Former WWE Divas Champion Open To Wrestling Return

This one-time WWE Divas Champion isn't ruling out one more match.

by Andrew Pollard
Kelly Kelly
WWE

Could Kelly Kelly return to the ring for one final match? The former WWE Divas Champion isn't ruling it out.

Speaking during an RDP virtual signing over the weekend (via the Wrestling Observer), the topic of a possible pro wrestling return for Kelly came up. The response was a "we'll see", with the 37-year-old noting how she'd like to have her twins be able to watch her wrestle one day. For those wondering, this talk of a wrestling comeback was not specific to just WWE.

With no prior wrestling experience, the real-life Barbie Blank was signed by WWE in 2006 and initially assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling. Originally known as simply Kelly, the Jacksonville native would find herself on ECW TV at just 19 years of age and barely one month after signing with the company, with her soon having her name changed to Kelly Kelly. Given her lack of experience, Kelly would continue to train at OVW while on the ECW roster.

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Kelly Kelly's time with WWE came to an end in September 2012, with her citing neck issues shortly after receiving her release. In terms of title success, June 2011 saw Kelly defeat Brie Bella for the Divas Championship, with her embarking on a 103-day reign with that prize; a reign that was halted by Beth Phoenix at that year's Hell in a Cell PPV.

In the years since that departure, Kelly Kelly has made occasional appearances for WWE, such as competing in the first-ever women's Royal Rumble, being a part of the Evolution PPV, and also winning the 24/7 Title on 2019's Raw Reunion special.

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As of this writing, Kelly Kelly's most recent in-ring outing was at the 2022 Royal Rumble, where she was again an entrant in the titular women's match.

 
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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.