When I write these articles, I feel like all I talk about is my emotional state towards professional wrestling. So buckle up, I’m here again to once again talk about myself, and my evolution. Two weeks ago, I reintroduced myself to the wrestling world as Kayla Jaye. Therefore, I wanted to talk about what that means to me because I’m sure there are a few people who are curious as to why that needed to happen.
In the beginning, just a few short years ago, I started training to become a professional wrestler. I always did wonder what my name would be when I stepped into the ring for the first time. Who doesn’t? Especially if you grew up watching wrestling, or an adult still watching, you always think about your wrestling name. Don’t lie to me, you definitely have. I always figured I would use my own name, and that would be it for me. So when I started, and my trainer kept insisting I choose gimmicky names, I remember thinking “Oh no, I don’t like any of these.”
My whole first year of wrestling, it felt like I was wrestling as someone who wasn’t me. It felt like I was going through the motions of a wrestler, like a robot human. Doing what I should do, rather than what I wanted to do. Sometimes when you watch a wrestler, you can tell they aren’t comfortable. My whole first year, I was always thinking, “what are you even doing here?” This probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was learning everything about wrestling, while simultaneously learning whom I wanted to be in the ring.
Flash-forward to the next year, in my evolution I was in the same position as before. However, KJ Kash was “dead”, and replaced by Envy. This was my year of pure growth in wrestling. Don’t get me wrong, you’re constantly learning and growing in wrestling. However, this was the year I decided to step out and just wrestle. I partnered with one of my closest friend in the business Pride (FKA Jack Pride). We worked more shows and partnered in numerous different promotions. Along the way, I learned about the business and the numerous personalities associated with it.
Having a partner in wrestling helped me in more ways than none. It meant everything to me, especially when I am still learning. Having someone who consistently is watching my matches, and providing feedback was the most important thing in the world to me that I didn’t realize I needed. In addition, having a partner around to throw ideas at, but also to travel with, is priceless. So thank you, Pride. Thank you for always being there for me, in the year I needed it most.
Now that Pride and Envy have parted ways, the road is wide open. Any time something ends, and another begins, it’s a blank slate. It is a new opportunity to create something new and different. That is why I decided that is was now Kayla Jaye’s time to enter the scene.
Kayla Jaye represents finally being able to be what I want, along with everything I want to accomplish in wrestling. Kayla Jaye is the fresh pasture that I wanted myself to walk through but didn’t know I needed until I did.
I think that need “hit me” last weekend. My match was in the first half of the show, so I escaped to watch the second half behind the crowd. Which meant I needed to walk past the concession stand after intermission to avoid being noticed. I ran into one fan, who I had never met before but had seen some of my matches previously. I will never forget what she said to me, and how she said it. She stopped me and said, “I have never seen you smile so much at a show. You looked like you have never had so much fun during a match.” After that, I realized this will be good for me, and this is what I need. What I need to enjoy wrestling because people recognized that I was enjoying myself, and in turn, they enjoyed watching my evolution.
So I wanted to thank that lady that stopped me. I don’t know if you will ever read this, but that statement alone meant more to me than you probably thought. This was my evolution.
