtreme Wrestling, beginning in 2009, wrestling against Betsy Ruth and Malia Hosaka, among others.

Shimmer Women Athletes (2009–2019)

Bates debuted for Shimmer Women Athletes in 2009 at Volume 28, when she and Kimberly Kash lost a tag team match to Kacey Diamond and Sassy Stephie. She returned at the next show in 2010, defeating She Nay Nay in a dark match, before losing to Malia Hosaka on Volume 30. At Volumes 33 and 34, she lost to Allison Danger and Melanie Cruise respectively, before defeating Cat Power at Volume 36. Beginning at Volume 37 in March 2011, Bates formed a tag team with Allison Danger, known as Regeneration X. Over the next year, they defeated the teams of Jamilia Craft and Mia Yim, and Sassy Stephie and Nevaeh, but lost to Nikki Roxx and Ariel and The Knight Dynasty (Britani and Saraya Knight). On March 17, 2012, Regeneration X failed to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship from Ayako Hamada and Ayumi Kurihara, and were unsuccessful again in a four-way match at Volume 48 the next day. In 2013, Bates returned to singles competition, and unsuccessfully challenged Cheerleader Melissa for the Shimmer Championship on October 19 at Volume 58. She spent the rest of 2013 and 2014 wrestling matches against Nikki Storm, Marti Belle, Veda Scott, and Jessicka Havok.

Shine Wrestling (2012–2019)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Leva_Bates_&Mia_Yim(Ryanless).jpg" caption="The Lucha Sisters (Bates, left, and [[Mia Yim]]) in November 2014"] ::

Bates debuted in Shine Wrestling at their first event in July 2012. Initially a singles competitor, she faced Mercedes Martinez, Portia Perez, and Jessicka Havok, before having a series of matches with Kimberly, with the pair trading wins. This prompted at a Last Woman Standing match at Shine 7, which Bates won. After being attacked post-match by Kimberly, they faced off again at Shine 8 in a Fans Bring the Weapons I Quit match, which Kimberly won by referee stoppage. The feud ended at Shine 9, when Bates won an "Arkham Asylum" steel cage match. Bates then competed in the tournament to determine the inaugural Shine Champion; she defeated Taylor Made before losing to Mia Yim. This was followed by a feud with Nevaeh, which culminated in a hardcore match at Shine 15 won by Bates.

In February 2014, Bates teamed with Mia Yim to enter the tournament to determine the inaugural Shine Tag Team Champions. Collectively known as The Lucha Sisters, Bates and Yim defeated The Kimber Bombs (Cherry Bomb and Kimber Lee) and Jessie Belle Smothers and Sassy Stephie en route to the final, where they defeated Made in Sin (Taylor Made and Allysin Kay) to win the championship. They successfully defended the title against Evie and Madison Eagles, and Candice LeRae and Ivelisse, before losing to Legendary (Brandi Wine and Malia Hosaka) at Shine 20 on June 27, 2014. The Lucha Sisters failed to regain the championship in a rematch at Shine 21 in August. Bates then transitioned back in singles competition, and unsuccessfully challenged LuFisto for the Shine Championship in 2017.

WWE NXT (2014–2015)

Bates first appeared in WWE, accompanying Adam Rose as one of his "Rosebuds". She returned at the NXT television tapings on October 23, losing again to Carmella; the match aired on November 27. Blue Pants earned her first victory on the January 1, 2015, episode of NXT, defeating Carmella in their third match. She made further appearances on the February 18, April 15, and June 10 episodes, losing to NXT Women's Champion Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke, and Emma respectively. Blue Pants made a surprise appearance at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22, managing The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) to a NXT Tag Team Championship. During the match, she had an altercation with Alexa Bliss, prompting a match on the September 2 episode of NXT, which Bliss won. Blue Pants made her final appearance on the December 2 episode of NXT, facing Nia Jax in a losing effort.

Bates described the character of Blue Pants as the "ultimate fangirl", and felt the character became so popular because the audience connected with the joy the character felt in wrestling.

Other promotions (2008–2019)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Leva_Bates_Nov14.jpg" caption="Frozen]]''-inspired attire"] ::

Bates appeared on the May 28, 2008, episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact!, accepting Awesome Kong's $25,000 challenge, which she would lose. She later had a try-out match for the company against Isis the Amazon in February 2011, but lost the match. In September 2012, Bates made a further appearance on Impact Wrestling, portraying a villainous stagehand who helped the Aces & Eights faction abduct Sting and Hulk Hogan. Bates made a brief return to TNA for the Knockouts Knockdown 2016 pay-per-view as her cosplayer character losing a well received match to TNA Knockouts champion Jade. Bates returned to Impact Wrestling again for One Night Only: Victory Road – Knockouts Knockdown defeating Allie. Later the same night she teamed with ODB, Alisha, and Santana Garrett in an eight-man tag team match where they defeated Angelina Love, Rosemary, Diamanté, and Laurel Van Ness.

Bates debuted in Full Impact Pro (FIP) in May 2008, when she and Rain defeated Portia Perez and Mimi in a tag team match. She returned five years later, as part of a Shine Wrestling showcase match against Solo Darling on August 9, 2013. She continued making appearances for FIP throughout 2013 and 2014, as the manager of Dos Ben Dejos (Jay Rios and Eddie Cruz), along with Mia Yim. She also made sporadic wrestling appearances for the company, usually against Darling or Su Yung.

All Elite Wrestling (2019–2023)

On April 22, 2019, it was announced that Bates would join the women's roster of All Elite Wrestling as The Librarian. She debuted at Fyter Fest, losing to Allie in a singles match after a superkick. She turned face after slapping Peter Avalon as part of an ongoing story between himself and Brandon Cutler. On May 1, 2023, Bates announced that after 4 years of working for AEW, her contract with the company had expired. She was under contract in a wrestling role and a backstage role, where she originally assisted former Chief Brand Officer Brandi Rhodes, but eventually took over many roles, most notably with her work on the AEW Heels fan club alongside AEW referee Aubrey Edwards and Amanda Huber.

Other media

| name = Leva Bates | twitch_handle = wrestlingleva | twitch_display_name = | twitch_years_active = 2015–present | twitch_genre = Gaming | twitch_game = | twitch_followers = 25.2 thousand | stats_update = August 4, 2025

Bates has been a livestreamer on Twitch since 2016. She is a Twitch Partner as well.

In 2023, Bates took part in the Netflix reality show, Squid Game: The Challenge, where she was eliminated in the first round, Red Light, Green Light.

Personal life

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Leva_Bates_2014.jpg" caption="The Bride]] from ''[[Kill Bill]]'' in March 2014"] ::

Bates holds two bachelor's degrees in theater and radio and television production with a minor in dance from Murray State University. On October 17, 2024, she was recognized by Murray State University as one of their Outstanding Young Alumni in the Fine Arts. She also used to work as one of the entertainers at the Universal Orlando theme park. She also video blogs for The Geek Soapbox.

Bates is known for her use of cosplay in her ring outfits; she regularly dresses as characters from TV, movies, video games, and comic books. While cosplaying, she incorporates aspects of the character into her wrestling style.

Championships and accomplishments

References

References

  1. "Leva Bates". Online World of Wrestling.
  2. "Leva Bates profile".
  3. "Roster". [[Full Impact Pro]].
  4. Benigno, Anthony. (March 4, 2015). "The unexpected virtue of Blue Pants: NXT's cult phenomenon breaks her silence". [[WWE]].
  5. "Bates, Leva". [[Shine Wrestling]].
  6. Benigno, Anthony. (March 3, 2015). "The unexpected virtue of Blue Pants: NXT's cult phenomenon breaks her silence".
  7. (October 20, 2013). "Show results – 10/19 Shimmer DVD taping in Berwyn, Ill.: Shimmer Title & Tag Titles defended for Vol. 58 & 59, Cheerleader Melissa and top women's wrestlers featured". Pro Wrestling Torch.
  8. Namako, Jason. (June 16, 2014). "Feature: Jason Namako recaps Shimmer Volume 59". WrestleView.
  9. Namako, Jason. (February 23, 2014). "2/22 Shine #7 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView.
  10. Namako, Jason. (March 23, 2013). "3/23 Shine #8 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView.
  11. Namako, Jason. (April 20, 2013). "4/19 Shine #9 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView.
  12. Namako, Jason. (May 24, 2013). "5/24 Shine #10 iPPV Results: (Angelina Love vs. Rain)". WrestleView.
  13. Namako, Jason. (July 13, 2013). "7/12 Shine #11 iPPV Results: Ybor City, FL (First Shine Champion crowned)". WrestleView.
  14. Namako, Jason. (March 3, 2014). "2/28 Shine 17 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView.
  15. Namako, Jason. (April 20, 2014). "4/18 Shine 18 iPPV Results: Ybor City, FL (Ivelisse vs. Knight)". WrestleView.
  16. Namako, Jason. (June 28, 2014). "6/27 Shine Results – (Ivelisse/Serena Deeb – 1 Hour Draw)". WrestleView.
  17. Namako, Jason. (August 23, 2014). "8/22 Shine #21 Results: Ybor City, FL (Havok vs. Kay)". WrestleView.
  18. Trionfo, Richard. (May 12, 2017). "Complete Shine 42 iPPV coverage: a new title, new tag champions, Leva versus LuFisto, and more". PWInsider.
  19. James, Justin. (October 16, 2014). "James's WWE NXT Report 10/16 – Week 122: Sami Zayn vs. Tyson Kidd main event, Women's champ Charlotte; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch.
  20. Parry, Josh. (October 23, 2014). "WWE News: NXT Spoilers – full results from Thursday's TV taping, including line-up for the next NXT special, plus Seth Rollins makes post-taping appearance, more". Pro Wrestling Torch.
  21. Howell, Nolan. (January 1, 2015). "NXT: Itami and Balor continue tag ascent". [[Canadian Online Explorer]].
  22. Howell, Nolan. (February 18, 2015). "NXT: Neville rematches NXT champ Owens". [[Canadian Online Explorer]].
  23. Howell, Nolan. (April 15, 2015). "NXT: Zayn drops Rhyno in return". [[Canadian Online Explorer]].
  24. Scherer, Dave. (August 22, 2015). "Ongoing NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn Blog".
  25. James, Justin. (September 2, 2015). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/2 – Week 178: Dusty Rhodes Tag Tournament kicks off, Gargano & Ciampa debut on NXT, Joe & Balor form team, more; Overall Reax".
  26. Trionfo, Richard. (December 2, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: JOE VS. CIAMPA, MATCHES MADE OFFICIAL FOR TAKEOVER, WERE THE VAUDEVILLAINS READY WILLING AND GABLE?, AND MORE". PWInsider.
  27. Oster, Aaron. (February 19, 2015). "NXT Recap: Rhyno's Return and the End of an Era". [[Rolling Stone]].
  28. Namako, Jason. (September 28, 2012). "Identity of unknown female on Impact Wrestling". WrestleView.
  29. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Impact Wrestling One Night Only – Victory Road 2017: Next Knockout « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database".
  30. "Results". [[Full Impact Pro]].
  31. "Threads".
  32. Oster, Aaron. (July 14, 2015). "Who's NXT? Can Blue Pants, Wrestling's Cosplay Queen, Break Out?". [[Rolling Stone]].
  33. Virtusio, Jessi. (June 17, 2016). "Resistance Pro Wrestling features female-fronted main event". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
  34. (March 17, 2018). "Congrats @WrestlingLeva! Leva beat @TenilleDashwood & @Nova_Girl1973 to win the @WrestlingAtomic Bombshells title i…".
  35. "Instagram - willprowrestling Leva Pins The Undead Bride to become the New Women's Champ..!!".
  36. "TOXIC CRUSADER CHAMPIONSHIP".
  37. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "HOW Women's Championship". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database.
  38. "Threads".
  39. (June 17, 2023). "Leva Bates (@wrestlingleva) / Twitter".
  40. (2013). "none". [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]].
  41. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2015". Internet Wrestling Database.
  42. (November 12, 2017). "No freakin' way!!! Totally Tubular Tag Team, @delilah_doom & I, just won these sweet tag titles at @SHIMMERwomen…".
  43. Namako, Jason. (March 3, 2014). "2/28 Shine 17 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView.com.
  44. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "WC Sideshow Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database".
  45. Meltzer, Dave. (January 27, 2014). "Jan 27 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2013 Annual awards issue, best in the world in numerous categories, plus all the news in pro-wrestling and MMA over the past week and more". [[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1983-birthsamerican-female-professional-wrestlerscosplayersliving-peoplemurray-state-university-alumnipeople-from-madisonville,-kentuckyprofessional-wrestlers-from-kentuckyamerican-twitch-(service)-streamers21st-century-american-sportswomen21st-century-female-professional-wrestlers21st-century-american-professional-wrestlersshimmer-tag-team-championsyoutubers-from-kentuckysportspeople-from-kentucky