I mean,

as an athlete, I was so, just uneducated and like in how to gain muscle and how to, you know, take care of myself.

And, um, Learned that along the way, which is insane now that I look back at it.

But kind of learned like how to work out five days a week and how to like put muscle on and be comfortable gaining weight so I could gain muscle and like be strong.

And along that way, I really found so much beauty and strength.

And that is like muscle is like my ideal beauty now.

Like that is everything.

Lee.

When you did your comeback, did you feel like you had to prove something to not only your fan base, to WWE Universe, to yourself? Did it feel hard for you in training and what you wanted to get out of the comeback?

Oh, that's a good question.

I almost felt like I was doing it specifically for my fan base for 10 years.

Just show up in the crowd.

Just pop up.

So I felt like I just wanted to give them the classics and, like, kind of, like, do fanservice in that way.

And then once I started getting rolling, I was like, wait, can I do this? Like, can I physically...

How was that transition and what inspired you? I feel like we all know that you loved comic books from a young kid, but what really inspired you to do that transition?

Yeah.

And I know how to like adapt.

I think the hardest thing is, especially this year, has been trying to cope with like the big feelings and like how did i stay balanced you know um a big fear was coming back to the spotlight and like wrestling again yes um my last year wrestling i think we talked about on the last podcast there was so much happening in my life and you're you know you have all these eyeballs on you and really high stakes and high pressure performance um my brain was at my lowest when it seemed like i was on the top of the world as a champion all this stuff so taking 10 years and really taking care of myself and feeling the healthiest i've ever felt then being like okay now go back into wrestling i was really scared like well what's that what's that gonna do what's that pressure gonna do um but i felt so proud of myself for like oh i have the tools now Yeah.

If I can wake up anxious or I can be anxious behind the scenes and about to go out, you know, through the curtain, but I can like, you know, how to work with it.

like a

newbie in wrestling.

And they were like, that's my girl.

They've stuck with me for so long.

But with the way Becky Lynch was able to get the victory, is there anything you want to say about, about the tactics?

I should've known better.

I don't know.

Becky fights dirty, she plays dirty.

I should've, should've seen it coming.

That's on me, right? She calls WrestleMania her home, and she's gonna do anything it takes to win.

She took my title from me, but I don't know, this was still a really special night.

Is this still one of your more memorable moments in WWE?

Hey, the sneak one up-

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[upbeat music]

[laughs]

Thank you.

I moisturize.

Uh, this means the world to me.

You know, I didn't come back to take things easy.

I came back to remind everybody who the hell I am.

[cheering]

So fourth time's gonna have to be the charm, and maybe that's what it's gonna take to get her out of my life.

Yeah

... like, 'cause he's just such a natural, like, star.

Like, you wanna just, like, stare at him, and he's, like, really funny, and he's just, has so, so much charisma, and just, like, captivates the room, like, instantly.

So he's a natural performer, but also as, like, a person, just the best person in the world.

And, like, so pure and so kind.

And especially back then when I wasn't at my healthiest and I felt maybe alone a lot of the times, like, he was maybe one of the only people that really, like, had my back.

And-

Yeah.

Yeah.

I, my goal was not to, uh, I, I, I don't know if I had particular, like, milestone goals.

I think I was just so excited to come back w- to this world when it felt really healthy and really safe and really fun, and just, like, have a blast and have the time of my life.

And, um, I think this, the really fun part was not having those goals and not being like, "I have to do this." I did all the things I wanted to do, um, and I didn't think I was gonna keep adding to the list of accomplishments, and so this is, like, a really pleasant surprise, and I'm very grateful.

And, uh, man, these are some sprinkles on, on top of the sundae right now.

All of these seeds grown, and you're a part of it.

It's surreal.

Uh, because honestly you do just hope, you know, people, everything's better for people who come after you.

How did this moment feel?

So good.

Surreal.

I felt like it took forever to get her to actually tap.

Um, it was the longest moment of my life, just waiting to see if she would give up, and she did.

And it's surreal to, to 11 years later, be a, a champion again.

[laughs]

Sponsored by Chumba Casino.

[laughs]

The option kept coming up, you know, "Is this something that she would be interested in?" And the answer was always, "No, she's done." I think there's this one day where I woke up and it became a maybe, and once it was a maybe, I knew it was a yes.

I retired mostly because I was injured and I didn't have time to take care of that injury, and the physical aspect can take such a toll on your mental health, and I wasn't taking care of either.

And so there was this huge fear, am I still me? Am I still healthy? Am I still safe? And I, I keep coming back for more.

Why Becky?

I, I feel like Becky chose me.

She went after my husband, and I feel like she kinda knew there was a chance that that could maybe get me out of retirement, if anyone.

But I gotta say, like, if it had been almost anyone else, I don't know if I would've wanted to take that challenge.

Yeah.

I, my goal was not to, uh, I, I, I don't know if I had particular, like, milestone goals.

I think I was just so excited to come back w- to this world when it felt really healthy, and really safe, and really fun, and just, like, have a blast, and have the time of my life.

And, um, I think this, the really fun part was not having those goals, and not being like, "I have to do this." I, I did all the things I wanted to do, um, and I didn't think I was gonna keep adding to the list of accomplishments, and so this is, like, a really pleasant surprise, and I'm very grateful.

And, uh, man, these are some sprinkles on, on top of the sundae right now.

Are you starting to, are you starting to feel that a little bit?

I mean, kind of, but I ke- I'm keeping very kind to myself and to my heart, and just saying, uh, "I'm not expecting anything.

I'm not gonna plan too far ahead.

I don't know if that's a-

Yeah, that sounds accurate.

Yeah.

Like, uh, I just love to be on her mind.

I'm constantly on her mind, and I think the mind games have worked the past few months.

I feel like she's not at her best self.

She's really kind of spiraling and losing control, and I'm gonna take advantage of that.

And you did it anyway.

I did it anyway, but the world surprises you, and they were so loving, and so, uh, they embraced it.

And it's interesting because I feel like there's a lot that's, like, correlated with feeling like outcasts and feeling like you don't belong that very much dovetails into, like, the mental health community.

And so in wrestling, I had built this, like, bond with the fans where they, um, were so supportive and loyal and, like, had my back, and it's, it wasn't just because of me.

It was because of the message.

The mission statement was, like, weirdos for the win.

Like, we...

It's a process, right?

[laughs]

Um, it is the most meaningful thing I could ever do is connect to my fans, particularly young women, and connect on the mental health topic.

It's the greatest thing I will ever do in my life.

Um, I was built to take your stories on and be a part of your journey, and just help you realize that you are not alone.

But I hope my fans know that in my hard times, they helped me feel not alone.

So that bond is really strong.

Um, in the industry, it's surreal to see that all those girls in the locker room-

Is that something that you've noticed in your short time back already?