Former TNA Knockouts Champion Was Cut From WWE’s Mae Young Classic Due To Injury

It only takes a glance at WWE’s Mae Young Classic field to see that it is stacked with talent who have wrestled for TNA in the past and Taylor Wilde was almost one of them.

The former TNA Knockouts Champion revealed today on Twitter that similar to Serena Deeb, she was looking to come out of retirement for the 32-woman tournament. However, the plans were scrapped after she sustained an injury while training.

She tweeted, “I was considered to partake in the Mae Young Classic. Due to an injury sustained in training, retirement is where I will stay. However, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider other opportunities. I’m just retired as in-ring talent.”

I was considered to partake in the Mae Young Classic. Due to an injury sustained in training, retirement is where I will stay.

— TWnation (@TaylorWilde) July 18, 2017

However, that doesn't mean I wouldn't consider other opportunities. I'm just retired as in-ring talent. 😊

— TWnation (@TaylorWilde) July 18, 2017

Congrats to the success of the tournament & what it means to women's wrestling. It's an exciting time to be in the sport as a female. @WWE

— TWnation (@TaylorWilde) July 18, 2017

Wilde, whose real name is Shantelle Malawski, was under contract to WWE in 2006 and 2007 but never made it past the developmental system. In May 2008, Malawski joined TNA and would go on to become a one-time TNA Knockout Champion and a two-time TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with her partners Sarita and Hamada, while also becoming the first wrestler to have held both titles. After departing from TNA in December 2010, Malawski announced her retirement from professional wrestling and wrestled her final match on February 5, 2011.