Aja Perera signs with WWE, joins NXT as a referee

Independent wrestler Aja Perera (Aja Smith) has officially signed with WWE and joined the Performance Center as a referee.

Perera signing with WWE was first reported by Squared Circle Sirens. The news was then announced by WWE.com today, with them noting that Perera will be the first African-American full-time female referee in the company’s history:

Referee Aja Smith has signed with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center, becoming the first African-American full-time female referee signed to WWE.

Smith competed across the United States, Japan and Mexico under the name Aja Perera, and has held the SHINE Nova and Tag Team Championship. She will now don the stripes and join the crew of referees who enforce the rules for NXT every week on USA Network.

Killer Kross and Timothy Thatcher also reported to the Performance Center this week. Them signing with the company was officially announced on last night’s episode of WWE Backstage.

The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube channel uploaded an emotional video about Perera signing with WWE: