Cori Simmons

Corinne Iman Simmons (born September 15, 1989), better known by her ring name Cori Simmons, is an American journalist and model currently signed to Elite Answers Wrestling, where she appears on the promotion's Empire brand as its backstage correspondent.

Early Life
Simmons was raised in Hartford's low-income Blue Hills neighborhood, the second of four children born to Floyd Simmons, a construction worker, and Beth Denmore, a secretary and receptionist. Simmons' father was born in the Bahamas, and moved with his family to Orlando and Baltimore before eventually settling in Hartford. Her mother is Irish-American, and often worked two or more jobs to support Simmons and her siblings after she and Simmons' father divorced. She went on to graduate from Weaver High School as salutatorian in 2007. Simmons then attended the University of Connecticut, where she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism in 2011.

Journalism Career
As a student at UConn, Simmons acted as a sideline reporter for football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball games. Following her graduation, she accepted her first assignment as a traffic reporter on the evening broadcasts of Hartford's CBS affiliate, WFSB 3. She remained there until 2016, when she signed a contract with EAW.

NEO (2016 - 2017)
In March 2016, it was reported that Simmons had signed a deal with Elite Answers Wrestling. After reporting to the Performance Center in April, she was placed on the company's developmental brand, NEO, as a backstage interviewer under the name Cori Simmons. She also acted as an occasional ring announcer at live events. Simmons remained in NEO until December 2017.

Empire (2017 - present)
Simmons was called up to the main roster in December in order to replace former correspondent Monica Vaughan, who had stepped down from the position. She made her debut on the December 21 episode of Empire.

Personal Life
Simmons currently resides in Newark, New Jersey.