[2] Inlay trained to become a professional wrestler at the Flatbacks Wrestling school in Apopka, Florida under Tyler Breeze and Shawn Spears.
[4] Inlay was repackaged as Kiana James and took on a heel businesswoman gimmick, debuting in the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament on May 17, losing to Roxanne Perez in the first round.
[17][18] On April 1, at NXT Stand & Deliver, James and Henley lost the tag titles to Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
[21] James would then succeed in winning a fatal four-way number one contender's match for the title on the August 29 episode of NXT.
[23] Onward, she would begin a short rivalry with new NXT Women's Champion Becky Lynch, even as so far as to aid Tiffany Stratton in their attacks.
[24] She then started a feud with Roxanne Perez, after attacking her when she lost to Asuka on the October 10 episode of NXT, only for Shotzi to emerge from commentary and fend off James.
[29] At NXT Deadline on December 9, James defeated Perez in a Steel Cage match, with assistance from Izzi Dame.