One of the voices of WWE’s time with the company has come to an end, with Kayla Braxton announcing that she’s leaving the pro wrestling giant.
Braxton’s final show will be Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown, which will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“After nearly 8 years holding the microphone on WWE television, I am setting it down to pursue my next chapter,” Braxton, whose real name is Kayla Becker, wrote on X. “Next week at the world’s most famous arena, I will officially be signing off.
“During my years with WWE, I was able to master the arts of the backstage interview. I hope I was able to turn minutes into moments for you who watched week to week and maybe even ushered in a new fan base. My banter with Paul Heyman became the stuff of legend, and I am so thankful for all he has done to elevate my career. I gained a wealth of knowledge from the Wise man, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”
Braxton noted that she has been “offered new opportunities that will further utilize the skills I gained working for the largest sports entertainment company in the world.” In addition to Heyman, she thanked WWE lead announcer Michael Cole, WWE president Nick Khan and WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
Originally hired by WWE in 2016, Braxton proved to be one of the company’s most versatile announcers. During her time with the company, she served as a ring announcer, backstage interviewer, and host of the weekly program The Bump. As she alluded to, she became well known for her on-air chemistry with Heyman, who routinely antagonized her for her journalistic efforts.
With Braxton headed elsewhere, WWE’s stable of backstage announcers currently includes Jackie Redmond on Raw and Cathy Kelley on SmackDown. As for Braxton, it will be interesting to see where she goes from here, as she is the type of on-air talent who could certainly transcend the pro wrestling world.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.