Pro wrestling gets into your blood, and it’s really hard to get out of the business totally. This is especially true for someone who is as beloved as Kelly Kelly. Fans just may see her wrestle again eventually, because she keeps showing interest.
Kelly Kelly previously stated that she would like to get back in the ring, because she wants her twins to see her wrestle a match.
She doubled-down on that desire as she spoke to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, where she expanded on what she hopes to gain out of her possible return to the ring.
“I really want my twins to see me wrestle. I think it would be so amazing when they’re like four or five. And I don’t even know if they would still [understand], they probably would get it then. But like seeing that’s my mom and they’re sitting in the front row. And I just remember watching Michelle McCool when she came and did into the Rumble and her daughter was sitting there and her daughter’s face was priceless. I want and I’m like, Oh my gosh, because that’s what I want. If you could just see her daughter’s eyes we’re just so big. And she was just like, that’s my mom, so proud. And I just want that moment for me and my twins one day for them to just be like, That’s my mom and just go out there and kick some butt for a few minutes.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zStgtoiecsg
WWE Left Door Open
Kelly Kelly also discussed her decision to retire early from wrestling, noting the toll of constant travel and injuries. She recalled incidents like a knee injury that swelled significantly hours after the initial impact, requiring medical attention. Despite injuries, she continued working, even participating in events like “The Price Is Right” with Bob Barker while dealing with knee issues.
Feeling burnt out and experiencing neck pain, Kelly Kelly expressed her desire for a break, which WWE supported. During this time off, she contemplated pursuing opportunities outside of wrestling, such as modeling and acting. Conversations with Triple H left the door open for a potential return. Eventually, Kelly Kelly received a call informing her of her release from WWE, but it came with a reassurance that she could return in the future.
“I was happy to be at home. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I just was like, kind of burnt out, and I think they could feel that. And here’s the thing with wrestling, your heart has to be in every match. If it’s not you, it’s gonna be sh*t. And I just wasn’t 100% in it at that time. Like, I just was like, I was burnt out. I was tired. I just wanted to be at home. Yeah, and I just think that was just like that moment in time, because I had worked so hard. And I was like, I just need some time.”
She acknowledged that her heart wasn’t fully invested in wrestling at the time of her departure, recognizing the importance of passion in the sport. Ultimately, she viewed her retirement as a necessary break after years of hard work and dedication to wrestling.
Kelly Kelly’s WWE Career
Her career started in the company’s version of ECW, eventually leading to her becoming WWE Divas Champion.
During her six-year tenure as a full-time wrestler from 2006 to 2012, Kelly Kelly achieved significant milestones. She was also working hard to gain exposure for women in WWE during a time when their role on the programming was not what it is today.
She held the WWE Divas Championship once and the WWE 24/7 Championship later on during a cameo appearance after her initial retirement. Additionally, she won a Slammy Award for Divalicious Moment of the Year in 2011, and she was ranked No. 15 in the PWI Female 50 in 2011 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. She retired from in-ring competition the next year.
She has not competed in an official contest since her last singles match on December 8, 2012, during a WWE SmackDown House Show at Linco Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan. In that match, Kelly Kelly emerged victorious over Natalya.
Since her retirement, now known as Barbie Blank, she has made sporadic appearances for WWE, including participating in three women’s Royal Rumble matches, the latest being in 2022. She was also in a Battle Royal at the Evolution pay-per-view in 2018.
Kelly Kelly’s Personal Life
On May 29, 2020, Barbie Blank got engaged to bodybuilder Joe Coba. Their wedding took place on April 9, 2021, in Oak Glen, California.
Then, on March 28, 2023, Blank shared the news of her pregnancy with her first child. By April, she revealed she was expecting twins. Finally, on September 10, she welcomed her son Jaxon Matthew and daughter Brooklyn Marie.
Barbie Blank also appeared on a number of television shows, and was a main cast member of the reality television program WAGS. Her personal life after WWE was also highlighted on that show