Latest news with #WWELiveTryout
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Star Set To Return After Year-Long Injury: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE Raw superstar Kiana James is close to returning to the ring after being out for a year. The report comes from Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The update on James's status indicates her long absence from WWE programming is nearing its end. Meltzer stated, "Kiana James is close to returning." This news signals that her recovery process is in its final stages. WWE fans can expect to see her back on television soon. Kiana James Nears WWE Return James has been out of action since June 2024 following a leg injury. Her last match was on the June 17, 2024, episode of Monday Night Raw. She competed in a Triple Threat Money in the Bank qualifier against IYO SKY and Zelina Vega. The injury, which occurred shortly after, required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation period. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Abrupt Halt to Her WWE Main Roster Push The timing of the injury stalled her career momentum. She was drafted from NXT to Raw just two months earlier in the April 2024 WWE Draft. Before being sidelined, James made her main roster debut with a victory over Natalya. The win positioned her for a solid push on the Raw brand before the injury stopped her progress. Kiana James' Road to Recovery By September 2024, reports confirmed she was dealing with a leg injury. WWE then moved her to its internal miscellaneous roster list, which is standard for injured talent. The initial recovery was expected to take at least six months. More recently, James was reportedly on the verge of being medically cleared and was seen training with Charlotte Flair. During her time in NXT, James made a name for herself with her businesswoman character. She had a notable run as a heel and captured the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Fallon Henley. Throughout her time away, it has been reported that James has impressed many within WWE with her strong work ethic and dedication to her recovery. In May 2025, reports suggested she was on the verge of being medically cleared. Recently, James was seen training with former champion Charlotte Flair, further fueling speculation that her return is imminent. During her tenure in NXT, James made a name for herself with a businesswoman gimmick. She had a notable run as a heel, which included capturing the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Fallon Henley, who would later become a rival. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
"I Lost Myself" - Released WWE Superstar Breaks Silence On Departure
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Priscilla Kelly, known to WWE fans as Gigi Dolin, has shared a deeply personal and emotional reflection on her WWE release. She has also touched on the challenging period leading up to it. Kelly, who was released from her WWE contract on May 2nd, 2025, alongside several other NXT and main roster talents, took to social media on June 1st with a new promo video. The video showed Kelly burning trinkets related to her WWE career. It also included a recreation of the phone call where she received news of her release. In the message, Kelly spoke of feeling like she "had lost everything." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation She elaborated on her internal struggles: "I had everything. Everything I worked so hard for so long to achieve and somewhere along the way, I lost myself. Almost entirely." She continued, "I became a shell of the girl I knew. I didn't even recognize the body I saw in the mirror." COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, revealed a period of profound questioning. "I had asked myself time and time again, did I even love this anymore? I had been through so much in my childhood and in my adult life that I thought surely nothing, and I mean nothing, could break me. But it did," she confessed. "I found myself picking up pieces of my dream, not knowing what glue would be strong enough to put it back together." A significant turning point for Kelly was a serious injury. "Well, it turns out that glue was a torn and flipped meniscus on a Friday morning. I spent every day of my recovery putting myself back together," she explained. This period of rehabilitation seemingly led to a renewed sense of purpose and determination. "I came back with a vengeance and one goal. Show everyone what the hell I'm capable of," Kelly declared. "Break every assumption, every doubt. Bring back a part of me that I thought was dead and work my ass off until... I sat with my thoughts." She ended her reflection on the release with a stark admission: "It had felt like I had experienced a death. Maybe I did." At the time of her release, Kelly was part of an NXT faction with Shotzi (who also recently exited WWE after her contract was not renewed) and Tatum Paxley. Kelly has already had her first post-WWE independent wrestling dates announced, signaling her intent to showcase her capabilities on her own terms in this new chapter of her career. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
