Tag: Kayla Braxton

Former WWE broadcaster says she was ‘never allowed to speak’ on political views

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former WWE broadcaster Kayla Becker disagrees with how the company approaches political topics.

In a series of posts to her Instagram stories, Becker — who went by the name Kayla Braxton in WWE — explained why she’s been using her social media accounts to speak up about politics more often lately. Becker said she’s lost tons of followers and even some friends by doing so, but she thinks it’s important to use your platform to speak up about what’s right and wrong. When she would get “riled up” and post political things during her WWE tenure, she would get in trouble for doing so.

“When I worked for WWE, I was never allowed to speak on my views,” Becker said. “Because we’re an entertainment company and we don’t want people to, like, we don’t want them to be saddened by what’s happening in the world. Cop out, cop out. We had a giant platform. That’s exactly what you should be using to speak up about what’s right and what’s wrong. And I’m over it.”

Becker said she feels the state of the world is in a bad place with “some of the worst people” running things. She called for WWE to publicly remove Donald Trump from its Hall of Fame. That seems unlikely to happen given that Paul “Triple H” Levesque is a vice-chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition

Prior to departing WWE in 2024, Becker worked for the company as a backstage interviewer and host. She is now pursuing acting and hosting opportunities as well as co-hosting her own podcast.

Former WWE broadcaster Kayla Braxton thinks her time in wrestling is over

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kayla Becker (former WWE broadcaster Kayla Braxton) thinks her time in pro wrestling has probably come to an end.

In June, the 33-year-old Becker finished up with WWE at a SmackDown episode from Madison Square Garden. She had been with the company since 2016 working as a backstage interviewer and host. Becker’s decision to leave was so that she could focus on new opportunities and move on to a new chapter in her career.

While appearing on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Becker said she left WWE on good terms and with the door open for her to return, but she believes her time in pro wrestling is over.

Becker responded when asked if she thinks she’s done working in wrestling for now:

Yeah, I think so. That’s the one thing about our fans too. They think, ‘Oh, you leave WWE, you must be going to AEW or Only Fans.’ It’s like the only two options that they think that you have. I’m like, ‘Actually, I’m doing neither.’ I think wrestling will always be like a love of mine and always be a family of mine. But I think I just really didn’t want to pigeonhole myself as a host and a broadcaster and just see what else I can do out there. I mean, there’s always the possibility that maybe I pop back in for a fun cameo or something down the road. But yeah, I think my time is done.

Becker told Van Vliet that she feels really good and thinks her decision to leave WWE was the right one. A role in the upcoming film “Stranglehold” is one of her post-WWE opportunities. It’s directed by Clark Duke and also features Ron Perlman, Justin Long, Ashley Benson, and wrestler Ryan Nemeth.

Daily Update: AEW notes, GCW, Kayla Braxton

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site right now featuring two very in-depth stories:

  • Judge Richard Boulware refuses to accept the $335 million TKO settlement in the Cung Le case, why, lawyers react, lots of inside ramifications of the case, how different settlements would work out for the biggest name fighters and the average fighters and what comes next and why they still can’t risk a trial.
  • AEW rights fees talks and what they mean, how much talent earns by percentage of revenues compared to other sports, estimating annual income at different rights points, cutbacks why the deal length is so important, noticeable TV cutbacks and ROH potential going forward.
  • SummerSlam preview, ticket sales, secondary market, expectations for finishes and favorites.
  • All In, update on new matches being teased, ticket sales, can they reach the next goal, PPV thoughts and promotion of the event.
  • Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
  • UFC 304 full coverage, what’s next for the fighters, new storylines, business notes, match-by-match rundown
  • What matches you need to see from G-1
  • A look at the retirement and career of Meiko Satomura
  • A detailed look at ROH Death Before Dishonor and the ROH brand
  • The life and career of longtime prelim wrestler Pete Sanchez/Gino Caruso
  • The most detailed look at  the ratings from the past two weeks  including where the top shows placed, breakdown on who is watching and changes, how badly the Olympics changed viewership and much more.
  • Death Triangle go to the hottest arena in the world and how the crowd reacted
  • One of the best high flyers in the world is almost ready to return
  • A look at two Stardom PPV shows and major title changes
  • Oldest male wrestler ever to do a match
  • Marigold tag team title decided and  Grand Prix singles tournament
  • Death of former Crockett wrestler who had a short career but was in with the biggest names in wrestling at the time
  • Modern legend retirement tour first main event announced
  • Dijak and MJF to RevPro
  • Bloodsport with talent from WWE, ROH and TNA
  • Update on PPV numbers from WWE, AEW, TNA and Diaz-Masvidal and Paul-Perry
  • Tony Khan and Shane McMahon
  • Top star returns to AEW
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Bill Goldberg talks Tony Khan
  • Merch sales
  • Highest ticket prices ever for an MMA event at The Sphere
  • Updates on Brock Lesnar

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Before Dynamite tonight, Tony Khan shared a backstage photo with Bryan Danielson and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. Steamboat will be at ringside as a special guest for Danielson and Jeff Jarrett’s anything goes match.
  • Daily Star asked Mariah May about the lessons she learned on the indies that have helped her in AEW:
    • I’m not sure it’s relevant to AEW but the biggest lesson I learnt was how to live poor. It was tough. I think the big thing is etiquette. From day one in the indies I learned to introduce myself (yourself) to everyone. I think sometimes on the indies that feels silly, because everyone has different opinions on that – whether you should or shouldn’t do it. It pays dividends though when you go to somewhere like AEW or a Stardom or any kind of larger company because it just shows you respect the business and care about it, like in any job you should introduce yourself to anybody.
    • So just drilling in the etiquette. However you also learn if you really love wrestling from the independents because you get paid nothing to do it. You have to also work normal jobs, to pay for your life and put a roof over your head but also to pay for your training, your costumes, to be able to be in indie wrestling. It’s an investment. There’s no profit, at least that was the case in my few years of doing it. So I think you get tested on if you really love it. It’s a lot of driving, training, it may not be the best quality matches or opponents or venues, small crowds but that’s when you figure out if you love it and you make so many mistakes which you’ll never repeat again. So I’m very grateful I did the indies, I won’t make those mistakes again.
  • Nigel McGuinness told Sports Illustrated that he learned a lot from Michael Cole in WWE: “I learned a lot working under Michael Cole. I developed my style and added to it in AEW, where we have much more free rein. I can really be myself, and to work with Tony Schiavone, who is an institution, is a blessing.”
  • In an interview with Military News, Dax Harwood named his favorite NWA wrestlers from when he was growing up:
    • One of my earliest memories of professional wrestling was Ric Flair being interviewed by Gordon Solie. This was when we were living in Stone Mountain, Georgia. I remember watching that particular interview and my dad was and still is a huge Ric Flair fan, so I grew up more on the Mid Atlantic and WCW then I did the WWF. Even as a kid, I liked the WCW better than I did the WWF. It’s just that WWF just happened to have Bret Hart and he was my favorite over everybody.
    • I loved Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and especially Arn Anderson. I don’t know why I connected with Arn more. Maybe because he reminded me of my dad so much and worked really, really hard. I loved watching the Rock-n-Roll Express from the time I was very little and then going back and watching tapes of the Midnight Express of Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, in my opinion THE Greatest Tag Team of all Time. I was also a huge Sting fan just like every kid back then. I loved Ricky Steamboat and hated Rick Rude. I was a big fan of Dustin Rhodes I guess because he was so young in comparison to the other wrestlers there.
  • Bryan Keith was the guest on the latest episode of Talk is Jericho.
  • AEW wished Kris Statlander a happy 29th birthday.
  • Game Changer Wrestling announced that they will hold a show at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, November 23. It’s the second largest mall in the United States. GCW’s show is taking place in the afternoon and will air live on TrillerTV+.
  • Jordan Oliver underwent surgery today for his torn ACL.
  • Tessa Blanchard & Lluvia are the new CMLL Women’s Tag Team Champions after winning the titles last night. The belts were vacated when Stephanie Vaquer left CMLL for WWE.
  • Komander will defend the AAA Cruiserweight title against Laredo Kid and Matt Riddle in a three-way match at Triplemania Mexico City on Saturday, August 17.
  • On the Nikki & Brie Show, Kayla Becker (former WWE broadcaster Kayla Braxton) explained why she decided to leave WWE:
    • I was under contract. Announcers, we operate very differently. I just realized, within myself, after eight years, I’ve done everything I can do here. You know how the schedule is at WWE. It’s very hard to [accomplish] anything else you want to do. I just felt like I was starting to miss out on opportunities outside of the company. I wasn’t doing much anymore at my former position. I just had to make the decision, not knowing necessarily what I was about to do in that moment, but I had to walk away. It was all amicable. I just knew it was time for me to peace out.

Daily Update: WWE notes, Kevin Sullivan, Kayla Braxton

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this issue:

  • Full Forbidden Door coverage
  • Early notes on how the PPV did
  • Arena business and what historical achievement took place this past weekend
  • How the poll for the show had a unique and noteworthy result
  • Looking at AEW going into All In
  • A look at Money in the Bank, Heatwave, and ticket demand for the three WWE shows this week in Toronto.
  • A look at the playoffs for the G1 tournament
  • UFC 303 coverage of one of the shows where they had to change everything over and over again
  • Thoughts on the WrestleMania documentary, what was talked about, and what wasn’t.
  • A look at all the TV ratings info from the past week including rankings for the night and week, the competition, the whys behind the numbers, segment-by-segment and more
  • Chris Jericho returns to Arena Mexico
  • A look at Friday’s show including the Altantis Jr. ROH TV title win
  • AAA TV time notes
  • AAA Verano de Escandalo card
  • Major changes in Stardom
  • New Japan pushes a big open to 2025 for both their promotion and Stardom with dates for tourists
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Sanshiro Takagi rematch on the bullet train
  • Notable sight gags on the match
  • Update on Marigold’s first major show with Iyo Sky
  • Rematch of one of the best bouts of the year set for the RevPro anniversary show at the Copper Box Arena
  • WWE stars at TNA TV tapings and at Bloodsport
  • More on Britt Baker’s return
  • Tony Khan talks about media rights negotiations, the Juneteenth rating, a milestone Eric Bischoff could never do
  • Will Ospreay opens up about his autism
  • Advance ticket sales for all the WWE & AEW shows over the past week
  • Biggest merch sellers in WWE & AEW
  • Dana White makes a claim that will blow your mind
  • More on the Bloodline angle
  • SmackDown issues with FOX
  • Notes on WWE departures
  • WWE investing in new business with notable partners including the NFL
  • Dijak talks more about his contract not being renewed

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Today’s WWE Speed episode featured the start of a new number one contender’s tournament. Baron Corbin defeated Angelo Dawkins to move on to the finals. Next Wednesday, the other first-round match (Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes) will air. The tournament winner earns a title shot against WWE Speed Champion Andrade.
  • John Cena commented on his upcoming retirement tour: “For over 22 years YOU have allowed me to be a part of many special moments. We have incredible history together from setbacks to triumph and all in between. I’m so grateful to be invited back home so we can write the last chapter of this unforgettable ride. Sunsets are often the most memorable experience. I can’t wait to share this sunset with my family. See you all very soon. The Last Time Is Now!”
  • Bianca Belair, Montez Ford, Liv Morgan, Bayley, Cathy Kelley, and Baron Corbin appeared on the red carpet for the premiere of Netflix’s new docuseries “Receiver.”
  • While speaking with US Weekly, Belair detailed the best advice she’s received from John Cena:
    • The biggest gem he ever gave me was after SummerSlam [in 2021] when I lost in 26 seconds. I had just main evented WrestleMania. I won a title. I was on a huge roll, had all this momentum, and then lost in 26 seconds. I was so defeated. He pulled me aside and really spoke life into me. He told me about the ins and outs of the business and how to go from the bottom to the top. You saw him do that over and over in his career. He was always reinventing himself.
  • Bayley also discussed how Cena has helped her career:
    • I said, ‘John, if there’s anything you think is missing from the women’s division or anything specific you think I should work on, what should it be? It turned into this hour-long conversation and it all came down to storytelling. What’s the story we’re trying to tell tonight? Don’t think about what they want, what he wants, what you want. It’s all about storytelling.‘
    • He wants to give back in a way that not everybody does. He has such unique information that he can share. It brings us back to why we got into it. Having him around to have conversations has been really great.
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Santos Escobar for the Undisputed WWE Championship will headline WWE’s house shows in Mexico this weekend.
  • WWE’s YouTube video of Rhea Ripley’s return on Raw now has more than 2.7 million views.
  • Finn Balor told What’s The Story that he thinks Gunther is the best wrestler in the world right now:
    • WALTER, Gunther, whatever you wanna call him, in my opinion, is probably the best performer on Earth right now. In my opinion, to watch in the ring. I get so oversaturated seeing so much stuff that I just kinda go ‘ahh cant be arsed watching this.’ I’ve not seen it all, but I’ve seen so much. I’m 43 now, so it’s like watching wrestling for 35 years, so it’s rare that I go, ‘Ah, I’m interested in this,’ but when WALTER gets in the ring, I’m interested. I want to see everything that he does. There’s no bits where I know what he’s going to do for the next five minutes.
    • That’s one of the few matches in my career that I want to have. We tried to set it up right before COVID in NXT UK, then the world had a different plan for us. Then we went different ways, and now, we’re both heels, so I don’t know how that would work. I’ve expressed my opinion to the office that I would love to get that match, and hopefully, we can get it done in the future.
  • On Busted Open Radio, Kelani Jordan reflected on how the Toronto crowd reacted to her NXT Heatwave match against Sol Ruca:
    • Well first, when we came out, I felt like the Toronto fans gave us a very warm welcome. They were clapping and cheering before we even locked up, so that was super cool but also, during the match, being able to hear them say, ‘NXT!’ Or, ‘This is awesome!’ I’m like, oh my gosh. Then, I even was like, this is crazy. I never truly experienced that and it was literally electric… Right when we got back through the curtain, I was like, ‘I wanna do it again. I wanna go back out there.’
  • Alexa Bliss shared a photo on her Instagram stories of her working out in the ring and doing her first back handspring since giving birth in November 2023.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Tony Khan donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign to help wrestling legend Kevin Sullivan, who is battling serious health issues following a “devastating accident” that occurred this May. The campaign has raised $48,237 so far.
  • Sullivan’s family shared an update earlier this week:
    • Just wanted to share a photo from over the weekend. We were able to go outside for a short period and am trying my best to make this a part of his daily routine. Thanks for all the support and well wishes. I am so grateful.
  • SportsGrid interviewed Tony Khan.
  • Britt Baker guested on a live episode of The Nikki & Brie Show that took place in Los Angeles.
  • Planeta Wrestling spoke with Naomichi Marufuji ahead of his match against WWE star AJ Styles for Pro Wrestling NOAH this Saturday.
  • Jordynne Grace posted a photo with Styles as the two crossed paths at the airport ahead of their upcoming matches in Japan. Grace will be in action against Chihiro Hashimoto for Sendai Girls on Monday (July 15).
  • Kayla Becker (former WWE broadcaster Kayla Braxton) noted that she just finished filming her first movie: “Just wrapped my first movie…and I got to do it alongside actors I’ve admired for years! One in particular I’ve always dreamed of meeting someday … never in a million years did I think I’d one day be sharing scenes with them! What is life?! Can’t wait for you to see it.”
  • MLW Slaughterhouse 2024 will take place at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, October 4.
  • For the first time in almost two years, ACH will return to pro wrestling at a show for SCWPro in Blue Grass, Iowa this Saturday. He’s facing Shain Boucher at the event.

Kayla Braxton thanks WWE on last night with company

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Kayla Braxton posted a message to social media thanking WWE and its fans on her last night with the company Friday.

In a message posted to X, Braxton wrote:

“I love my WWE family. Thank you guys so much. I’m overwhelmed. I will miss you all but we will see each other again.”

Braxton (Kaya Becker), announced last week that Friday’s SmackDown in Madison Square Garden would be her last WWE show as she leaves the company to pursue other ventures.

The on-air personality spent eight years with the company, beginning in NXT as a ring announcer, before settling into a role as a backstage interviewer and host on the main roster.

Braxton pointed out in a social media post on Monday that she does not plan to pursue work with any other wrestling company:

“The support from u guys has been overwhelming. I am so thankful for u. But I did wanna make 1 thing clear as I enter my final week in WWE: if I wanted to keep working in wrestling, I wouldn’t be walking away from the largest wrestling company in the world. Nice try, rumor weeds!“

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes also called Braxton out for a curtain call at MSG Friday:

The Latest: Jacob Fatu’s SmackDown debut, Kayla Braxton leaving WWE

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

Welcome to another episode of The Latest with Denise Salcedo, breaking down the biggest wrestling news headlines of the week so far.

Topics:

  • Jacob Fatu debuts on WWE SmackDown, aligns with The Bloodline
  • Drew McIntyre lays out CM Punk on WWE SmackDown
  • Three wrestlers qualify for WWE Money in the Bank ladder matches
  • Kayla Braxton announces impending departure from WWE
  • AEW Dynamite draws record low ratings, barely tops 500k viewers
  • WWE NXT draws best 18-49 demo rating of 2024

Kayla Braxton announces impending departure from WWE

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

On-air personality Kayla Braxton will be wrapping up with WWE following next Friday’s SmackDown from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The popular backstage interviewer revealed the news on social media Saturday morning, effusing praise for WWE and several people like Michael Cole, Paul Heyman, Paul Levesque, Nick Khan and others in her comments about why she was leaving.

Braxton (Kayla Becker) already has her next role lined up, but did not reveal it in her post. She credited a move to Los Angeles as offering her “new opportunities that will further utilize the skills I gained working for the largest sports entertainment company in the world.”

The 33-year-old signed with WWE in 2016, beginning as both a ring announcer and on-screen personality in NXT, eventually moving into a backstage interviewer role. She moved up to the main roster in August 2019 and added co-host duties on The Bump and other WWE shows during her run.

Braxton is a Belmont University graduate with a degree in broadcast journalism.

WWE’s Adam Pearce, Kayla Braxton test positive for COVID-19

Posted on by Josh Nason

Following the Wednesday revelation that mutliple WWE in-ring talents and other personnel tested positive for COVID-19, Adam Pearce and Kayla Braxton both tweeted Thursday they were among that group.

Pearce tweeted “Covid was NOT on my birthday list” along with a gif. The 41-year-old (pictured above) is a former wrestler and has been with WWE in several backstage roles since 2013. He is currently a producer for both Raw and SmackDown.

Around the same time, Braxton tweeted, “Was keeping it quiet but since everyone else is sharing, I feel like it is my responsibility to share this PSA: YOU CAN GET COVID-19 MORE THAN ONCE! I had it back in early March and then thought I was invincible after I recovered. Not true. Dont be dumb like me.” In a reply, Braxton also confirmed she did have COVID-19 once before. The 27-year-old is a backstage interviewer for SmackDown and a host on WWE’s The Bump.

The admissions come after broadcaster Renee Young said Wednesday night that she had also tested positive.