Cora Jade, formerly known as Elayna Black, is speaking her truth about the real reason she stepped away from wrestling earlier this year.
In a new TMZ Inside The Ring interview on August 28, 2025, the 24-year-old opened up about the mental and physical toll that forced her to take a break from the ring.
After her WWE release, Jade said she immediately tried to grind her way through the independent circuit—but the packed schedule quickly became overwhelming.
“I had like 20 bookings right away. I was gone four days out of the week, plane right after plane. I was going, going, going. And that’s what made me realize—I’m not having fun doing this.”
The toll on her mental health was severe, with Jade admitting that she suffered intense anxiety before every single match.
“I was having panic attacks before every single match. I’m cold, sweat, dripping, like throwing up—so horribly physically sick over the fact that I have to go wrestle this weekend.”
She described the cycle as toxic, explaining how wrestling stopped feeling like a passion and became a burden.
“I have a toxic relationship with wrestling right now. It was just so draining. I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t eating. I wasn’t working out. I was so depressed. I got to such a low, low point.”
Jade emphasized that she isn’t retiring—just taking the time she needs to heal and reconnect with the love she once had for the business.
“Wrestling will always be there… Even in my post I said I’m just taking the rest of the year and seeing where I’m at. I never once said I was leaving wrestling. People twist your words.”
She admitted that without this break, she might have walked away forever.
“If I wouldn’t have taken this break, yeah, maybe I would have retired because I would have went nuts and went off the rails… But that’s why I’m taking the break—because I do love wrestling and I do want to have fun again.”
Just one month into her hiatus, Jade says she already feels major progress.
“Even just after this like month of therapy and healing and not looking at anything wrestling related, it has genuinely helped me so much. So I can only imagine how much better I’m going to feel in three more months.”
Cora Jade has made it clear—this isn’t the end of her wrestling story, but a much-needed pause to protect her health and rediscover her passion.
Do you think Cora Jade will come back stronger after her break, or is this the beginning of a new chapter outside the ring? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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