Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round for a tale as old as time: a beloved figure steps away from the limelight to explore uncharted territories. Yes, after nearly eight years of adding sparkle to the WWE broadcast team, Kayla Braxton has left the building. Announced on June 22 via her social media accounts, Braxton expressed gratitude for her time at WWE and excitement for the future. In a classic case of the pen running out of ink, her WWE contract had expired, leaving her on a verbal agreement until the end of June.
Now, for those of you with an ear to the ground, rumors about her departure have been swirling faster than a tornado in a trailer park. Enter Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who provided some juicy backstage intel. According to Meltzer, one source revealed that Braxton saw the proverbial writing on the wall. With WWE higher-ups favoring Jackie Redmond and Cathy Kelley as the top backstage interviewers, Braxton sensed her days were numbered. She’s now set her sights on Los Angeles, eager to explore new opportunities and bask in some well-deserved downtime.
Despite the rumor mill working overtime with whispers of a potential jump to AEW, Braxton herself squashed those speculations with a social media smackdown. She clarified that if she wanted to stay in wrestling, she wouldn’t be leaving WWE. So, for now, the squared circle will have to wait, as Braxton ventures beyond the ropes and into new adventures.