Kia Stevens talks GLOW Season 3 and her future as Awesome Kong in AEW

"GLOW" and Kia Stevens are shining brighter than ever.

Stevens and the ensemble of the 1980s-set professional wrestling business comedy return to the ring for the series' 10-episode third season, which arrives on Netflix Friday, Aug. 9.

Under showrunners Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, who co-created the series with Tara Hermann and Jenji Kohan, the third season of "GLOW" follows its titular Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling to Las Vegas, where their show launches a residency at the Fan-Tan Casino.

This season looks at the mental and physical wear-and-tear that comes with a life in the wrestling business. The focus hit close to home for Stevens, herself a longtime professional wrestler.

"I thought they were spot-on, especially because I actually struggle with back injuries," said Stevens, who underwent back surgery last year. "So, when I read through my script it was (like it was) straight out of my diary."

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Inspired by a real Reagan-era women's wrestling promotion, "GLOW" has proven to be a decisive hit with critics and audiences, earning 13 Emmy nominations and two wins to date.

This year's Emmy contenders, announced Tuesday, include an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nod "GLOW" co-star for Betty Gilpin, also nominated last year.

"GLOW" is in the running for five Emmys this year. Shauna Duggins is up for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program Emmy — a category which she won last year.

Stevens co-stars on "GLOW" as Tamme Dawson, who competes on the show-within-a-show as the villainous Welfare Queen.

While she came into the series with more than a decade of wrestling experience under her belt, Stevens said it's been very rewarding to see her co-stars develop their in-ring skills.

She noted that while the show's first two seasons were preceded by month-long training camps, prior to Season 3 they only needed two weeks of preparation time.

"The girls, they know their stuff now, so we just had to shake off a little bit of ring rust and just do a little bit of getting back in the ring and re-familiarizing ourselves again," Stevens said. "But they know that definitely any one of them can go out there and have a great wrestling career."

Stevens began her international wrestling career nearly 20 years, getting her start in Japan before working for American promotions including Total Nonstop Acting Wrestling as Awesome Kong, Ring of Honor as Amazing Kong and World Wrestling Entertainment as Kharma.

In recent years, she's witnessed the ascendancy of female representation in the professional wrestling business; earlier this year, women headlined WWE's WrestleMania event, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

"It's a long time coming," Stevens said. "I'm just really happy that women are finally being seen as athletes and people who can compete, can perform at the caliber of the men and are given the opportunity to be performers and not like a sideshow. So I'm glad that I feel like I had a little bit to do with that. I'm glad I've been able to do my part."

In May, Stevens shocked the wrestling world when she, as Awesome Kong, was revealed as a surprise competitor at rising promotion All Elite Wrestling's sold-out Double or Nothing event in Las Vegas. It was her first time playing the character in years.

"It was strangle to slip back into her skin and psyche because Kong is a totally different psyche from Kia," she said. "And I seriously was in my room the night before, praying on it that she would appear and that I would remember everything about her psyche to get to that place."

After a backstage pep-talk from New Jersey-native wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page, Stevens returned to the spotlight as Kong.

"The reception was so breathtaking that my knees almost buckled," Stevens said. "I almost didn't make it to that ring because my legs turned to jelly. I love wrestling fans for that."

Stevens subsequently appeared at AEW's Fight for the Fallen show in Florida earlier this month. She said she can see a future where she balances work as Awesome Kong in AEW with future time on "GLOW."

"I think it's possible, I think it's very possible," she said. "We're certainly going to try. AEW is very flexible, and they want to give the wrestling community what they want."

Check out this video on another AEW star, the Jersey Shore's own Joey Janela:

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