When All Elite Wrestling was just getting started, a performer they looked to be building around was Kylie Rae, the “Smiley” indie wrestler from Chicago. She was one of four wrestlers in their first ever women’s match at their first official PPV, May 2019’s Double Or Nothing. Cody Rhodes was hyping her by taking playful jabs at WWE during interviews.
But then she missed a scheduled match at June’s Fyter Fest, and disappeared from their promotional efforts. President Tony Khan said she’d asked for her release and that the split was amicable. Kylie resumed taking independent bookings. But rumors swirled. Finally, Rae issued a statement designed, in part, to silence the worst gossip. In a November Instagram post, she wrote that nobody made her leave AEW. Instead, she said she “needed to get my mind, body, and soul right with God”.
Yesterday (Jan. 24), in a new Instagram, Kylie opened up more on what she’s been dealing with.
There’s not much to add. It’s awesome that she’s doing better, and that she’s taking steps to continue in a positive direction. As someone who deals with a few of the diagnoses and issues she describes here, I know it’s not comfortable or easy to open up. But it does help to remember you’re not alone, and you never know who might need to learn that they’re not, either.
Thanks, Kylie Rae. Keep up the hard work. It’s worth it.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with or has questions about mental illness, you can find more information and resources here.