Tag: kaitlyn

Kaitlyn reveals Total Divas influenced WWE creative decisions despite Vince McMahon’s promise

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Kaitlyn revealed the influence Total Divas had on WWE’s creative decisions despite initial assurances that it would remain separate from on-screen storylines. 

During her interview with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, Kaitlyn talked about Total Divas’ influence on WWE storylines and booking decisions despite Vince McMahon informing them it would remain unaffected. She cited her reserved nature may have limited opportunities in the company. 

“And Vince promised us, promised the women’s division Total Divas is not going to have any influence on storylines. And then WrestleMania comes around and that’s when they were debuting the show. They were introducing the concept of Total Divas and it literally took the place of a women’s title match on Wrestlemania. So it kind of set the tone for it. And so after that happened, I was just like ‘Okay, the title doesn’t mean anything, I don’t mean, like what do I represent?’ And so it was I think that was actually a big part of this downhill slope that I was on that led to me asking for my release. I just didn’t feel I was just, I guess I don’t matter in this scheme of things.”

The former Divas Champion iterated that there did not seem to be any mitigation of the tension among the women’s division at the time. She named Fit Finlay as the one producer who assisted in the situation but after he left it fell apart. 

“Not that I know of. Like I don’t think there was really any mitigation of drama at any point.”

“Back in the day when I was there, it didn’t really seem like it was, nobody wanted to be the one that had to try to smooth situations out with the women. Fit Finley was the one who helped us, was the agent and producer of all of our matches. And then when Fit unfortunately had to leave the company for a year, during that year it was, the producer that got our matches were, it’s almost like it was a punishment for them.” 

“So nobody wanted to agent our matches number one because we were all trying to get over and be the one that was on top and so we all had five minutes for matches. And so it was not a lot of fun to try to put together a match for the women and they didn’t know how to, nobody knew how to handle it and so it was kind of just like you know it was. So I never noticed any type of mitigation of the tension.”

“And I never experienced it. So if it was happening, I wasn’t involved in it, but what I noticed is that everybody was just like ‘you know, you’re lucky and you’re on Total Divas or you’re not and that kind of sucks.’ That’s kind of how it felt.” 

Total Divas premiered on E! in 2013 to give fans a behind-the-scenes preview of the professional and personal ongoing events in the lives of WWE’s female talent. The show ran for nine seasons before the Total Bellas spin-off. 

Kaitlyn on emotional and mental struggles during WWE run: ‘I was an absolute mess’ 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Kaitlyn disclosed the mental and emotional struggles she went through during her WWE run, and how she overcame them.

Speaking with TMZ’s Inside The Ring,  Kaitlyn opened up on the decision that led to her WWE exit in 2014. She requested for the release after feeling the pressure of the business and its impact on her while she was still young at the age of 23. 

“When I left, I had signed my second contract when I had the title in 2013 and I ended up asking for my release with still two years left on my contract. And it’s because I was struggling, I was folding under the pressure of show business and the adrenaline and the emotional roller coaster and also that lifestyle, especially the way it was back then was very difficult to have real relationships like intimate relationships.”  

“I was there from when I was 23 to when I was 27, I didn’t have tools to process what I was going through and I didn’t know how to talk about it. So essentially it kind of built to this point in my life where I was struggling mentally, physically, I was gaining weight, emotionally, I was a mess. And I knew that I couldn’t sustain that. Like my life was reflecting to me like ‘hey you need to figure this out, you need to make some changes’. And I didn’t feel like I could do that while I was living that lifestyle. And I was also, I had lost a lot of confidence in myself and I didn’t want to get released and so I left and I was a mess. I was an absolute mess. Didn’t have a plan.”

She always had plans to create a new identity and brand for herself post WWE. Kaitlyn admitted that leaving the company left her grappling with feelings of regret and self-doubt, as she believed she had not fully capitalized on the opportunities provided. 

“I knew I wanted to try to build some sort of business and kind of create a new identity for myself outside of the character of Kaitlyn. And it was so difficult because I had this really deep feeling that was my opportunity, that was my chance, that I’m never going to do anything as great as that again. And I blew it, like I could have had such a big impact, a much bigger impact. I didn’t know and I struggled with this idea that I didn’t know who I was when I was there. So I didn’t have the ability to have a true message, right? And so for a long time I felt like a failure which is crazy to a lot of people but it’s just how I felt like I could have done so much more with that opportunity and that spotlight on a global stage.”

Former Divas Champion Kaitlyn open to WWE return 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Former WWE star Kaitlyn is open to considering a wrestling return. 

Kaitlyn told TMZ’s Inside The Ring that she is open to a WWE comeback. She expressed being comfortable and in great shape that is suitable for an in-ring return. While it is not a primary goal, she would not rule out stepping back in a wrestling ring. 

“Yeah. So it’s interesting. You know I’m 39. I’ll be 40 in a few months and I’m at the top of my game. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. My body feels great. I’m more confident in who I am, my voice than ever before, right? And so I’m open to it. It’s not like okay, this is my number one goal to get back in the WWE ring, but I think that it would make sense.”

Kaitlyn further talked about being emotionally and mentally prepared for what it takes to compete in the ring. Unlike earlier, when she wasn’t matured and evolved to take on the challenges that came along with being a wrestler. 

“So, I’m open to it. And in the past, to be honest, when I would be asked in interviews ‘would you ever go back? Do you want to make a comeback?’ I would be like, you know, maybe. But there was always this trepidation internally because I felt like I hadn’t truly processed my WWE experience emotionally, mentally like I think there was this maturation that needed to happen within myself because when I was there again like I was brand new. I debuted without ever having wrestled before and so I was just like a deer in the headlights constantly and I felt like I was just barely hanging on and anytime that I was on television or I had a big match.”

“And so now I just I’m such an evolved person versus who I was then and I just have such a deeper understanding of what pro wrestling is and the artistry of it and the connection with the fans and so I think it would make a lot of sense and I feel like I would do great. I haven’t been in the ring in a while, but you know, some of that stuff comes back pretty easy. And I’m also just smarter with how I would wrestle and who I would be on the show.”  

Kaitlyn was associated with WWE from 2010 to 2014. She is best remembered for her feud with AJ Lee in 2013 which centered on their fractured friendship. During her tenure, she also captured the Divas Championship. She returned to compete in the 2018 Mae Young Classic where she was eliminated in the second round.  

AJ Lee calls for WWE to bring back two former stars

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

AJ Lee has voiced support for the return of two former WWE stars while reflecting on the most prominent feuds in her career.

Speaking with The Takedown on SI, Lee cited she would love to bring back Paige (aka Saraya) and Kaitlyn to WWE. 

“I love Paige… if I could bring somebody back, her and Kaitlyn. Let’s get them back.”

She expressed admiration for Paige’s wrestling contributions and said it would be heartwarming to see her return amid the current landscape of the women’s division. 

“It would be great,” Lee said. “She’s so talented and I knew it from day one. We’d always joke that I was her fairy godmother and I just took her under my wing and tried to protect her. And just to see her now, it would be kind of heartwarming and healing, and she would be a great addition to this locker room. I think this place has really come a long way and the women work together so beautifully, and they’re so supportive. I would love for her to experience just how fun it is now.”

Lee also addressed the possibility of revisiting past rivalries with The Bella Twins after nearly a decade. She additionally named Naomi as a dream opponent while praising her in-ring ability.

“I think the fans would really love to see me and the Bellas again, or me and Naomi. We never really got to like kill it, but she is just one of those people who every time I was in the ring with her, I felt so at my absolute best. She brings that out of you.”

“There’s such [an abundance of] wonderful, exciting new talent that I think can show me so much,” Lee said. “The way [her generation] maybe started an evolution, they continue it and then now we can learn from them. And it’s this really cool circle of moving the business forward. So I’d love to get in there with Lyra and Roxanne and Liv and Stephanie and Rhea. Gosh, there’s so many people that I would just [be] a blast to work with.”

Paige made her WWE Raw debut in 2014 and defeated Lee in an impromptu match for the now retired Divas Championship. After her neck injury in 2017, she transitioned to the role of SmackDown General Manager for a few years before taking on backstage duties. She announced her release in June 2022 and in September that year she made her AEW debut under her real name, Saraya. 

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn and AJ Lee feuded for most of 2013 before her exit in 2014. They were initial allies turned foes with the Divas Championship being a key factor. Her last match was at a GWA event in December 2019.

Lee returned to WWE in September 2025. She teamed with her husband, CM Punk to take on Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. That escalated into a singles feud with Lynch for the Intercontinental Title.

Lee captured the championship at Elimination Chamber and will defend it in a rematch against Lynch at WrestleMania 42. 

WWE Mae Young Classic results: Mia Yim vs. Kaitlyn

Posted on by Arya Witner

The Sweet 16 comes to an end tonight!

Io Shirai defeated Zeuxis in a second round match

In the first round Shirai blitzed Xia Brookside en route to an easy win, while Zeuxis had a harder go of it, but still defeated Aerial Monroe. Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir were at ringside for this bout.

Io finally faced her first consistent bit of disadvantage as she went for a springboard, but Zeuxis forearmed her and then slid into her arm and shoulder with a baseball slide dropkick. Shirai didn’t stay down long, as she made her comeback. It included a Suicide Dive where I legitimately was concerned that she hadn’t dove out far enough and was going to land on her head. Thankfully she was a-ok and the match continued.

Zeuxis missed a moonsault and Shirai went for one, but got tripped up on the top rope. Shirai blocked a top rope spanish fly and hit a frankensteiner and a moonsault for the win. Shirai will face the winner of the next match in the quarterfinals.

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Deonna Purrazzo submitted Xia Li in a second round match

There is a chance that if you take a drink every time someone calls Purrazzo “The Virtuosa”, you will have liver poisoning by the end of the tournament. Ricochet, who 20 minutes prior to this retained the NXT North American Title (read about it in the NXT report), was at ringside watching on. Purrazzo defeated Priscilla Kelly, while Li got the win over Karen Q in their respective first round matches.

We had some nice mat wrestling early on, but Li got tired of that and decided to start her kickboxing training, as she used Purrazzo as a heavy bag. Li used a jumping kick from the middle rope, which did NOT shatter her leg. Purrazzo got tired of being kicked, so she returned the favor, concentrating on the arm of Xia Li. Li came back and managed to use the three limbs Deonna wasn’t concentrating on to make her black and blue. Li dove from the middle rope…but got caught in a Fujiwara armbar for the tap out!

Deonna Purrazzo now faces Io Shirai in the quarterfinals.

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Tegan Nox pinned Nicole Matthews in a second round match

Since last seen beating Isla Dawn, Matthews has been in the news after being banned from the United States for five years due to visa issues. Not reading the spoilers in advance, but something tells me Nicole will not be at WWE Evolution. Tegan Nox, who is Michael Cole’s favorite, defeated Zatara in the first round. This is the match that Renee Young previewed by calling a “Pound For Pound Hardway Match”, whatever that is.

Matthews worked over Nox with chops, kicks, dropkicks and grinded the elbow in when covering. Nox returned the favor, which made Matthews make the shocked face. Nox’s offense didn’t last long, as Matthews just enjoyed delivering strikes to her foe. Nox fired up, screamed to the crowd and almost got locked in a Liontamer. Thankfully she avoided that, hit a cannonball and a shining wizard outta nowhere for the sudden victory!

Now disposed of the sobbing Matthews, Nox faces Rhea Ripley next.

**********

Mia Yim submitted Kaitlyn in a second round match

The former Impact Knockouts Champion vs the winner of NXT Season 3 and former WWE Diva’s Champion. Mia beat fellow Impact alumna Allysin Kay and Kaitlyn polished off Kavita Devi in the first round.

Mia had her hand taped, so of course she used that hand to chop Kaitlyn, which hurt her more than it did her foe. Kaitlyn used a cannonball in the corner and then did a wacky cover for a 1 count. It was like she meant to jackknife Mia, changed her mind, but she was already in position, so she had little or no weight on the shoulders.

Since she couldn’t use her right hand, Mia used her foot and kicked at the hamstrings of Kaitlyn before using a standing figure four leglock. Mia forgot her hand hurt and swung for the fences at her grounded foe, but Kaitlyn moved and Mia punched the mat. Kaitlyn channeled her inner Marty Scurll and locked on a hand hold, twisting it around, trying to force a tap out. Kaitlyn’s leg bruises were shining through as she threw her entire body at Mia.

Mia begged for mercy, but Kaitlyn was merciless. Kaitlyn kicked out of Sole Food (Eat Defeat) and hit her spear, which the entire crowd bought as the finish, but Mia kicked out. Finally Mia locked in a kneebar for the submission win! This was a very good match, easily the best match of the night, but not quite as good as the two matches from last week.

Mia Yim will now go one on one with Toni Storm in the quarterfinals.

So that does it for another week here at the Mae Young Classic. We start the Round of 8 next week and until then, thank you for reading and remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers.

WWE Mae Young Classic results: Mia Yim vs. Allysin Kay, Kaitlyn returns

Posted on by Arya Witner

Welcome to yet another fun, action-packed edition of the Mae Young Classic.

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Kaitlyn defeated Kavita Devi in a first round match

As a lot of you reading this probably remember, I used to review NXT. The very first match on the very first show I reviewed was Kaitlyn vs. Maxine, which was such a terrible three minutes that it won the Wrestling Observer Worst Worked Match of the Year Award. Kaitlyn did improve quite a bit over the years and is a former Divas Champion and the winner of NXT season three. Ironically, she never had a match at WrestleMania — while Kavita Devi has been in developmental for under a year and was in the Women’s Battle Royal this year.

This match was mostly fine. It was a little rough in the middle, but they held things together and Kaitlyn won with a spear after a cannonball in the corner. Kaitlyn seemed ready to cry when her hand was raised.

Kaitlyn will next go one-on one with the winner of Mia Yim vs. Allysin Kay, which is our main event this week.

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Toni Storm defeated Jinny in a first round match

Jinny is a fashionista, but she at least wants to use the MYC to catapult her career from modeling to WWE. If this were 1995, she would be wrestling to become a bigger star in modeling. Storm competed last year and made it to the semifinals before losing to Kairi Sane.

Tyler Breeze was shown at ringside watching on for this one. Makes sense since he’s a model and Jinny’s a model. The Iiconics were also shown watching.

Jinny tapped out to an armbar, but apparently it didn’t count. Storm nearly booted Jinny’s head off her neck, but Jinny gave Storm an STO into the middle turnbuckle. Jinny used an armbar and a crossface, which was unique. Jinny gave Storm an arm drag near the corner. Not sure if Storm was supposed to hit the turnbuckles, but she didn’t and bumped on the mat.

Jinny used a rolling surfboard but eventually had to let go. Jinny ran face-first into Storm’s foot, which began Storm’s comeback. She hit a snap German suplex, a running hip attack, and the Storm Zero Tiger Driver for the pin!

Storm will face the winner of Rachel Evers vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto.

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Xia Li defeated Karen Q in a first round match

Li is the first Chinese female signed to WWE and was in last year’s Mae Young Classic, where she lost to Mercedes Martinez in her first-ever match. Q is a former gymnast, who has a master’s degree in nursing and has wrestled in ROH and SHIMMER.

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were ringside for this one.

The match started with a show of respect and a martial arts demonstration. Q got the worst of it — so she slapped Li, much to the chagrin of the fans. Q periodically did a mocking bow towards Li during the match. Li made her comeback with a series of kicks to the thigh. Q ducked a high kick, but Li came up with the other foot to knock Q out.

The finish saw Q miss a frog splash and get pinned after a twisting ax kick. Li moves onto the Sweet 16 to face Deonna Purrazzo.

**********

Mia Yim defeated Allysin Kay in a first round match

If the rumors are true, congratulations to Mia Yim on being signed to WWE. Both Kay and Yim are former Impact Knockouts Champions, and Kay beat Yim for the title when they were known as Sienna (Kay) and Jade (Yim). They also have wrestled each other all over the world, including a match where Yim broke Kay’s nose.

Sonya Deville and Shelton Benjamin were at ringside for this one.

Yim got the better of the early exchanges, including her running down the apron and kicking Kay squarely in the chest. Back in the ring, Kay laid Yim out with a Pounce that sent her halfway across the ring and out of it. Yim rebounded from that and hit a suicide dive. However, her advantage ended there as she backed Kay to the post and went for a chop, but Kay ducked and Yim chopped the ring post! That echoed across Full Sail.

An exchange of submission holds led to Yim blocking a high kick and the two enemies going forehead-to-forehead before resuming their battle. Kay backdropped out of a package piledriver attempt, but she got caught with a Code Red for a near fall. Yim went to the middle rope, and after a brief scuffle, hit Sole Food (Gail Kim’s Eat Defeat) for the win.

Probably the best match of the first round so far. Yim now faces Kaitlyn in the next round.

So that does it for this episode. The first round comes to an end next week, so make sure to come on back next Wednesday!

Kaitlyn returning to WWE for this year’s Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The first entrant has been confirmed for this summer’s Mae Young Classic.

WWE announced via ESPN.com today that former Divas Champion Kaitlyn (real name Celeste Bonin), who was previously with the company from 2010-2014, will be taking part in the tournament. She retired in 2014 to focus on her fitness apparel business and marriage but returned to the ring this February for Coastal Championship Wrestling.

“Since I came back, I had the opportunity to work backward and really nail down the fundamentals and the basics — things that I really lacked during my first run with the WWE,” Bonin told ESPN. “Now I am bringing these newly honed and developed skills that I have acquired recently and I am combining that with my fearless attitude. And because I don’t have this rookie vibe about me, now I can really concentrate on surprising the WWE universe with all the things I have learned.”

Dave Meltzer reported last month that Bonin was backstage at the set of NXT television tapings that took place on June 21 and that there was talk of her returning.

Bonin has a YouTube channel where she’s documented her return to the ring, her life after getting divorced, and overcoming addiction issues after getting addicted to what she described as a legal research chemical.

This year’s Mae Young Classic will be taped at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida on August 8 and 9. There will be 32 wrestlers in the tournament.