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Layla is retiring from the WWE, ending her nine year run with the company.
The news of her retirement was broken in a WWE.com interview, in which she revealed her reasons for retiring:
“I feel like deciding to retire from the ring has been a hard decision to make because I’m passionate and I love performing. I’ve known everybody in that company now for nine years. They’re family. I spend more time with crew and Superstars and Divas on the roster than I did with anybody else. It becomes part of your life. And not only that, it’s hard walking away from the fans. Part of me feels a little bit guilty for walking away because [WWE fans] are 100 percent loyal and have supported me since 2006. I wouldn’t even have this job if the fans didn’t vote in the Diva Search. I was able to win that competition because of them and I was blessed. But sometimes you just need to step out and take a risk and move onto the next phase in life.”
“I’ve been traveling the world for nine years now and sometimes it’s just time to start the next chapter of your life. Traveling on the road was fun, but the older you get, it takes more time for recovery. I just got tired of the travel part.”
On her future outside of wrestling, Layla expressed hopes about getting back into dance and confirmed rumors that she’s engaged to former WWE developmental talent Richard Young:
“To be perfectly honest, the first two weeks, I’m doing absolutelynothing. [laughs] No, I have stuff that I would like to do. I would maybe like to do some TV stuff, whether it’s in the States or in the U.K. I’ve talked a little bit about maybe going back into my dance background. I’m going to start choreographing and might even go back to the Heat to start choreographing with them.”
“And then, of course, I’m engaged now to my fiancé Richard. We’re going to get married and then later on, in a few years, I want to have some kids and start my family life.”
The full interview, which delves into her hopes for the Divas division and delivers her parting words for the WWE Universe, can be read on WWE.com.
Layla first joined the WWE in 2006, having won the third televised season of the Diva Search. She was the final holder of the Women’s Championship and had one reign with the Divas Championship.
Best of luck to Layla!
What is your favorite Layla moment?
