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On top of developing talent, NXT and the WWE Performance Center have become masters of scouting and recruiting talent to bolster their ranks with quality performers. Though they've had a new coat of colorful, splattered paint with the revamp of NXT 2.0, changing both their presentation as well as methods of development, they've maintained their eye for talent. It's this perception that led to the signing of NXT Level Up's ring announcer Kelly Kincaid.

Outside of NXT, wrestling fans plugged into the wider world of wrestling will recognize Kincaid as the former Quinn McKay from Ring of Honor. In her short career, Kincaid has already shown promise in a number of different roles in the wrestling business. Kincaid's sheer versatility makes her a very smart signing on the part of WWE, but what led to her many role changes throughout her career?

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McKay Becomes ROH's Backstage Correspondent

Quinn McKay Ring of Honor

Quinn McKay made her first appearance for Ring of Honor in the summer of 2019. Though she had begun wrestling the year before on the indies in the northeast and midwest, McKay was initially brought on board as part of the ROH broadcast team. McKay's first appearances for ROH saw her conducting backstage interviews and occasionally hopping on the commentary desk to provide some color to ROH programming alongside Caprice Coleman and Ian Riccaboni.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, McKay featured on a lot of ROH content with the establishment of the ROH Bubble in Baltimore, MD. Here, talent came in to isolate one another, providing a safe space for the company to resume creating programming as the wrestling world adjusted to the effects of the Coronavirus. McKay's presence in ROH grew, especially in the company's online content for social media and YouTube, more often than not hosting the peeks into the world of ROH. But, it wouldn't be long before she caught the ire of someone in the women's division...

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Debuting In Women Of Honor

Quinn McKay

Many wrestling companies have created stories of on-screen personalities transitioning into wrestling roles, from the likes of Shane Sewell in TNA having a referee-turned-wrestler storyline, to even the likes of Pat McAfee making the leap from commentary to WrestleMania competitor. For McKay, her story came from being the target of ROH's 'mean girls', The Allure. A continuation of TNA's The Beautiful People faction, Angelina Love and Mandy Leon bullied McKay until the plucky underdog made her way into the ring to stand up for herself.

As Ring of Honor looked to revitalize its women's division and give it a much-needed boost, McKay was kept on as an in-ring performer. Billed as being "5 Feet of Concrete", McKay showed tremendous promise, reaching the quarter-finals of the ROH Women's World Title Tournament, and overcoming The Allure in the process. But, unfortunately, ROH's hiatus after 2021's Final Battle put a stop to the momentum McKay had behind her. With all ROH talent being freed from their contracts with the promotion's future then up in the air before Tony Khan's purchase, another opportunity came McKay's way.

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Joining The New Wave Of NXT

Quinn McKay (Kelly Kincaid) in WWE NXT
@MrJacobCohen

Though McKay had been proving herself as an in-ring competitor, the range of her wrestling portfolio landed her a job in WWE's rebranded developmental system. Adding in more programming for new talent, WWE launched NXT Level Up in February 2022, giving another platform for NXT wrestlers to hone their skills. Whilst ROH's hiatus had eyes on their women's champion Rok-C signing with WWE, McKay was another name that made the jump. With a name change to Kelly Kincaid, she appeared on the debut taping for Level Up, acting as ring announcer for the new show.

For now, Kincaid seems settled in her role as an on-screen personality for Level Up, but as all good wrestlers are told, one should never go anywhere without their gear ready to go at a moment's notice. But, Kincaid's talents are such that she needn't lace up another pair of boots if she didn't want to. Either way, wherever Kincaid's career takes her, she is sure to excel in whatever role she finds herself in. The NXT women's roster had just better realize who they are talking to before they mess with her...