“Smiley” Kylie Rae recently sat down to chat with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com in a wide ranging interview, covering her short time in AEW, to signing with Impact Wrestling and her wanting to be a positive role model for fans everywhere.
When asked about her character and the way thay it helped to land her an AEW contract in 2019:
“It’s kind of a funny story because I would have never guessed they would have even been interested. I think I had just moved back up to Chicago within a year and had started grad school. That’s when I was really pursuing wrestling full time. Like, 100% I was in. I was like, I’m giving this my two years of graduate school to pursue wrestling full time and I don’t know if I knew what I wanted, but I think I just wanted to live off of wrestling income. If that makes sense,”
On how AEW’s own Dr. Britt Baker DMD put her in touch with Brandi Rhodes regarding signing with the fledgling company:
“I just got a message from Britt Baker one day that just asked what my goals were in wrestling and where I saw myself in a few years,” Kylie recalled. “I remember thinking, “That’s a fun question.” I’m like, “Well, this and that,” then she came back with, “Would you ever be interested in a contract?” I’m just like, “Oh, my gosh. Yeah, who wouldn’t be? That’s why we do this.” She’s like, “How about AEW?” My heart dropped, I was like, “Do you have their contact information? Do you have someone I can talk to? I’d love to!” I was just trying to get anything. “I would love to.” I was at their first show in Chicago at the Sears Centre. Just seeing that, I remember that, being in there. I have the broken collar bone, ‘cause I have the sling on and I’m sitting there crying because I’m seeing like Britt and Tessa [Blanchard], and I’m so happy. It was cool. So, to be considered for that was awesome ‘cause I was just in Japan with Britt a couple weeks earlier. Then once we talked a little bit, she was like, “Alright, I’ll put you in contact with Brandi [Rhodes]. She’ll be reaching out to you.””
Brandi Rhodes would then reach out to Kylie, and their discussion led to a deal being struck. Kylie described the situation as happening very fast:
“Then when I talked to Brandi, I remember I was trying to be so, like, calm on the phone, but inside I’m shaking and I’m sweating ‘cause I’m really socially awkward.”So, like imagine that conversation and trying to keep it cool and not say anything that would get me fired before I even started a job with them. So, yeah, after that phone call—it went well—I think, at least. ‘Cause then we went to the press conference. I still wasn’t believing it, like we’re talking wrestling, “Oh, you get this pipe dream, and blah, blah, blah, and here’s this brass ring.” Yeah, so, it’s very much like a “I’ll believe it when I see it” type of business. But, I was happy to even be considered. It was amazing,”
After a few quiet months away, Kylie returned to the wrestling world and was welcomed back with open arms. She spoke about how her boyfriend, helped her out with a competitve match that reminded her what she was missing:
“It was everything I needed, if that makes any sense,” Kylie told us. “Because this past year was the hands down hardest time in my life and that match it kind of brought me back and helped me realize how fortunate I am. Not just from the match, but just the amount of support that I got. Like, coming back and seeing everyone at the show and talking to everyone. ‘Cause I missed a lot of people. I was away, it was like a few months and it was hard. It wasn’t intentional at all. I hated every second of it. So, I never wanted the fans to think I’d let them down. It was very scary to come back because I don’t know if they thought—like I felt like I’d let them down. I felt a sense of guilt. They have so much importance to me and my stock and built me up. I was like their girl and I wanted to be their girl. I wanted to fight for them. It was sad, but then once that match happened it felt like it was right.“
Almost immediately after leaving AEW, fans were surprised to see Kylie taking Impact bookings so soon after leaving the spotlight. They weren’t alone in being surprised, though:
“I think I was, too,” she said of her quick return to TV. “I’m a very spur of the moment type of person. Like, commitment kind of scared me a little bit. So, when I think of something long term I’m a lot less likely to commit to something. But, if someone just approached me like, “Hey, you wanna do this tomorrow?” I’m like, “Yeah, screw it. Let’s do it.” So, I had wrestled the weekend before or a couple weekends before. That was my first show back and I wrestled my boyfriend. Then after that a couple of weeks later I wrestled on Zelo Pro., but it was like the pre-Bound for Glory weekend. So, I guess I just impressed Scott D’Amore and Don Callis because it was amazing. I got to be in the battle royal. Even that day it was fun. It was a different group, like some of the people who were there aren’t there any more. They’ve added some new additions. But, even the new people we just discussed, they’re amazing, you know?”
After Bound For Glory, Impact tried to bring Kylie in on a full-time contract but she passed on their offer. Impact followed up again after a while and made a deal happen. The time in between was just what Kylie needed though:
“I’m just in a completely different state mentally, physically and emotionally,” she proudly stated. “After the Bound for Glory pay-per-view, they did approach me with an initial contract. I was just straight up with them and I said, “I’m not there yet. I’m not ready.” I was just being honest with myself. I needed to continue to work on myself. I think it was the right choice, obviously, and they respected that. I can’t thank them enough for being 100% understanding. ‘Cause that’s not easy to do, turn down a contract. This is my dream. Any wrestler, that’s their dream. They want that contract. I’m just letting it slip through my fingers. It was very hard. I sat on it for a while and then a couple months later they re-approached me with another offer and I grasped at it. I couldn’t reach quick enough. I still had to be like, “Hey, ask a couple questions?” But, I knew I was signing. I was so ready.”
When quizzed on what the future might hold for the smiley one, she responded:
“Currently I signed a long term contract. But, yeah after that, we’ll see where that goes. But, I’ve been saying since the day I started training, “I’ve got about two years left in me.” So, now it’s seven years later,”
Kylie is now starting to take independent dates again after COVID-19 brought most things to a halt. She does still have a lot of good things to say about the entire IMPACT locker room:
“The depth within the division is ridiculous. Every person in the division brings something to the table. We’re able to play off of each other. Everyone has something different to bring, character-wise, and move-set wise. It’s fun, it’s been a blast there since the day I walked in. You can’t ask for a more supportive group of people. It’s been wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about it. Especially since I knew the majority of these women before IMPACT, and I loved all of our matches. Every time we’re there, it’s just fun. It’s not a pain to be there, we’re working for each other and getting along. It’s not just a job, it’s fun to be there. That’s not just the division, it’s the entire company. It’s relaxed and chill,” she said.
“I’ve never been happier. I’ve never been more at peace in my life. It’s so beautiful,” Kylie said, with that signature smile on her face.
You can see the full interview with Kylie Rae at Fightful.com, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram. She’s in action each Tuesday on AXS’ IMPACT Wrestling, and will appear at Glory Pro on Saturday, August 1 at Glory Pro in St. Louis.
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