Popular name comments on leaving WWE after 8 years, people sensed she was ready to move on
While the in-ring talents enjoy a large fan following, the other on-screen personnel, such as interviewers, also get over with the WWE Universe. Kayla Becker (fka Kayla Braxton) recently opened up about why she decided to leave the company where she spent eight memorable years.
Kayla began her WWE career in 2016 in NXT and, as years went by, progressed through the ranks and had several roles. In addition to being an interviewer on SmackDown and the host of The Bump, the 33-year-old also featured on Talking Smack alongside Paul Heyman.
Owing to her chemistry with The Wiseman, Kayla Becker's popularity grew among fans as she was a familiar face in the team of TV interviewers.
During a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Becker revealed she left in June 2024 but had considered quitting for a while before her eventual exit.
Kayla Becker's colleagues also were aware that she could be on her way out of WWE, as she recalled below:
"It has been something that has been on my mind for a long time. I was there for almost eight years and did absolutely everything I could possibly do, especially with the position I was in. Even moving out to Los Angeles, I was kind of foreshadowing what was coming, and people even kind of sensed that 'Okay, she is about to move on.'" [1:30 - 1:51]
Considering how long she'd been in WWE and the change of guard over the past year, Becker believed it was the right time to move on to something new.
"It's something I had been thinking about for a long time, but then, as you know, there have been a lot of changes within WWE over the last year, so I just felt like it's kind of now or never." [1:52 - 2:03]
When did Kayla Braxton exactly know she was leaving WWE?
Braxton explained that she'd done everything possible in WWE except commentary, a role she wasn't ready to take on, and had reached a point in her life where she had to make a tough call.
Kayla Braxton's final assignment was the SmackDown episode on June 28. Within days, she was subsequently moved to the alumni section.
Braxton recalled that she'd decided not to resign in May and wrapped up her remaining dates with the promotion before officially starting a new chapter.
"I think it's important for everyone in life when you've got to know when to put the button on something and then move on. But, officially, I would say about a month before the world knew I was leaving was kind of when I decided that I was going to head on." [From 2:04 onwards]
Kayla Braxton was a constant presence on TV in recent years, and a return down the line is always possible, as she left on good terms with the new regime.
Please give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription and credit Denise Salcedo if you use quotes from this article.