Cathy Kelley has been noticeably absent from WWE programming over the past week—and now we know why.
In a January 11, 2026 update on TikTok, the backstage personality and interviewer revealed she’s been battling a nasty cold. The illness kept her off both RAW and SmackDown, leaving fans wondering where she’d gone—especially amid speculation about her evolving WWE role.
“One of the really unfortunate side effects all the time is that you’re very susceptible to getting sick—and that’s what’s going on right now,” Kelley shared. “Since I’m an old, sick girl, I decided to take care of myself by ordering some Goop. So now I’m having a ginger shot.”
She added some signature wit to the health update, poking fun at her sinus congestion. Kelley also gave a shoutout to the unsung hero of her recovery, which was the Uber Eats delivery guy.
“I’m hoping that because my sinuses are so stuffed, it won’t be as bad as it normally is. That was fine, so I must be really sick. My sinuses must be like the 405—totally congested. The problem with being an independent baddie is that when you’re sick, no one takes care of you—except Mr. Uber Eats man. So shoutout to you.”
The timing of Kelley’s sick leave comes just months after PWInsider reported she had been training at the WWE Performance Center, sparking talk of a potential shift to an on-screen manager—or even an in-ring role. While her cold has temporarily sidelined her, it doesn’t appear to be slowing her long-term momentum inside or outside WWE.
Are you hoping to see Cathy Kelley take on a bigger role in WWE once she’s back? Let us know your thoughts and well wishes below!
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
