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 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 and kaitlyn were simply ahead of their time with this storyline, i was obsessed pic.twitter.com/UsSxnmduMp
Luke Menzies, the wrestler formerly known as Ridge Holland, continues his media tour.
In an interview with Branson Quirke of TMZ, he detailed the injury suffered in a match against Moose in TNA. He also detailed what his recovery process will look like, and commented on WWE releasing him from his contract.
“I had what’s called a Lisfranc injury,” Menzies said. “Basically, it’s like a dislocation of the midfoot. The ligament that holds the midfoot together got ruptured. So what they do, they go in and put two screws in there and bring the foot back together. And it’s tedious. It’s a tedious process because there’s not a lot of blood flow that gets to that area. It’s weight-bearing as well. It’s probably a seven-month recovery … but there can be complications. So right now I’m in a boot. I’ve just started light weight bearing, and then … I’ve been doing a bit of the [physical therapy] at the [Performance Center], but right now it’s been outsourced to somewhere close to my home, so we can start rocking and rolling.”
Menzies is also likely to undergo neck fusion surgery, saying he has been dealing with tingling in his arms for some time now.
Menzies also addressed the way WWE released him early from his contract after originally telling him his contract would not be renewed.
“The most recent thing was definitely down to, I think, my outburst on Twitter,” Menzies said. “So I’ve got to take responsibility for that. I just needed to vent and I didn’t go about it the right way. We all signed a contract. Unfortunately, in that contract there is a termination clause, and I breached that. So that’s a responsibility that I have to take. … WWE, with the contract I signed, are within their rights to do that. As much as people want to point a finger at The Dub, you probably want to point the other three fingers at myself.”
A Hulk Hogan documentary will air on Fox next week.
TMZ announced that they will air their documentary titled ‘The Real Hulk Hogan’ next Tuesday, August 12 at a 9 pm ET. Notably, in their announcement it was said that an interview with Vince McMahon will be part of the documentary, along with interviews from current WWE stars.
The full list of interviews include Sylvester Stallone, Vince McMahon, Mick Foley, Bill Goldberg, Jimmy Hart, Alexa Bliss, Jacob Fatu, and Charlotte Flair.
TMZ Presents: The Real Hulk Hogan premieres Tuesday, August 12 (8:00-9:00PM ET/PT) on FOX.
With interviews from Sylvester Stallone, Vince McMahon, Mick Foley, Bill Goldberg, Jimmy Hart with additional interviews from WWE Superstars including Alexa Bliss, Jacob Fatu and… pic.twitter.com/sIa0pFcAqj
If new, this would mark the first time McMahon has made public comments since he resigned from TKO in January of 2024. He has only released statements through social media since then. Hogan died on July 24 at the age of 71 from cardiac arrest following complications from neck fusion surgery.
Another documentary on Hogan’s life, titled ‘The Life of Hulk Hogan’ aired on Fox Nation last week with interviews from Goldberg and The Hardys. A Netflix docuseries has also been in the works since 2024, with no release date set.
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
An update on the WrestleMania card after Super Showdown with 11 currently decided upon matches and five or six others in discussion is covered in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The lead story updates how the coronavirus has affected Japanese pro wrestling as well as Japanese culture. We talk about sports and entertainment cancellations, the shows new Japan Pro Wrestling has canceled, the prospects for this year’s New Japan Cup, an update on Stardom,DDT,Dragon Gate, All Japan, NOAH and other Japanese companies on what shows are on and off. We look at if New Japan can still save the New Japan Cup, history of New Japan Cup winners vs. G-1 winners taking the IWGP title, an a breakdown of the original tournament plans.
The new issue also covers:
Plans and background of the coming WrestleMania, as well as Super Showdown coverage with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
A feature on Manabu Nakanishi’s career and coverage of his retirement show this past week. We look at the difference between Nakanishi and Jushin Liger, Nakanishi’s amateur wrestling days, Nakanishi’s shoot fighting days, Nakanishi in WCW, the Nakanishi heyday and the past decade. We note the major surgery that nearly ended his career ad slowed him down, and some of the all-time greats comment on Nakanishi.
The major matches in the New Japan ring over the past week.
WWE television deals, WWE Network price change, XFL ratings, Samoa Joe suspension, New WWE international signing, WWE injury updates, Canadian TV ratings, Ric Flair’s 71st birthday, how much Raw has fallen in four yeas, Edge’s return,NXT Takeover notes, Evolve news for WrestleMania week with WWE talent, Australia tour, stock value, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a look at every WWE arena event over the past week with business notes and highlights.
A preview of the AEW PPV and full coverage of the UFC show in Auckland, New Zealand.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
The Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai steel cage match will open tonight’s NXT. There will be two cage matches on the show, with Velveteen Dream also set to take on Roderick Strong.
WWE posted a video where Isaiah “Swerve” Scott challenged Austin Theory for tonight’s show.
Advertised for WWE’s 3/22 Madison Square Garden event is Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton, Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, Street Profits and Ricochet vs. AJ Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows and a four way eight man elimination tag bout featuring Seth Rollins, Murphy and the AOP against Kevin Owens, Aleister Black and the Viking Raiders. Andrade, Zelina Vega, Shayna Baszler, Natalya and Bobby Lashley have also been announced.
WWE has filed trademarks for “Left Right Left Right,” “LRLR,” and “LEFTRIGHTLEFTRIGHT.”
WWE has an extra from the upcoming FCW documentary featuring Baron Corbin and Steve Keirn.
Other Wrestling
Real Japan Pro Wrestling chairman Sinma Kotobuki is saying that the first Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, is suffering from a condition “close to Parkinson’s disease”.
TMZ wrote a story on MJF flipping off a seven-year-old. This upset the parent, who raised the issue to Cody Rhodes. Cody responded by inviting the family to a future event but also warned to not expect characters to act any differently than they do on television.
A special on Total Nonstop Action (TNA) ahead of the There’s No Place Like Home reunion event will air on March 31st at 10 p.m. ET on AXS.
PWInsider is reporting that Teddy Hart is back in jail after being arrested in Richmond, Virginia today. No further details on the arrest are known at this time.
The ticket sale for ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds has been pushed back to Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. for Honor Club members and March 13 at 10 a.m. local time for the general public.
