Maya World has named Kelly Kelly as the first wrestler she truly connected with as a fan, explaining that the former WWE Divas Champion was “my girl” during her younger years watching professional wrestling.
At 24 years old, Maya grew up watching WWE during an era in which the women’s division was commonly presented under the Divas banner. While the opportunities and match lengths afforded to many women on those shows were often limited compared to the landscape wrestlers work in today, the personalities in that division still made an impression on young viewers. For Maya, Kelly Kelly stood above the rest as an early favorite.
Speaking ahead of AEW All In, Maya was asked about the wrestlers she enjoyed while growing up. She identified Mercedes Moné as the performer who most directly motivated her to become a wrestler, while making a distinction between that inspiration and the wrestlers she simply loved watching as a fan.
“She’s [Mercedes Moné] the one who mostly inspired me to wrestle, but my first favorite wrestler was like Kelly Kelly, Undertaker. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I watched them. They just didn’t inspire me to wrestle. But I loved Kelly Kelly. That was my girl, and all the Divas, honestly. She was my favorite, but I loved the whole Divas division.”
For more background on this topic, read John Cena Looks Back on ECW One Night Stand 2006: ‘I Knew They Were Going To Be Salty’.
Kelly Kelly Was A Standout Of The Divas Era
Kelly Kelly became one of the most recognizable WWE women’s stars of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Her presentation, energy and visibility made her a familiar face for a generation of fans, especially those who began watching WWE programming while the company’s women’s roster was still branded as the Divas division.
She ultimately won the WWE Divas Championship, a milestone that placed her among the defining names associated with that title’s history. Her time in WWE also came during a transitional period for women’s wrestling on mainstream American television. The division featured popular personalities and major stars, but it did not consistently receive the time, depth or spotlight now associated with top women’s programs.
Maya’s comments underline an important part of wrestling fandom: a wrestler does not have to be presented in lengthy main-event matches to become someone’s favorite. A connection can come from charisma, look, entrances, memorable moments, or simply the feeling that a performer brings to the screen. For Maya, Kelly Kelly had that impact.
Her praise also extended beyond one individual. Maya made clear that, while Kelly Kelly was her favorite, she had affection for the Divas division as a whole. That acknowledgement reflects the lasting connection many fans have to the performers from that period, even as conversations around the era frequently focus on the limitations placed on women’s wrestling at the time.
Mercedes Moné Provided The Path To Wrestling
While Kelly Kelly was Maya’s first favorite, Mercedes Moné occupies a different place in her story. Maya said Moné was the wrestler who “mostly inspired” her to enter the profession herself. The distinction is notable because it captures how a fan’s relationship with wrestling can evolve over time.
An early favorite may be the person who first makes wrestling feel exciting and accessible. Later, another performer may show what is possible in the ring and make the idea of pursuing wrestling feel tangible. Maya’s answer presents Kelly Kelly and Moné as meaningful figures at different stages of her experience: one as a beloved childhood favorite and the other as a primary influence on her decision to wrestle.
Moné has become one of the most prominent names of her generation through her work across major promotions and on major stages. For newer wrestlers, her career has offered a visible example of a woman building a reputation through high-profile matches, championship success and a strong sense of identity. Maya’s remarks add her name to the many performers who have spoken about the effect Moné’s body of work has had on aspiring talent.
There is also a through line in Maya naming both Kelly Kelly and Moné. They represent different points in the ongoing growth of women’s wrestling in North America. Kelly Kelly was one of the stars who drew audience attention during the Divas era. Moné emerged as part of a generation that pushed for broader expectations surrounding women’s match time, creative importance and in-ring presentation.
A Fan’s View Of A Changing Women’s Division
Maya’s age gives her perspective particular context. She was young during the period she described, watching women’s wrestling at a time when women were frequently given shorter matches and were often promoted through a presentation that emphasized appearance. Yet the division still mattered to her. The performers still gave her favorites to root for, and the collective group still felt important enough to be remembered warmly years later.
That perspective is worth considering when evaluating the Divas era solely through the lens of its shortcomings. The concerns around presentation, limited opportunities and uneven storytelling remain central to any honest discussion of that period. At the same time, the women on those rosters created connections with fans who saw them as stars. Maya’s answer does not ignore the differences between then and now; it shows that fandom often exists alongside those realities.
Today’s wrestling audience is accustomed to seeing women headline major events, receive extended singles matches and build stories around championships, rivalries and personal ambition. Those developments have changed the expectations placed on major promotions. Younger talent entering the industry can point to a wider range of visible examples when discussing what inspired them to train and compete.
Still, the performers who came before remain part of that wider history. Fans such as Maya watched the Divas division, formed attachments to its personalities, and carried those memories forward. In her case, Kelly Kelly was the standout name.
The Undertaker Also Made Maya’s Early List
Maya also included The Undertaker among the first wrestlers she watched closely. As with Kelly Kelly, she explained that seeing him did not necessarily provide the direct inspiration to become a wrestler. Instead, he was part of the group of stars she enjoyed during her formative years as a fan.
The Undertaker’s place in that answer reinforces how broad early wrestling fandom can be. His character, longevity and presentation made him one of WWE’s most identifiable attractions for multiple generations. For viewers discovering the product in any number of eras, he was often a figure who immediately stood out. Maya pairing him with Kelly Kelly in her answer speaks to the variety of personalities that shaped her viewing experience.
Her comments were not framed as a ranking of technical influences or a detailed assessment of wrestling styles. They were a straightforward reflection on who she loved to watch. That simplicity is part of what makes the answer resonate. Every wrestler’s route into the business is different, and it is common for a future performer’s first favorite to be someone who made them feel invested before they ever considered stepping through the ropes themselves.
Maya World’s Answer Connects Different Generations
The names Maya mentioned span distinct eras and kinds of appeal. Kelly Kelly was the first favorite. The Undertaker was another major name Maya watched. Mercedes Moné became the strongest inspiration for turning an interest in wrestling into an ambition to participate in it.
That combination reflects the way wrestling’s influence is passed from generation to generation. A fan may begin by watching the personalities presented on weekly television. Over time, they may discover performers whose matches, confidence and career paths help define their own goals. Maya’s recollection places the Divas division firmly within that personal history.
For Kelly Kelly, the praise is another reminder of her continued recognition among fans who grew up during her WWE run. For Maya, it is a chance to give credit to the wrestler who first stood out from the screen and became “her girl.”
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.