Released Superstar Makes Bold Claim About WWE Run
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In one of her first interviews since her WWE release, Lacey Lane, known to fans as Kayden Carter, has spoken candidly about her creative frustrations with the company. The former champion claimed that she often felt "held back" and that her success was limited because she was not one of WWE's "hand chosen" talents.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio (H/T to WrestlingNews.co), the newly minted free agent was open about losing her "spark" in the WWE system. She also expressed her excitement for the future.
WWE Star Feeling Creatively Held Back
Lane explained that she felt unable to fully express herself creatively during her time in WWE. She is now eager to remind the world of her abilities as a singles competitor.
"I feel like I have so much to offer, and I feel like I wasn't able to showcase that," she said. "I was so much of a Spitfire, and that same passion, that same drive, is still there."
She also detailed her frustrations with the booking of the women's tag team division. "I'm not quite sure why it's such a taboo thing where everyone's like, 'oh, like, women's tag wrestling isn't anything,' and I'm like, it's fun," she said.
A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.The "Hand Chosen" Theory
Ultimately, Lane believes that no matter how well she and her partner, Katana Chance, performed, they were unable to break through a creative ceiling. She feels this was because they were not among the select few talents earmarked for major pushes.
"If you're not the hand chosen, it doesn't matter what you do," she stated.
She revealed this frustration led her to email "Road Dogg" Brian James, pleading for a single opportunity on a premium live event, an opportunity that never came. This lack of clear feedback or opportunity led to an emotional "breaking point" for her and her partner after a match in London.
More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
A Decorated But Frustrating WWE Run
As Kayden Carter in WWE, Lane was part of one of the most popular and long-running female tag teams in recent memory. She and her partner, Katana Chance, were known for their exciting, high-energy, and innovative in-ring style that made them fan favorites in NXT. They held both the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship and, briefly, the main roster WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
Despite their success and popularity, the team was often subject to the same inconsistent booking that has plagued the women's tag team division for years. Their release in May 2025 was a surprise to many fans.
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