After their departures from WWE last month, Gigi Dolin and Cora Jade have emerged by releasing new promotional material, signaling their intention to revive their wrestling careers on the independent circuit. The announcement of their upcoming matches confirms that both stars are not only addressing their exits from WWE but are embracing this transition as a pivotal moment in their professional journeys, making the phrase
“Gigi Dolin WWE release and independent wrestling return”
particularly significant for wrestling fans and industry observers.
Returning to the Independent Scene After WWE Exit
Priscilla Kelly, known as Gigi Dolin during her tenure with WWE, is set for an in-ring return at the Wrestling Revolver’s Cage of Horrors event scheduled for June 14. In her recently released promo, Kelly is depicted burning mementos from her WWE days while openly reflecting on personal struggles and the emotional cost of her wrestling career. As she looks back on her achievements and hardships, Kelly makes a striking admission:
“I had everything. Everything I worked so hard for so long to achieve. And somewhere along the way, I lost myself. Almost entirely. I became a shell of the girl I knew. I didn’t even recognize the body I saw in the mirror. I had asked myself time and time again, did I even love this anymore? I had been through so much in my childhood and my adult life that I thought surely nothing, and I mean nothing, could break me. But it did.”
—Priscilla Kelly, Wrestler
Processing Release and Personal Turmoil
Kelly’s promo goes on to discuss a difficult rehab from a knee injury suffered last year. The narrative becomes even more poignant as she reenacts learning about her WWE release over the phone. In this emotionally charged segment, she offers another candid statement on the overwhelming sense of loss she endured:
“I sat with my thoughts. It had felt like I had experienced a death. Maybe I did.”
—Priscilla Kelly, Wrestler
The somber visuals are complemented by the haunting melody of The Smiths’ “How Soon is Now?” as Kelly sets her signature “Gigi” leather jacket alight. The promo’s conclusion promises the return of “Hell’s Favorite Harlot Priscilla Kelly” in the summer of 2025, marking a bold new direction for her wrestling persona outside the WWE universe.
Cora Jade (Elayna Black) Asserts Her Own Narrative
Elayna Black, remembered as Cora Jade during her NXT stint, takes a more succinct approach in her comeback video. In the short but impactful promo, Black is seen awakening as if from a trance, clearly referencing the suddenness and disorienting nature of her WWE release. Summoning her established character traits, including a glimpse of her iconic skateboard from her babyface days in NXT, Black declares her intent to shape her future in her own words:
“So, let’s make one thing clear: This was never your story, it was always mine”
—Elayna Black, Wrestler
This declaration is quickly followed by a reveal of her next scheduled match with Black Label Pro on June 14, signaling her immediate re-entry into independent wrestling promotions and underscoring the rapid pace at which she plans to move forward.
Anticipation and Impact on the Next Phase
The return of both Gigi Dolin and Cora Jade to the independent wrestling scene represents more than individual comebacks; it highlights the evolving dynamic between major wrestling organizations like WWE and the broader wrestling industry. Their emotionally raw statements—notably the confessions regarding personal loss and regaining control of their stories—have already resonated with fans across social media, especially those who followed their journeys through NXT and WWE.
As Priscilla Kelly prepares to reinvent herself for a summer 2025 comeback, and Elayna Black gears up for her post-WWE debut with Black Label Pro, both wrestlers are poised to leave a significant mark on the independent circuit. Their choice to confront and address the circumstances of their WWE releases in public signals a new chapter that could influence not just their careers but also the conversation about athlete transitions from top promotions to the independent scene.
