Layla Announces Her WWE Retirement

– WWE has announced that Layla is retiring from the company. Layla talked with the company’s website about her decision, thanking the fans for supporting her over the years.

“I feel like deciding to retire from the ring has been a hard decision to make because I’m passionate and I love performing,” she said. “I’ve known everybody in that company now for nine years. They’re family. I spend more time with crew and Superstars and Divas on the roster than I did with anybody else. It becomes part of your life. And not only that, it’s hard walking away from the fans. Part of me feels a little bit guilty for walking away because [WWE fans] are 100 percent loyal and have supported me since 2006. I wouldn’t even have this job if the fans didn’t vote in the Diva Search. I was able to win that competition because of them and I was blessed. But sometimes you just need to step out and take a risk and move onto the next phase in life.”

Layla was part of the third official WWE Diva Search in 2006, winning the contest and a WWE contract. She made her first “official” WWE appearance at SummerSlam 2006 in a backstage segment. During her nine years with the company she won the WWE Women’s Championship, marking her as the last person to hold that title, and the Divas Champion once after pinning Brie Bella at Extreme Rules 2012. She was also the unofficial “co-champion” along with Michelle McCool when they were Team LayCool.