Lacey Evans has taken another visible step toward a return to professional wrestling, sharing footage of herself back inside a ring and training at D-Von Dudley’s wrestling school.
Evans indicated that the workout was a demanding one, saying she was already blown up five minutes into the session. She also credited D-Von Dudley with helping her rebuild her conditioning as she pursues a comeback. The update is the clearest sign yet that Evans’ previously announced return plans have moved beyond simply talking about getting back into the business.
For Evans, the training session represents the beginning of a potentially significant rebuilding process. She has not wrestled a match since July 2023, and she departed WWE the following month. Returning after an extended absence requires more than stepping back between the ropes; it means restoring cardio, ring timing, movement, confidence, and the ability to safely work with another performer at a professional level.
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Dudley’s involvement gives the update added relevance. A WWE Hall of Famer and one half of the legendary Dudley Boyz, D-Von has spent years helping train and develop wrestlers. A return to a structured wrestling-school environment can provide an important foundation for someone looking to re-enter the ring after time away, particularly when the goal is to regain the conditioning required for a full match rather than simply participate in an isolated training drill.
For more background on this topic, read Bayley Calls WWE’s South America Live Tour a Career Highlight After Four-Show Run.
Evans Previously Confirmed Her Intention To Return
The new video follows comments Evans made in April, when she publicly stated that she intended to return to wrestling. At that time, she told fans,
“I will be returning to wrestling. Yes, the Sassy Southern Belle is on her way back.”
Evans also said she planned to document her path back to the ring. That commitment makes her latest update part of a wider comeback journey rather than a one-off appearance at a wrestling school. While she has not announced a return date, a promotion, or a first opponent, the footage confirms she is actively preparing for the physical realities of competing again.
Her April comments made clear that fan interest played a meaningful role in her decision. Evans recalled appearing for a signing at WrestleCon, where she was repeatedly asked when she would return. The response from supporters, she said, reignited her desire to get back into professional wrestling.
There is also a personal reason behind the comeback effort. Evans has said that her children have asked when they will see her wrestle on television again. She expressed a desire to compete in front of her kids, adding a family dimension to what could become the next chapter of her career.
That motivation may be especially important during a return that figures to demand patience. Wrestlers coming back from lengthy breaks often have to work through the difficult early stages of ring training, where cardio can come back slowly and familiar movements need repetition. Evans’ candid admission that she was exhausted within minutes underscores that she is not presenting the comeback as effortless. Instead, she is showing the work that comes before any eventual match announcement.
A Long Absence From Competition
Evans’ last match took place in July 2023. Her WWE departure followed in August 2023, when she stated that she had asked for her release. Since then, she has remained away from active in-ring competition.
During her time in WWE, Evans was widely associated with the “Sassy Southern Belle” presentation referenced in her return announcement. The character gave her a distinct identity, combining vintage-inspired mannerisms with an aggressive edge. She was featured across WWE programming during multiple stretches of her run and worked against several prominent names in the company’s women’s division.
However, the landscape of wrestling can change rapidly during a three-year-plus absence. Rosters evolve, television programs shift, promotions bring in new talent, and audiences form new expectations. Whenever Evans does return, she will enter a business that is not identical to the one she left in 2023.
That uncertainty is part of what makes her current training worth watching. Evans has confirmed the desire to wrestle again and has now shown that she is taking practical steps toward that objective, but several major questions remain unanswered. She has not disclosed whether she intends to seek another run with WWE, work elsewhere, or appear first on the independent scene. There is also no timetable for when she expects to be ring-ready.
Those decisions will likely depend on how her training progresses and what opportunities become available. For now, the focus appears to be straightforward: get back into shape, shake off the rust, and regain the necessary confidence in the ring.
Why D-Von Dudley’s Training Matters
Training under an experienced former wrestler can be invaluable for a performer returning after a layoff. Conditioning is only one piece of the equation. Professional wrestling demands awareness of positioning, pacing, communication, safety, footwork, and the ability to adapt in real time with a partner. Even experienced wrestlers can need time to restore those instincts after being away.
D-Von Dudley’s experience across major stages of the industry gives him a useful perspective for that process. He competed in some of wrestling’s most memorable tag team matches and later remained involved in the business through training and developmental work. Evans being in his ring is not, by itself, a confirmation of any particular destination for her career, but it does show that she is receiving hands-on guidance as she works toward returning.
It is also notable that Evans was willing to share a less polished side of the process. Saying she was blown up five minutes into training is a relatable but revealing detail. In-ring conditioning is different from general fitness, and it can be unforgiving. Running ropes, taking bumps, repeatedly getting up from the mat, and maintaining intensity while executing sequences all place unique demands on the body.
The road back will likely involve many more sessions like this one. Evans’ willingness to document that effort could give fans a closer view of how a wrestler rebuilds from a prolonged absence. It also leaves room for her to shape the narrative of her return in her own words before she announces where she will compete.
What Comes Next For Lacey Evans
At this stage, Evans’ return is a work in progress rather than a scheduled event. The important development is that she is in the ring and training with a clear objective. Her April declaration was a statement of intent; the new footage offers tangible evidence that the work has begun.
Fans will naturally speculate about where the former WWE performer could appear once she is ready. WWE remains the promotion most closely tied to her national television career, but no WWE return has been announced. No agreement with another major promotion has been revealed either, and there has been no confirmation of an independent booking.
Until Evans shares more, the most responsible conclusion is that she is preparing herself for options rather than committing publicly to one destination. Her stated goal of wrestling in front of her children and the encouragement she received from fans at WrestleCon have supplied the motivation. Now the physical preparation is underway.
For a wrestler who last competed in July 2023, simply returning to ring training is an important milestone. Evans has acknowledged the challenge ahead, embraced help from D-Von Dudley, and put the first stages of her comeback on display. The “Sassy Southern Belle” may not yet have a match date, but her path back to professional wrestling is no longer just an idea.
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.