Former WWE Divas Champion Celeste Bonin, best known to wrestling fans as Kaitlyn, does not currently see another run between the ropes in her future.
Bonin last wrestled in December 2019, and she addressed the possibility of returning during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. While making clear that her admiration for professional wrestling remains substantial, the former champion said she does not feel the internal drive required to pursue an in-ring comeback.
“I hope no one hates me for this, but I don’t really want to get back in the ring,” Bonin said.
It is a notably candid answer from a performer whose WWE tenure included a Divas Championship reign and whose name still carries recognition among fans of that era. Retirement and comeback speculation often follow former champions long after their last match, particularly when a wrestler has shown they can still step into a major WWE setting. Bonin, however, framed her current position not as a dismissal of wrestling, but as an acknowledgment that respect for the craft does not automatically translate into a desire to perform it again.
For more background on this topic, read Roman Reigns Reflects on Early WWE Creative: ‘I Probably Would’ve Said No a Few More Times’.
Respect for the craft remains central
Bonin spoke at length about the many moving parts that make wrestling work. She described it as an art form with demands that can be difficult for an audience to fully see from outside the ring. Her comments emphasized the athletic, creative and technical responsibilities placed on performers during a match.
“I respect wrestling a lot, and I find it very entertaining,” Bonin said. “I love the artistry of it.”
She explained that being a wrestler gave her a deeper perspective on what is required to build a successful match. In her view, wrestling is not simply about executing moves. It involves match psychology, audience connection, visual storytelling, physical safety, timing and the ability to adapt when a live crowd is not responding as expected.
Bonin specifically pointed to the challenge of telling a story through expression and physicality while simultaneously keeping both herself and her opponent safe. She also mentioned the importance of camera awareness, working within a set amount of time and helping the other wrestler deliver their best possible performance.
Those details underline why many former wrestlers retain a lasting connection to the industry even after deciding they no longer want to compete. Bonin’s comments do not come from someone who has grown indifferent to wrestling. Instead, they come from someone who understands its difficulty and values the complete performance required to make it look effortless.
“There’s so much to it,” Bonin said. “It’s such a beautiful art form, so I will always love it and deeply respect it.”
No current pull toward a comeback
The key distinction for Bonin is the absence of what she called a “burning desire” to wrestle again. That feeling, she suggested, is essential for an active return. Admiration alone is not enough to justify reentering an environment that demands extensive preparation, trust in opponents and a willingness to handle the physical realities of performing.
“I don’t think I am gonna get back in the ring because I don’t have this burning desire to do that,” she said.
Bonin did not present her comments as a formal retirement announcement or attach a permanent label to her future. She simply described where she stands now: a return is not something she actively wants. In wrestling, where circumstances can change and former stars sometimes come back years later, that leaves the future technically open. But Bonin’s remarks are clear about her present outlook and should not be mistaken for a tease of imminent involvement.
Her answer also illustrates a reality that can be overlooked when fans discuss potential returns. A wrestling comeback is not merely an appearance or a nostalgia moment. For the person making that choice, it means revisiting the training, the performance pressure and the physical risk that accompany an in-ring role. Bonin’s detailed appreciation for those demands appears to be part of why she is not treating a return casually.
Bonin watches selectively
Although she remains appreciative of wrestling, Bonin said she does not regularly watch it. She will sometimes tune in when a friend or someone she cares about is involved, but it is not a consistent part of her viewing routine.
“I don’t really watch it,” Bonin said, while noting that she will occasionally watch a match featuring someone she is still friends with or loves.
That selective relationship with current wrestling further clarifies the difference between appreciation and participation. Bonin continues to recognize the value of the medium and the skill of those performing in it, yet she is not presenting herself as someone closely following every development or looking for a route back onto a card.
For fans, that may be a more grounded answer than the vague statements that often surround possible returns. Bonin did not rely on ambiguity. She offered a thoughtful explanation of why wrestling matters to her and why, at this stage, returning is not where her energy is directed.
Her WWE return in the Mae Young Classic
Bonin did make a notable WWE return in 2018 when she entered the Mae Young Classic tournament. The appearance brought Kaitlyn back to a WWE ring after her original run with the company and gave fans an opportunity to see her compete on that platform again.
Her tournament run ended in the second round, where she was defeated by Mia Yim, now known in WWE as Michin. The match remains an important part of Bonin’s later wrestling timeline because it demonstrated that she was willing and able to revisit the ring in a high-profile tournament setting.
Still, the 2018 comeback should not be read as evidence that Bonin has maintained an ongoing ambition to return. Her latest comments instead make clear that her relationship with the business has evolved. She can look back on her experiences with gratitude and respect without wanting to restart the competitive portion of that journey.
Bonin’s last recorded match came in December 2019. With several years having passed since then, her comments provide the clearest indication of how she views the prospect of wrestling again. She values the art, understands its layers and still has personal connections within it. But none of that has produced the desire she believes would be necessary to get back in the ring.
A measured message to fans
There is often a tendency in wrestling to interpret any discussion by a former star as a possible signal of a comeback. Bonin’s remarks resist that pattern. She did not criticize wrestling, minimize the importance of her career or suggest that she has turned away from the people she worked with. In fact, she was emphatic about the opposite: her experience as a professional wrestler gave her a level of appreciation she believes she could not otherwise have developed.
That makes her position especially straightforward. Bonin loves and respects wrestling as an art form, but she does not currently want the job of being a wrestler again.
For now, fans looking for another Kaitlyn in-ring run have their answer. Bonin is not expressing the urge to return, and she is content to hold onto an appreciation for professional wrestling from outside the ropes.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.