It was one of the more unusual main events in SmackDown history. On February 1, 2011, the World Heavyweight Championship was on the line in a Three-On-Two Mixed Handicap match, pitting champion Edge and his partner Kelly Kelly against Dolph Ziggler and LayCool. Now, over a decade later, Kelly Kelly is looking back on that night as a major career highlight.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, the former WWE Divas Champion called the match one of her favorites and acknowledged its unique place in the history books.
“That was top-five matches too for sure… And I don’t think I realized at the time how people still talk about — they were like, ‘No, you were the only woman to defend the World Heavyweight Title in a match like that…’ And it was a big deal, and I remember when they brought the idea to me, I think the night before I found out that I was doing it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ and I think we main evented that, which was really cool too.”
Her fond reflection on a key moment from her WWE run comes as she also recently cleared the air about her current relationship with the company, particularly regarding her absence from the all-women’s premium live event, Evolution II, which took place this past July.
Initial reports suggested she had turned down an invitation to the Atlanta event because she wanted an in-ring role. However, Kelly explained that the reality was a matter of logistics. The invitation came on short notice for a rare free weekend, and travel from her home on the West Coast with two young children wasn’t feasible. She also noted that if she were to make an appearance, she’d want her kids to be there to see it. She flatly denied rumors from “dirt sheets” that she demanded a match, calling the claims the “farther from the truth.”
Reinforcing her positive connection to the company, Kelly Kelly also confirmed that she signed a WWE Legends contract earlier this year. She expressed her gratitude, stating, “I owe a lot to WWE for my career. They shaped who I am today; I wouldn’t have achieved what I have without them. I am truly grateful.”
While the Legends deal keeps her in the WWE family, a full-time return isn’t in the immediate plans. Her focus remains on her family, though she has let WWE know she is open to making appearances at events in or near Los Angeles. Since leaving her full-time contract in 2012, she has made several appearances, including competing in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble matches.