Remember Layla?
The 2006 Diva Search winner was one of the more prominent names during the diva’s era. Most notably, fans who watched during that period would connect her with Michelle McCool; the duo was essentially a Beautiful People knockoff, but once the 47-year-old branched out and did her own thing then she was really able to showcase how much of an accomplished wrestler she really is.
After holding the Diva’s Championship on several occasions, Layla eventually retired in 2015. Since then, Layla has been relatively quiet and out of the public eye. She explained during an interview with Scott Fishman of wrestlinginc in 2021 that she simply didn’t want the WWE lifestyle anymore:
"I was getting older. I'm mid-life right now. Those days are gone," she added. "You get to a point as a woman, it's really hard to age in the public eye. It really is. I didn't want that for myself. I didn't want to go out there. I stayed too long. I think I should have maybe retired three years before I did. That was the thought process for me. I didn't want to get hurt. I didn't want to get injured. In my head, I was kind of nervous. My time was gone. I loved it. I appreciated it, but my time has passed. You have to accept that and move on."
In another interview with No Name Wrestling Podcast, Layla looks back on her career and any regrets she's had. The former Diva’s Champion had several things on her list, but her most surprising was not joining the Total Divas cast:
"I've said it before, I did want to be on 'Total Divas...' I'm sad I didn't accomplish [it], but it was the end of my, you know, the end of my career," El stated. "I regret taking the title when I came back from an injury. I shouldn't have done that. I regret that I didn't change my character much. I feel like I should have came back with a better character...I think I was just so happy that I was over that injury, you know what I mean? I didn't do the work, I think, to make myself a better character and a bigger Superstar."
It’s nice that Layla feels that she could’ve developed her character better, but that was ultimately up to Vince McMahon and creative so she shouldn’t feel too bad. Layla was one of the better workers during the Diva’s era and hopefully someday, she will make another WWE appearance.
With the Royal Rumble around the corner, anything is possible and Layla has stated that she would be game to be in the rumble if she was asked. Check out the full interview where the former WWE star continues to reflect on career.