Former WWE star Kelly Kelly has addressed the reason she did not appear at the all-women’s Premium Live Event Evolution earlier in the year.
Following the success of the inaugural event back in 2018, the company presented the follow-up on July 13, 2025. Along with the stars of the current era showing the world what they can do, there were multiple homages to the past with Nikki Bella in action in the women’s battle royal and Trish Stratus challenging Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship. Additionally, multiple legends were seen in the crowd throughout the night as part of WWE acknowledging the history of the division.
However, ahead of the show, Kelly posted on social media that she would not be at the show in Atlanta, but promised that she would return:
“Thank you love, I was So honored to be invited to Evolution II, to sit in the crowd it just didn’t feel like the right way to come back. I’ll always be proud to have been part of the first, my heart is with every woman in that ring tomorrow. I’ll be back when the time’s right❤️”
Following the statement, rumours began to circulate that the former Divas Champion turned down the appearance as she wanted to have a match. However, according to Kelly, there was a different reason.
Kelly Kelly Reveals Reason For WWE Evolution Absence
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Kelly stated that as she has kids, she has to be selective with which dates she chooses, especially if travel is involved. With the former Divas Champion based in LA and Evolution being in Atlanta, she added that it was not possible to be away from her family that weekend:
“I wanted to talk about this, because it was a thing. So when I got the call, it was in Atlanta, obviously. Again, it was one of the weekends, the only weekend I had off, and my kids, I think they had something going on. And I feel like when I come back, I want my kids to see me there and they wouldn’t been able to make it. I don’t know. There were just a lot of different things that were kind of keeping me from going. Of course, you read the dirt sheets and this is another thing. Somebody on the dirt sheets was like, ‘Oh, somebody in the higher ups said that she only wants to come back if she has a match’, which could not have been farther from the truth. I didn’t need a match to come back. If it was in LA, I would have been there no questions asked. But to fly across the country to do that, like I said in the beginning, with my kids, I’m very picky about what I say yes and no to right now. Maybe when they’re six or seven, and they’re grown or bigger and stuff like that, then I probably would have done it. But it’s just, like I said, that was the one weekend I had off. I didn’t want to get them on a plane and do this. There was just a bunch of different things.”
When asked if the call came last-minute, Kelly confirmed that was the case. When also asked if she would have been in attendance if more notice was given, Kelly responded that it would have been much more likely, and hopes to be in the crowd for a future taping in LA:
“Probably. I would have been able to clear everything and make sure. I think my husband had to work that weekend too, so then I was gonna have to figure out my nanny situation. Like I said, if it was on the West Coast, I could have made it work. I could have figured something out. But my husband was having to work, he’s an engineer. He’s building the underground subways here in LA, and they were doing a night thing, so he was having to work. It was just a lot, and that’s the thing, it had nothing to do with wanting a singles match. WWE knows exactly why I said no, and they were totally [fine with it]. They were like, ‘When we’re in LA, you’ll be there?’ And I’m like, Yes, I will be there. So that was never a conversation like, ‘Kelly has to come back, she has to be in a match.’ Never, never. And it’s like, they [dirt sheets] said, ‘Oh well, the higher up said she hasn’t been in the ring in 13 years.’ When I’ve done battle royals and stuff, I’ve gotten the call a week before, and I got in the ring and I wrestled every day. So it has nothing to do with that. Everybody that I talked to in WWE knows the reason. So it’s just like for people to come out and be like, ‘Oh, she thinks she’s better than sitting in the crowd, and she thinks that she deserves a match.’ No, I would have gladly [appeared in the crowd]. When they came for the Netflix thing. I wanted to go to that, because it was in LA. So it’s just different circumstances that happen, and life, right? At the end of the day, I have to thank WWE for my career. They’re who made me, I wouldn’t have the career that I have if it wasn’t for them. I am so appreciative of them. That’s why I signed a legends deal, and that’s why I still come back all the time. But yeah, I think hopefully a few years down the line, when my kids will be able to sit next to me if I’m in the crowd, and cheer me on.”
Kelly Kelly last competed in WWE as an entrant in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match. It remains unknown whether the former WWE star will have another match.
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