Kendal Grey Explains Why She Turned Down Olympic Run to Join WWE

Kendal Grey could’ve been chasing gold in the Olympics, but instead, she made the jump to WWE—and hasn’t looked back since.

During an interview on the Wrestling History Channel, the current EVOLVE Women’s Champion opened up about the pivotal moment she chose sports entertainment over an Olympic future. Grey revealed that her original plan was to become a dermatologist after college, and the Olympic route was just one of several paths on the table.

“Well, I majored in biology in college, so I kind of had an idea of becoming a dermatologist. I’ve always loved skin care — it’s kind of gross, not for everybody, but I was super into it. That was my plan at first. But I still had two years of athletic eligibility left, and I was also thinking about going for the Olympics.”

While the Olympic dream was real, Grey admitted it likely wouldn’t have happened until 2028. So when WWE came calling with a tryout after her graduation, she sat down and made a life-changing decision. The wear and tear of cutting weight and the mental grind of Olympic prep simply didn’t align with what she wanted anymore.

“I’m very realistic, though. That Olympic dream probably wouldn’t have happened until 2028. So when WWE offered me a tryout after graduation, I weighed the pros and cons. I realized that by 28, I’d still be cutting weight, not eating much, and honestly not feeling great because I wasn’t good with weight cuts.”

Instead of sticking with what she thought was the obvious route, Grey took a leap—and found her new home.

“I just wanted a change of direction, so I decided to go for WWE instead. I tried out — and honestly, since then, I couldn’t imagine going back. This is truly a dream come true.”

That decision has already paid off in a major way. Not only is Grey leading the charge as the EVOLVE Women’s Champion, but she’s also become one of the most talked-about rising stars in WWE’s developmental system. Kendal Grey’s story isn’t just about turning down the Olympics—it’s about betting on yourself, taking a risk, and finding something even better.

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