What WWE Diva Layla El Has Been Doing Since Leaving WWE
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Changing from the Women's Division, to the Divas Division, and ultimately back to the Women's Division, WWE has changed the way they have presented their women's talent a number of times throughout the years. Going from sexualized, but taken serious with the likes of Mickie James, Trish Stratus, and Lita, to sexualized but not taken serious with the following generation, it was not until the "Women's Revolution" in 2015 that things began to change for the positive again.
Before that, however, talent tended to be hired based on looks rather than wrestling ability. Coupled with a number of storylines that would be seen as degrading or sexist in 2022, that would be the basis of WWE's Divas. Despite that, a few women did break the mold, with names like AJ Lee, Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Michelle McCool standing out. Looking back to the Divas, a name that fans may remember as a staple of the division is none other than McCool's tag-team partner, Layla El.
RELATED: Why The WWE Divas Revolution Was A Huge Flop At First
Layla El Won The WWE Women's And Divas Championships
Making her on-screen debut during the 2006 Diva Search, Layla El would eventually win the competition before debuting as an official diva at that year's SummeSslam in a controversial segment that saw the other women of WWE hazing her in a shower, pulling some of her clothes off and rinsing her down with the shower head as part of her so-called initiation. The following year would see Layla joining the Extreme Exposé alongside Kelly Kelly and Brooke, serving as ECW's sexy dancers before eventually becoming William Regal's manager for some time.
Despite some gross-over-sexualization early on in her career and a random bout managing Regal, Layla would eventually find success in the company, as she would form a friendship and tag-team with Michelle McCool, giving birth to the LayCool team in WWE. During this period, Layla would win the WWE Women's Championship, with her and Michelle becoming co-champions. In 2012, Layla would win the Divas Championship as well, now having won the Diva Search, the WWE Women's Championship, and the Divas title.
RELATED: The Divas Championship Has A Better History Than You Might Think
In 2015, Layla Quietly Retired From WWE
2014 would be the last regular year for Layla's career in WWE, as she would begin to wind things down around this time. Taking part in a program with Fandango and Summer Rae, the two would feud over his affections before facing off in a match with Fandango serving as the special guest referee. Layla would go onto win their match, and then in a confusing turn of events, the two women would turn on Fandango and form their own team, self-dubbed "The Slayers," as they would wrestle regularly throughout the rest of 2014.
RELATED: 11 WWE Divas Champions: Where Are They Now?
Wrestling in one televised match in 2015, a singles match against Emma, Layla would announce her in-ring retirement during the Summer of 2015, with WWE granting her release as her wrestling career would come to a close. Lasting almost 10 years in WWE, Layla finished her career on a muted note, defeating Emma on a random episode of Main Event. Despite being a decorated part of WWE's Women's and Divas Divisions, Layla would not have a big send-off and would just sort-of vanish from television as she entered retirement.
Since Leaving WWE, Layla Has Had A Few Careers Outside Of Wrestling
Despite slowing down her in-ring career towards the end of her WWE run, her retirement still came as a bit of a surprise for longtime fans. Upon leaving the company and ending her journey in the world of women's wrestling, Layla would take a step back from the spotlight for a number of years, seemingly cooling down after being a highlighted wrestler for years within the Sports Entertainment giant.
Eventually becoming more active on social media, Layla has since gone on to become a Real Estate Agent and a Makeup Artist outside the crazy world of WWE. On top of that, she has begun doing more appearances at wrestling shows and conventions, taking part in autograph signings, and meet and greets with fans. For someone that may not have gotten the recognition she deserved, it is nice to see her life playing out in a good, happy manner years after retiring from wrestling.
