Former WWE Superstar Kelly Kelly is one of the most beautiful women to ever step inside a WWE ring. She made her WWE debut at just 19 and went on to become one of the most successful female superstars of her era, winning the WWE Divas Championship in 2011.
Kelly is one of those WWE Divas who were widely appreciated by the WWE Universe for the immense improvement that they showed in their in-ring skills. This came during an era when women were not primarily known for their in-ring acumen and were not given proper opportunities to hone their craft. Let us learn more about Kelly Kelly, who has been immensely loved by WWE fans throughout her WWE career and beyond.
Early Life & Real Name
Kelly Kelly was born on January 15th, 1987, in Jacksonville, Florida. Since childhood, Kelly Kelly has shown a huge interest in gymnastics and cheerleading. She used to watch wrestling with her dad on TV. The Jacksonville native cited Stone Cold Steve Austin as her favourite WWE Superstar growing up.
It’s not just that she looks like a Barbie doll; in fact, her real name is Barbara Jean Blank. Speaking of Kelly’s education, she graduated from Englewood High School and then attended Florida Community College, where she studied broadcast journalism and later began her career in modelling.
Romantic Life
After joining WWE, Kelly started dating fellow WWE wrestler Test, with whom she was in a relationship for over two years and would split up a few months before Test passed away in 2009.
In 2011, Kelly Kelly started dating ice hockey player Sheldon Souray, and the duo got married in 2016. However, just after a year, the couple split. In 2020, Kelly Kelly got engaged to bodybuilder Joe Coba, and on April 9th, 2021, the duo got married in Oak Glen, California. On September 10th, 2023, Kelly gave birth to twins, a son and a daughter.
WWE Debut
While pursuing modelling in 2006, Kelly Kelly was noticed by then-top executive official John Laurinaitis. WWE then contacted Kelly’s modeling agency to invite her for a tryout, and despite having no wrestling experience prior, she was signed by WWE in 2006.
Kelly Kelly would make her WWE TV debut on their revamped ECW brand on June 13, 2006, as one-third of ECW’s Extreme Expose Troupe with Layla and Brooke. Initially, she was named ‘Kelly’; however, Vince McMahon expanded her ring name to Kelly Kelly since he felt it had a nice ring to it.
Rise to the Top & Championship Victory
In 2008, Kelly Kelly was moved to WWE RAW, and it was then that she started getting more opportunities to wrestle. Throughout the next couple of years, Kelly Kelly was involved in some major feuds with the likes of Laycool & also the only woman to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship when she teamed up with Edge against Michelle McCool and Dolph Ziggler. Kelly Kelly would also get some opportunities on both RAW & SmackDown to win the championships, but she was unsuccessful in them.
In 2011, Kelly was the most popular Diva on the entire roster. On a special ‘Power to the People’ edition of Monday Night RAW, the fans chose Kelly to face Brie Bella for the WWE Divas Title. On that fateful night, Kelly would finally earn the gold in the WWE for the first time after defeating Brie for the Divas Title.
WWE Release & Future Appearances
After winning the Divas Title, Kelly Kelly would go on to have one of the finest divas rivalries of all time when she collided with Beth Phoenix for the championship. After over a year of losing her title, Kelly Kelly would request her release from the WWE.
After her release from the WWE, she made several appearances. Her first WWE appearance after her release came in 2017. Then, she attended the RAW 25 Years Special show, and until now, she has participated in three Women’s Royal Rumble matches and also became the first woman to win the now defunct WWE 24×7 Championship.
What do you think of the lifestyle of the former Divas Champion Kelly Kelly? Do you think she will return to the WWE? Share your thoughts in the comments!