Sunshine

Sunshine
Sunshine after returning to WWE in 2024.
Birth name	Kylie Anderson
Born	December 13, 1994 (age 29) Venice Beach, California
Resides	Orlando, Florida
Partner	Cody Rhodes (2024–present)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Sunshine
Billed height	5 ft. 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight	117 lbs (53 kg)
Billed from	Venice Beach, California
Trained by	Brian Kendrick Dylan Drake Sara Amato AJ Styles WWE Performance Center NJPW Dojo
Debut	2016

Kylie Anderson (born December 13, 1994) is an American professional wrestler, dancer and model signed to WWE under the ring name Sunshine, performing on the Raw brand.

Anderson is a two-time SmackDown Women's Champion. Anderson would go onto hold the title in her first reign for over three months including a successful title defense at SummerSlam before losing it at No Mercy to Liv Morgan. In 2020 she won the Money in the Bank briefcase after winning the ladder match at WrestleMania 36, before successfully cashing it in at Royal Rumble (2021).

Anderson's father got her interested in wrestling at a very young age and being the only girl of 4 kids. Anderson however had other interests she remained a WWE fan but pursued dance eventually getting accepted to Julliard in Manhattan. She attended for three years getting her degree in Dance but she still felt she was missing something from her life.

The thought of being a wrestler never crossed Anderson's mind until she returned to Venice Beach and was scouted by a local wrestling promotion, she took a leap of faith and decided to begin training at 22 years of age. She became a natural and wrestled all over California honing her character and becoming in love with her job. Shortly after WrestleMania 37, Sunshine would be released from WWE suffering from some nagging injuries as well as fatigue from the schedule. While away she turned to Hollywood she was able to get a few small roles in some actions films and Television shows while also continuing her modeling career. Sunshine would return to wrestling, opting to sign in Japan hell bent on proving herself, she managed to gain even more training and knowledge under some of the best trainers on the planet. After spending two years wrestling in Japan, Sunshine was determined to return home to WWE wanting to once again prove herself. She would re-sign with WWE in late August 2024 signing a multi-year deal.

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE

WWE NXT (2016–2017)

Anderson was signed to a contract by WWE in late August 2016 and was sent to their developmental territory, NXT and adopted the ring name Sunshine. She would make her official debut on the September 14, 2016 episode of NXT teaming with Summer Rae in a losing effort after walking out on her. That same night Sunshine would proclaim herself as the Queen of NXT and the Epitome of Excellence. On the September 24, 2016 episode of NXT, Sunshine defeated Nia Jax in an upset victory. Later that night, Sunshine interfered in the tag team match involving Mason Wolfe and Saška Milanović against Leva Bates and Bobby Fish attacking Leva Bates and allowing Wolfe to pick up the win revealing her new alliance with Wolfe and their romantic relationship becoming known on-screen. A week later on the October 5, 2016 episode of NXT, Wolfe and Sunshine defeated Splash Anderson and Leva Bates after Wolfe pinned Anderson, thus giving Wolfe the power to choose the match stipulation for his match with Anderson at NXT Takeover: London. The following week on NXT, Sunshine had made the "Sunshine Statement" in which she called out every women on the NXT Roster and announced she was gunning for the NXT Women's Championship in order for her and her boyfriend Mason Wolfe to rule NXT. After Sunshine & Wolfe defeated Azrael and Saška Milanović by way of Sunshine pinning the at-the-time NXT Women's Champion, William Regal took notice and booked Sunshine in a triple threat match for the title at NXT Takeover: London alongside The Champion and Arabella Sheaf (Which Alexa Bliss would later be added to).

The next week on NXT Sunshine was scheduled against Billie Kay who she defeated gaining momentum for her title opportunity. After the match Sunshine aggressively helped a frustrated Kay to her feet, hinting at a future alliance between the two. At NXT Takeover: London Sunshine, in a losing effort, competed for the NXT Women's Championship in what will go down as one of the greatest matches in NXT History which saw Alexa Bliss capture the coveted title. During the match Billie Kay ran down to the ring and took out every competitor with a steel chair except for Sunshine, thus clarifying speculation the two had formed an alliance. The weeks following the match Sunshine had continued to compete alongside Wolfe and proclaim she was "cheated" by the Champion due to the interference by Alexa's friend, Rhyno. At Survivor Series (2016) Sunshine along with her on-screen rival Alexa Bliss, were given a shot at the Divas Tag Team Championships. This was Sunshine's first appearance on WWE TV outside of NXT and her first main roster appearance. Sunshine and Alexa were defeated by Angel Williams & Bayley who retained their titles.

For the following weeks Sunshine and Alexa continued their feud whilst involving Rhyno & Mason Wolfe. This culminated with Sunshine and Mason Wolfe facing Rhyno & Alexa Bliss on the final NXT of 2016. Mason & Sunshine won this match via countout after Rhyno had accidentally speared Bliss. On the January 11, 2017 edition of NXT, Sunshine announced she would be competing in the Women's Classic which was a tournament featuring the best women wrestlers in the world competing for a brand new, cross branded Championship. In the first round of the Women's Classic, Sunshine defeated Peyton Royce via submission. She would later be eliminated in the second round after being pinned by Daizee Haze. On NXT Sunshine continued to rip through the female competition and put together "The Queens Checklist" in which the name of every woman in NXT was on. Week after week she'd defeat them and cross them off the list. This earned her a title shot at NXT Takeover: New Orleans in a triple threat against two of her rivals Alexa Bliss (The Champion) & Saska Milanović. The match would be won by Saska, after she pinned Alexa Bliss.

Raw and championship pursuits (2017–2018)

After suffering a lost at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, Sunshine would be seen throwing tantrums around the arena and confronting the general manager, William Regal claiming the title should've been given to her a long time ago. She would be seen repeatedly stating she is "done" with NXT as posted on WWE's YouTube channel. Sunshine would announce she was joining the RAW brand at Wrestlemania 33 after interrupting Daizee Haze's Goddess Championship Coronation.

SmackDown Women's Champion (2019–2020)

Sunshine would cement herself as a top competitor in the Women's division during her time on the Raw brand managing to last just about an hour in the 2019 Woman's Royal Rumble Match before going onto challenging Sasha Banks for the Goddess Championship at Summerslam later that year, Sunshine found herself moved over to the SmackDown brand for the first time. She would soon enough align herself with Dan Engler and after a year on the main roster, finally managing to win the SmackDown Women's Championship for the first time at Extreme Rules on June 23, 2019 inside of a Steel Cage with a little help from Engler. Sunshine would go onto successfully defend her championship against Killer Kelly at SummerSlam, before losing the title to Liv Morgan on September 29, 2019 at No Mercy ending her reign at 98 days. Towards the end of 2019 it would be revealed that SmackDown was closing and going forward everyone on the brand would be moving to Raw.

Raw and Ms. Money in the Bank (2020–2021)

Sunshine would again have an impressive showing in the 2020 Royal Rumble match, entering it at entrant number 11 and managing to eliminate both Taya Valkyrie and Rosemary. Sunshine would make it to the final four before being eliminated by Allie. A week later, Sunshine would team with Scarlett Bordeaux to take on the team of WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, Lacey Evans & Taya Valkyrie which ended in a no contest. They would have a rematch a week later, which saw Evans and Valkyrie pick up the win. A week later, Sunshine would suffer another loss this time in a Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifying match against Kris Wolf and Scarlett Bordeaux with the latter winning the match. On the February 10, 2020 episode of Raw, Sunshine teamed with Charlotte and managed to defeat the team of Ruby Riott and Candice LeRae. After being off television for a number of weeks it was announced that Sunshine would make her return to Raw on the March 23, 2020 episode.

Sunshine 2X and departure (2021)

At the Royal Rumble, after holding it for 256 days Sunshine would cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase after Ruby Riott had successfully retained her championship against Nikki Bella and with the help of Dan Engler, would defeat Riott to become a record-breaking two-time SmackDown Women's Champion. Sunshine would drop the SmackDown Women's Championship to Peyton Royce at WrestleMania 37 ending her reign at 67 days. Shortly after Sunshine would be released from her contract.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2022–2024)

Will add later

Return to WWE (2024–present)

In August 2024, Sunshine would make her return to the WWE after a three year absence and would sign with Monday Night Raw marking the first time she had been on Raw in four years.

Other Media

Kylie Anderson was the cover & back cover of the 2016 October Issue of Sports Illustrated. Kylie has been featured in many other magazines including, Mens Health (US & Australia), Muscle & Fitness and Flex Magazine. It has been rumored Kylie is to cover Maxim Magazine sometime in 2017, thus making her the second WWE Diva to do so behind Kelly Kelly.

Before the WWE, Kylie had made an appearance in Multi-Platinum selling Country Artists, Florida Georgia Line's, Music Video for their hit song "Cruise"

Personal life

On September 18 2016, Anderson appeared together with fellow professional wrestler Mason Alvarez at the 2016 Emmy Awards thus confirming that the two were dating after it was already rumored that they were dating. Anderson was previously in a two year relationship with fellow wrestler, Stephen Woltz better known by his ring name "Hangman" Adam Page. It was revealed in October 2024 that Anderson was currently dating fellow wrestler, Cody Rhodes with the two having started dating in August. In January the couple revealed that they were engaged.

Anderson has notably been friends outside of the ring with fellow divas Lexi Kaufman, Natalie Eva Marie, Thea Trinidad, Mandy Rose & Danielle Moinet.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

• Solstice (Jumping side kick)
• S2 [Sunshine Stretch] (Bridging double chickenwing)

Signature moves

• SunSault (Springboard, Handspring Moonsault)
• Biting
• Corner foot choke
• Discus knee
• Eye rake
• Eye poke
• Hair-pull mat slam
• High knee to an oncoming opponent
• Indian deathlock
• Mounted punches
• Multiple kick variations
  • Bicycle toe
  • Drop
  • Handstand head
  • Running big boot
  • Sole
• Octopus stretch
• Figure four leglock around the ring post
• Rope chokes
• Standing facebuster
• STO
• Swinging neckbreaker
• Various roll-ups and pinning combinations

Nicknames

• "Queen of NXT"
• "Epitome of Excellence"
• "The Prized Possession"

Managed

• Mason Wolfe

Managed by

• Dan Engler

Entrance themes

• "So Cool (Lyrical)" by Kodeine (September 14, 2016–present)
• "Burn in My Light" by Mercy Drive (Used while managing and teaming with Mason Wolfe)

Championships and accomplishments

Rolling Stone

• Future Diva of the Year (2016)

World Wrestling Entertainment

• SmackDown Women's Championship (2 times)
• Women's Money in the Bank (2020)