Former WWE Divas Champion Layla Reveals Why She Walked Away From Wrestling and Lost Herself After Retirement

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Layla has opened up about the difficult transition she experienced after leaving WWE, admitting that her identity had become so closely connected to being a WWE Diva that she eventually felt she had lost herself. The former WWE Women's Champion discussed her post-WWE life during an appearance on TMZ Inside the Ring, explaining why she deliberately disappeared from the wrestling world following her retirement in 2015. Layla said that when she finally left WWE, she realized that being a WWE Diva had become a major part of her identity. "When I left WWE, Layla was like my whole identity was kind of lost," she explained. "I believe my identity was just around that I'm a WWE Diva." After spending nine years in WWE, Layla decided that she needed a complete break rather than immediately pursuing appearances, wrestling-related projects or other opportunities. "When I retired, I literally just disappeared," Layla said. The former Divas Champion explained that she stopped doing everything connected to wrestling because she needed to focus on herself. She acknowledged that her decision may have hurt some relationships within the wrestling industry, with people potentially believing that she had taken her distance personally. "I lost a lot of like wrestling family relationships and that because I think a lot of people took it personally," she said. "But that wasn't... it was nothing about anybody else. It was just about myself." Layla also spoke candidly about another difficult aspect of stepping away from the entertainment industry: getting older after spending years being presented primarily for her appearance. "Growing up, getting older... when you've always been like for your looks and stuff like that, like it was eye candy for a very long time," Layla said. "Getting older as a female, it's tough." Rather than immediately returning to wrestling, Layla said she needed to close that chapter of her life completely. She believes that decision ultimately helped her find herself again. "I needed it for myself," she explained. "I was being very selfish and taking care of me at that time and that's what I needed."

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Former WWE Divas Champion Layla has finally revealed what was really behind one of the most unexpected moments of her WWE career, admitting that her viral interaction with AJ Lee during a 2013 match was completely unplanned. The moment happened during a singles match between Layla and AJ Lee on the May 20, 2013 episode of WWE Raw. AJ ultimately picked up the victory by applying her signature Black Widow submission, but it was what happened during the finish that caught the attention of fans watching at home. After the match reached its conclusion, Layla appeared to tap out while AJ had her trapped in the submission. However, instead of simply tapping the mat, Layla reached toward AJ and appeared to grab her backside. The unusual moment was picked up by the cameras and quickly became one of the more talked-about clips from Layla's WWE run. Contemporary coverage of the match also specifically noted the unusual interaction after Layla's apparent submission. During an appearance on TMZ Inside the Ring, Layla was shown the viral moment and asked whether the spot had been planned beforehand or whether she was simply tapping wherever she could. "No, it was my fault," she admitted. The former WWE Women's Champion explained that she sometimes became so immersed in what was happening inside the ring that she forgot the cameras were capturing every little thing. "I forget the camera's on and I thought that nobody would see that," Layla said. According to Layla, there was no secret WWE plan behind the moment. She was simply trying to mess with AJ and make her laugh while they were working the match. "I was just squeezing her butt, like messing with her," Layla revealed. That explanation gives the moment an entirely different context. What appeared on television to be an unusual part of the submission sequence was actually Layla breaking from the seriousness of the match for a brief joke with AJ. Layla also admitted that she had no idea the cameras had captured the interaction or that fans would eventually turn it into a viral clip. "I didn't even know that people saw it," she said. The former Divas Champion explained that she was particularly surprised because AJ was in an important stage of her WWE career at the time. Layla said she was only trying to make her opponent laugh at the end of the match, rather than intentionally creating a moment that would be replayed by wrestling fans for years. "I was just trying to mess with her, like to make her laugh at the end," Layla explained.

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Raquel Rodriguez has revealed that the skin condition that previously forced her to step away from WWE has not completely gone away, but she has learned to manage it and use the symptoms as a warning sign from her body. Speaking about the condition during her recent appearance on Busted Open, Rodriguez was asked whether she worries about the issue returning and affecting her wrestling career. She explained that she still experiences occasional flare-ups, particularly when her body is under stress. “I've really learned to live with it this past year because it's not like it's fully gone away,” Rodriguez said. “I can talk right now. I have a couple of spots, a couple of rashes that pop up because of obvious reasons.” Rodriguez explained that she has learned to recognize what triggers her symptoms. Stress, poor sleep, an unhealthy diet and traveling can all affect her condition, making her skin something of an early warning system. “When I'm stressed or I'm not eating right or I'm not getting enough sleep or I'm not in my natural environment, my skin tends to show me, you know, hey, you need to bring it back. You need to calm down and you need to relax,” she explained. “And so, my skin has kind of been like my warning sign this past year.” Rather than allowing the condition to prevent her from wrestling, Rodriguez said the experience has forced her to make healthier decisions. She revealed that she now pays closer attention to rest, sleep and her diet and has also reduced her alcohol consumption, particularly while traveling. Rodriguez admitted that dealing with the condition has been difficult, but she believes it has ultimately made her stronger. “I've just learned to live with it and actually because of it I feel like it's made me stronger. It's made me mentally stronger. And it's made me more confident too,” Rodriguez said. The WWE star also revealed that other people have approached her to discuss similar problems and ask how she handles them. That has given Rodriguez another reason to be open about her experience.

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Roxanne Perez believes she may have played a bigger role in John Cena’s retirement than anyone expected. During her appearance on Not Sam Wrestling Live, Perez was asked about her involvement in Cena’s retirement tour and the moment she hit the WWE legend with her Pop Rocks. Rather than simply looking at it as another memorable WWE moment, Perez embraced the idea that she was the one who helped end Cena’s career. “Yeah, you wouldn't have thought that Roxanne Perez would be the one to retire John Cena, right? Cuz it was me. It was me,” Perez said. Perez then joked about the effect her finisher supposedly had on Cena, claiming that the WWE legend was so embarrassed by the moment that he could no longer return to the ring. “He was so embarrassed that he I hit him with a Pop Rocks, he was so embarrassed. He just can't show his face ever again in a wrestling ring,” Perez said. The moment was particularly significant for Perez because Cena was one of the wrestlers she grew up watching. She revealed that one of her earliest memories of professional wrestling was watching Cena face The Rock at WrestleMania. “Honestly, yeah. I mean, uh one of the first memories I have of uh watching pro wrestling, which don't judge me, I was 10 years old and I'm younger than probably all of you guys here, was John Cena versus The Rock Once in a Lifetime,” Perez recalled. Perez then explained why the experience felt so surreal to her, considering how much time had passed between watching Cena as a young fan and eventually sharing the ring with him during his farewell run. “So, the fact that years later 12 years later, actually, I am retiring John Cena, and that just goes to show why they call me the prodigy,” Perez stated. Perez's comments fit perfectly with the confident persona she has adopted in WWE. The former prodigy who once watched Cena as a fan is now comfortable claiming that she helped bring the legendary Superstar's career to an end.

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Roxanne Perez has opened up about her transformation from a young WWE hopeful into one of the company's most confident villains, revealing how her mindset completely changed after she stopped looking up to the stars she once idolized. Perez discussed her character evolution during an appearance on Not Sam Wrestling Live, where she explained that she was once simply happy to be a WWE Superstar. However, she eventually realized that admiring other wrestlers would not help her achieve the level of success she wanted. “I went from being someone that was just happy to be here. I was just like all of you guys sitting in the crowd, just hoping to be a WWE Superstar one day, and looking up to all the wrestlers,” Perez said. Perez specifically mentioned AJ Lee, Bayley and Paige as wrestlers she looked up to when she was younger. Her attitude toward those stars has changed considerably, though, as she now sees herself as someone capable of surpassing the women who inspired her. That change in mindset has also played a major role in her current heel character. Rather than trying to win over the WWE Universe, Perez has embraced her arrogance and believes she is already operating at a different level. “This is the best I've ever felt in my entire career,” Perez said. Her transformation has coincided with her run as a member of The Judgment Day. Perez joined the faction in 2025 and became part of its women's division alongside Raquel Rodriguez. The group has given her a prominent role on WWE's main roster, and Perez believes it has helped her avoid becoming another young talent who gets lost in the shuffle. Perez also defended The Judgment Day against the constant speculation that the faction is heading toward a breakup. She argued that the group's internal disagreements should not be confused with a lack of loyalty. “Families fight, right? Brothers, sisters, parents, kids, we all fight. But that doesn't mean that we won't stick by each other when we need each other,” Perez explained. “We're family. And a win for one is a win for all.” Perez's confidence has now reached the point where she is openly challenging WWE legends. She pointed to her victories over Nikki Bella and made it clear that she wants to face more established names. “Bring me all the legends. Bring them all,” Perez declared. One legend in particular remains on Perez's radar: AJ Lee. When asked why she did not include Lee among the wrestlers she believes she is better than, Perez made it clear that she wants an opportunity to prove herself against the former Divas Champion. “I need my match and then I can prove that I am better than her,” Perez said. Perez's comments show just how far her character has evolved. The wrestler who once watched AJ Lee and other WWE stars as heroes now wants to stand across the ring from them and prove she has surpassed them. Despite her current position in The Judgment Day and her growing confidence, Perez insists that fans have not seen her best yet. “This is not my peak at all. I have so much more to show you guys,” she said.

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World Wrestling Entertainment is continuing to fortify its massive intellectual property catalog, officially submitting a brand-new trademark application that hints at a fresh character debut or a major persona repackage. According to public records from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), WWE filed an application for the term "Andi Summers" on August 14, 2026. The filing was submitted under Goods and Services Class 41, which specifically covers "entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media." WWE routinely locks down rights to unique names weeks—and sometimes months—before they ever debut on television. Historically, filings like this point to a few specific creative directions: As of this writing, no active performer on the WWE, NXT, or Level Up rosters has been publicly assigned the name. However, given the rapid turnaround time between USPTO filings and television debuts, the WWE Universe likely won’t have to wait long to see exactly who will be bringing "Andi Summers" to life. "IC 041: Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment."

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Rey Mysterio has explained why Dominik Mysterio was not included in the ongoing tournament that will determine who gets a chance to face Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship in Mexico City. The tournament features wrestlers from WWE's RAW and SmackDown brands, along with stars from AAA. Rey, who is the general manager of AAA, helped set up the tournament to give young luchadores a chance to compete for a major opportunity. Dominik Mysterio was one name that stood out as an omission. He is currently the AAA Mega Champion, but Rey explained that his son does not have the same lucha libre training as the wrestlers taking part in the tournament. “Well, I could say for one, he has never trained lucha libre,” Rey said. “He could say he's the best luchador. Yeah, he does a couple moves here and there, but his training was always on the American side. He trained in Tampa, he trained in Canada, and he trained, you know, in San Diego.” Rey said that being a luchador means more than simply using lucha libre moves. He believes the training and experience that wrestlers go through from the beginning are an important part of becoming a luchador. “So when you speak about luchadores, you know, born and raised, that's your bread and butter. That's where you began. That's where you got your ass kicked,” Rey explained. “Every time you stepped into the ring, they made you sweat, you threw up, you wanted to get out of the ring, but no, they pulled you back in.” Rey also made it clear that he and Dominik have different views on what makes someone a luchador. “I think my concept of a luchador is completely different from Dom's concept,” Rey said. The interviewer then asked Rey if he was basically saying that Dominik was a fraud. Rey did not agree with that description. “I never said he was a fraud,” Rey said. “But I don't consider him. Let's just say this. I don't consider him the greatest luchador of all time.” The comments are interesting because Dominik has become a major WWE star and is currently the AAA Mega Champion. However, Rey believes that his son's wrestling training is different from that of wrestlers who were trained in lucha libre from the start. For Rey, the tournament is about giving wrestlers with a lucha libre background the chance to prove themselves. That is why he believes Dominik was not the right fit for this particular competition. Rey and Dominik have had a complicated relationship on WWE television in recent years, but this time the issue is not about their family history. Rey was simply explaining why he believes Dominik does not meet his definition of a luchador.

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Rey Mysterio has spent decades defying expectations inside the wrestling ring, but the WWE legend is now openly acknowledging that his career may eventually be approaching its final chapter. Despite remaining active and taking on a new role as AAA's general manager, Mysterio revealed that he has recently found himself asking whether it could finally be time to retire. The subject of retirement has become increasingly relevant in WWE, with several major names from Mysterio's generation recently stepping away from the ring. At SummerSlam, Brock Lesnar announced his retirement, following AJ Styles and John Cena, both of whom also brought their legendary in-ring careers to an end. Mysterio, who was part of WWE's iconic 2002 generation alongside many of those stars, was asked how he views the remaining years of his own career and whether he thinks in terms of matches, years or simply listening to his body. The Hall of Famer admitted that retirement has become something he has genuinely been thinking about. “Man, I honestly, most recently have been battling with, ‘Is it getting close to my time to retire?’” Mysterio said. “I certainly don't feel like I am, like my body is saying, ‘Okay, now it's time.’ And I always like to listen to my body.” Mysterio's comments suggest that while retirement is now part of his thinking, he does not believe he has reached that point yet. The 51-year-old continues to enjoy wrestling and has also embraced his position as AAA's general manager, where he has been focused on helping younger luchadores receive opportunities. That new responsibility has given Mysterio another reason to remain involved in the business, even as he recognizes that the spotlight eventually has to move toward the next generation. “I am enjoying the position of being AAA's GM and seeing young rising stars come up in the game,” Mysterio explained. “But at the end of the day, it's like, man, I really enjoy what I do on every level. Obviously, I enjoy wrestling a lot more than being behind the cameras.” Mysterio also acknowledged the reality that opportunities become more limited as a wrestler gets older. Rather than viewing that as something negative, however, he appears comfortable with allowing younger performers to take their turn. “I do understand that opportunities are very little. And there's others that are gonna come before me right now because it's time to make or to give the spotlight to other superstars, especially in the lucha libre world,” Mysterio said. “So I am okay with that.” For Mysterio, walking away may not necessarily be something that comes after a carefully planned final match or a specific number of years. Instead, he suggested that the decision could arrive unexpectedly when he feels the time is right. “And I think as far as tapping out, you know, never say never, but it can just pop up one day just out of nowhere and say, ‘Okay, now it's time,’” Mysterio said.

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Trick Williams has quickly established himself as one of WWE's most outspoken Superstars, but his confidence has been put to the test whenever he finds himself trading words with CM Punk. Now, Williams has explained why he believes he can stand toe-to-toe with one of the most respected talkers in wrestling history. The verbal tension between Williams and Punk has grown as both Superstars have crossed paths on SmackDown. Punk has made it clear that he is willing to answer challenges from anyone looking to step up to the Undisputed WWE Championship, with Williams among the names mentioned as a potential challenger. Williams has also made no secret of his ambition. Following his rise to the main roster, he has increasingly found himself sharing the spotlight with established stars, including Punk and Cody Rhodes. His confidence has only grown as he has become a regular part of major SmackDown storylines. However, when asked what it is like to trade bars with Punk, Williams did not back down. Instead, he acknowledged Punk's reputation while making it clear that he believes his own ability to talk trash comes from somewhere much deeper than wrestling. “CM Punk is one of the greatest of all time, and he's proven that. You know, he's had his legendary moments when talking the trash talking,” Williams said. “But, you got to understand, Shaq, I come from a long, long line of trash talking who's been passed down from my cells. You know, since a little kid, it's in my DNA to talk trash like only Trick Williams can.” Williams' comments underline an important part of his character. His confidence on the microphone is not something he believes he developed simply after entering WWE. Instead, he views trash talking as part of his personality and something that has been passed down through his family. That is why Williams does not appear intimidated by the experience gap between himself and Punk. While Punk can point to decades of professional wrestling experience, Williams believes that experience does not automatically make him the superior trash talker. “So, if CM Punk thinks that he's ready because he has 30 years of wrestling and WWE experience, he has to understand, my trash talk goes back for decades and decades, you know, all the way back to times that none of us was born,” Williams continued. “So, you know, I'm that level of trash talker.” The comments come at an interesting point in Williams' WWE career. He has already established himself as one of SmackDown's most entertaining personalities, while his United States Championship reign helped elevate his profile even further. WWE has repeatedly placed him in programs and segments alongside some of its biggest names, reinforcing the company's confidence in his ability to hold his own.

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The Undertaker has shared the ring with some of the biggest names in WWE history, but for Trick Williams, standing across from the legendary superstar carried a very different kind of weight. Williams has now revealed what The Undertaker told him immediately before delivering a chokeslam during their memorable confrontation. The moment came after Williams had taken a verbal shot at The Undertaker, seemingly unaware of just how quickly the situation could turn physical. The segment eventually ended with The Undertaker dropping Williams with a chokeslam, but the former United States Champion revealed that what happened immediately beforehand made the moment even more memorable. Speaking with Shak Wrestling, Williams explained that he had not spoken to The Undertaker beforehand about the comments he was going to make. He simply went out and delivered the line, hoping to see how the WWE legend would respond. “That's some of my most risky work because I mean, true backstory on that, I did not talk to him before, you know, saying this. So I just threw it out there just to see how he was going to respond,” Williams said. Williams recalled that The Undertaker responded by telling him, “Trick, I'm going to make you famous,” before following up with a chokeslam. The moment was particularly significant for Williams because The Undertaker had been someone he was genuinely afraid of while growing up. “He said, ‘Trick, I'm going to make you famous,’ and he gave me a chokeslam,” Williams recalled. Rather than viewing the incident as something embarrassing, Williams described it as an unforgettable experience. He explained that hearing The Undertaker's iconic entrance music and suddenly finding himself in the ring with one of his childhood heroes caused his nerves to spike. “I remember hearing that gong when his music drops. And my heart dropped all the way to my calves,” Williams said. “I was like, ‘Oh shoot, this is really happening.’ You know, this is your whole childhood.” Williams then revealed just how much The Undertaker's character had affected him when he was younger. He admitted that while playing wrestling video games as a child, The Undertaker was the one character he would avoid selecting because he was genuinely terrified of him. “True story, playing a video game as a little kid, he was the one character I would never select because I was terrified of The Undertaker,” Williams explained. “So to be there in the ring with him 20 years later or whatever the case is, 25, that's insane.” The encounter ultimately became more than just another WWE segment for Williams. It represented a full-circle moment in which a wrestler who once intimidated him as a child was now standing across the ring from him as a WWE veteran. Williams also revealed that despite taking the chokeslam, the interaction ended on a positive note. According to the former United States Champion, there were smiles afterward, leading him to believe that he had earned The Undertaker's respect. “I think I earned his respect that night,” Williams said.

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Jacob Fatu has opened up about the advice Randy Orton gave him shortly before his WWE debut, recalling how surreal it was to see one of his childhood wrestling heroes backstage on the biggest day of his career. During his appearance on What’s Your Story with Steph McMahon, Fatu discussed his first experiences inside WWE and the support he received from several established stars. Fatu recalled being backstage shortly before his debut when he saw Orton standing in Gorilla position. “So right before my debut, we're walking out. It's the biggest day of my life. And Randy's right there in gorilla,” Fatu said. Despite being on the verge of making his own WWE debut, Fatu admitted that he was still a fan when he saw Orton. “I don't really know Randy like that,” Fatu recalled. “But I'm like, dude, he's hella big. This is Randy Orton, man.” Fatu explained that he has always been a fan of professional wrestling and believes that genuine passion for the business is important. “I'm a fan at the end of the day,” Fatu said. “And if you not a fan of what you love to do, this ain't your job. You're doing the wrong thing.” Fatu then revealed the advice Orton gave him as he prepared to begin his WWE career. According to Fatu, Orton wanted to help him adjust to life inside WWE and gave him some straightforward advice about handling his finances. “Randy told me this, like, hey, man, because I love your Uncle Umaga so much, in order for me to help y'all to tap back in, I'm gonna tell you right now, save your money and pay your taxes.” The advice came at an important point in Fatu's life. After a difficult journey to WWE, he was finally getting the opportunity he had dreamed about, and he was entering a locker room filled with experienced performers. Fatu has previously spoken about the support he received after joining WWE, particularly from members of his family and established stars. He said the experience had been filled with “love and respect” since he arrived.

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Shinsuke Nakamura has officially put the new WWE Tag Team Champions on notice, while also teasing the arrival of a mystery partner. Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga captured the WWE Tag Team Championship on the August 14 episode of SmackDown, defeating Damian Priest and R-Truth and The War Raiders in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match. The victory marked a major moment for the MFTs, but they did not have much time to celebrate. Following the show, WWE released an exclusive video featuring Nakamura addressing the new champions. The Japanese star congratulated Tama and Talla on their victory but immediately warned them that their championship reign could be coming to an end. Nakamura also revealed that he will not be coming after the MFTs alone. He told the champions that his partner is on the way and suggested that the mystery star possesses qualities he believes Tama and Talla only pretend to have. “MFTs, congratulations. You are now the champions. Are you savoring the feeling, knowing it'll be gone soon?” Nakamura then turned his attention toward his mystery partner, describing the person as experienced, vicious and deadly. He also made it clear that the individual will bring an unpredictable element to the rivalry. “My partner is what you all pretend to be. Experienced, vicious, deadly.” Nakamura's final warning was perhaps the most intriguing part of the message. He described his upcoming partner as “chaos” and a “ticking time bomb,” before telling the champions to prepare themselves. “He is chaos. He's a ticking time bomb. Take cover.” Nakamura did not reveal the identity of his partner, leaving fans to speculate about who could be joining him in the fight against the new champions. His description has already led to speculation about Hiromu Takahashi, who is famously known as “The Ticking Time Bomb.” However, WWE has not officially confirmed that Takahashi is the person Nakamura was referring to.