Cora Jade, known now by her previous wrestling name Elayna Black, shared her emotional experiences following her WWE release during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show. As she prepares for her return to the independent wrestling scene, she addressed her exit from WWE, detailing how it unfolded and the significant challenges, including body shaming issues, she faced behind the scenes.
Early Signs and Difficult Conversations Leading to WWE Exit
Elayna Black revealed she suspected her WWE journey was nearing its end months before her official release, tracing back to feelings that started in November following her recovery from knee surgery. Returning to wrestling after the injury was unlike anything she had previously encountered, especially since she didn’t have a background in sports or prior major injuries. There was a particular conversation with an unnamed individual in the company that made her realize the atmosphere had shifted, though she emphasized her positive experiences with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and others in leadership.
“Coming back from a knee injury was crazy. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I didn’t play sports before wresting, so I never had a major injury that I had to come back from. Even just getting a month after that and feeling like I was in a good place, I had a conversation with somebody, who I won’t name, but someone I kind of feel I would have had a better experience there if it wasn’t for — not Shawn [Michaels] or Hunter [Triple H] or anybody, I can’t praise them enough — but there was a conversation with somebody where I was like, ‘Okay, this is probably going to be weird in a few months,’ and it was.” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
Despite these uneasy feelings, Black continued to dedicate herself fully, showing up every day and helping out backstage with Roxanne Perez, connecting them with their roots in independent wrestling.
“I was there every day. I was cleaning up the locker room with Roxanne [Perez] after the shows because we’re from indie wrestling and that’s what you do. Until the day I was gone, that’s just what you do.
“You can always look at it and think what you can do different, but at the end of the day, I feel comfortable in the fact that I got to do so much stuff with my best friend and so many of my best friends, and I feel confident that I stood on my morals and things I spoke up about that maybe other people wouldn’t have.” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
Body Shaming Issues and the Impact on Mental Health
In a deeply personal account, Black recalled her struggles with harsh comments about her body that began when she joined WWE at just 19 years old. She explained that ongoing remarks about her size and appearance, including statements suggesting she couldn’t be a champion due to her physique, took a psychological toll. Despite her commitment to fitness — even attending rigorous strength and conditioning classes — Black still faced doubts and criticism from others about her work ethic and physical presence.
“I’ll say this because I did put it out there; the body shaming stuff. I don’t want this to be a bash WWE because it was my dream and still is my dream. I have no doubt, maybe one day in the near future, I’ll be there again, but it is what it is… I definitely think things could have went differently if it wasn’t for certain things, like the body shaming thing.
“I came in at 19-years-old. I was 110 pounds and so small. It was constant comments, whether it was guys who think they’re being funny or — I’m not going to name names, but I remember specifically being told that I wasn’t, and wouldn’t be champion in that company because I look like I couldn’t crack an egg…
“Multiple conversations about my body. I don’t think anyone, especially a man, should be saying that to a female — especially because I was so young. It created a lot of issues for me, body-wise. I gained so much muscle after that. I worked my ass off.
“I would go to the strength and conditioning classes, which, in my opinion, are more geared towards college athletes and people coming in from college and working on that kind of strength & conditioning. It never felt like it was doing anything for my body. If you guys are yelling at me for how I look, but you’re not really helping me out in the strength & conditioning that I need, then I would just go to my other gym afterwards. I was working my ass off.
“Seeing that [report about released talents not training hard] — if you only knew what I dealt with and how much I had to progress because of those things. People say so much and when you finally say something back, they’re like, ‘Woah.’ God forbid I say something back.
“Again, I don’t want it to seem like I’m bashing WWE because I loved my time there, I really did. I loved everybody there, but there were certain things and specifics where I’m like, ‘Damn, this is my dream. I didn’t go to college. I dropped out of high school at 15 and did a year online so I could start wrestling training.’ I don’t know anything else. It is defeating when things like that happen. You can only look at it as, ‘things happen for a reason’. That’s how I feel.” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
Work Ethic and Struggles with Creative Opportunities
Black argued against the perception that some recently released talent, herself included, were let go for being lazy or lacking motivation. She described how she regularly contributed ideas and attempted to engage with the WWE creative team but was frequently dismissed. Despite her efforts to connect and improve her standing, opportunities did not materialize as she hoped, leading to growing frustration and eventually resignation to her situation.
“The weird thing is, if you guys only knew how often I was going in with ideas that were never used, how often I was going in and talking and trying to make connections… I was just constantly shut down or just ‘Oh, we’ll get to it, we’ll get to it.’
“I feel I tried as much as I could have. It kind of gets to the point where I kind of throw my hands up. It’s like, what more do you want from me?” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
Personal Trauma, Injuries, and Mental Recovery
In addition to the professional challenges, Black revealed she was dealing with significant personal health issues during her tenure in WWE. In January 2023, she underwent emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy that nearly took her life. The subsequent recovery included not only physical healing but also contending with postpartum depression — a struggle made more complex by the circumstances of her surgery and her young age at the time. Throughout this period, she made personal decisions about her health and appearance, including undergoing breast augmentation, to support her mental and emotional well-being.
“I’ve never talked about this, and it’s a very personal thing, but I want to say it. If you only knew what I was going through, you’re pretty messed up if that’s what you’re saying to me.
“In January 2023 — late January —I was supposed to wrestle Lyra Valkyria on TV on Tuesday. Long story short, I ended up in emergency surgery in hospital the night before. Literally almost dying and bleeding out because I had an ectopic pregnancy that had failed and it exploded and made me internally bleed. I was rushed into emergency surgery because I was this close [holds fingers close together] to bleeding out.” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
“I was bummed about missing Stand & Deliver — ‘I can’t miss Stand & Deliver’. Nothing has ever happened to me like that before. I never realized the effects of it. After I came back those few months, I was the most mentally depressed I have ever been in my entire life.
“I remember calling one of the WWE doctors and being like, ‘I need to go somewhere. I’m not okay. This is not okay.’ I don’t know what it was because nothing was really wrong, but I learned later, you deal with post-partum depression, and it’s so intense. I was 23 years old and the craziest thing I had ever experienced.
“I went back to work and I was not there mentally. Nothing to do with work — I literally didn’t realize the toll that takes on you as a person. I had always wanted to get my boobs done. I’m not going to sit here and say I didn’t, but I needed to go away and take time off or I don’t know what was going to happen to me. Mentally, I needed to take that time off.
“I did that in my time off. That’s what I chose to do. I took that time, I was out for a month and half, and I got [her breasts] done and that was three months. I took that time to get myself mentally right. I felt good. I was ready to go. I was so excited. I felt good mentally, physically, and emotionally. It was probably the best I ever felt. Then, I came back, I had just went through a really bad break up, it was my birthday, and I tore my knee. It was back to back to back. I was so excited and ‘boom, boom, boom.’” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
Details on Her Release and Immediate Support System
When asked about the nature of her release, Black said that WWE’s response was minimalist, offering only the explanation that it was a company decision. She did not contest the decision, choosing instead to accept it and move forward. Upon receiving news of her departure, she reached out to CM Punk, someone she has referred to as an influential figure and mentor. At the WWE Performance Center, she was associated with Punk’s group and maintained strong relationships with colleagues like Roxanne Perez.
“I asked. I said, ‘Is there a specific reason or budget cuts?’ because that’s what they typically say. They said, ‘It was a company decision.’ I’m not going to sit there and argue with them. It is what it is.” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
Considering a Future with AEW After WWE
Although departing WWE was a setback for Black, she expressed openness to new opportunities, particularly with AEW—where she had previously appeared in a few matches. She praised the company for its creative freedom and noted the presence of many friends within the roster. Black indicated she is eager to explore new possibilities and is optimistic for what comes next, regardless of where her wrestling journey takes her.
“I would definitely be open to going to AEW. I loved my time there. I have a lot of friends there. I watch all the shows. I love the fact that they have as much creative freedom as they do. I’m so much for storylines and character, so I feel like they are very like creatively free in that way.” —Elayna Black (Cora Jade), Wrestler
What Lies Ahead for Cora Jade/Elayna Black
As Cora Jade embarks on her next chapter outside WWE, her candid revelations highlight the personal and professional adversity faced in her wrestling career, including both the emotional scars from body shaming and the physical aftermath of serious health complications. Her passion for wrestling, courage in sharing her struggles, and optimism for future prospects—including the possibility of joining AEW—stand out as defining traits as she steps back into the independent circuit. The wrestling community now awaits her next moves with keen interest, as she continues her journey fueled by resilience, ambition, and unwavering dedication.
