Candice LeRae Jokes She Is “Too Old” To Return To NXT

While Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae have both been subject to speculation on an NXT 2.0 return, LeRae has joked that she is past the age limit for the developmental brand.

Candice LeRae officially left WWE on May 6th after five years with the company. She had been missing from WWE TV for several months at that point, as she and Johnny Gargano – who left the company in December 2021 – have been caring for their newborn son, Quill.

Now, almost five months after the birth of their son, Candice LeRae seems to be thinking about a possible return to the ring, although she doesn’t think it will be with WWE.

Speaking during a virtual signing with the Highspots Superstore, LeRae joked that she was “too old” to go back to NXT 2.0. The former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion will be 37 in September.

LeRae was likely referencing WWE’s decision to focus on recruiting non-wrestling athletes and moulding them into WWE Superstars. Recently, James Kimball, WWE’s Senior Vice President for Global Talent Strategy and Development, told ESPN that the company is in the process of lowering its roster age:

“We would like that [age] number to come down, especially on the developmental standpoint. The second you enter our developmental program and then potentially end up on NXT TV and then onto Smackdown or RAW, you want that number to be 25, not 30 or 35.”

Having previously made several appearances for WWE, Candice LeRae officially signed with the company in January 2018. During her time there, she was a staple of the NXT brand and had acclaimed matches and rivalries against Io Shirai, Mia Yim, and Shayna Baszler. towards the end of her NXT career, she partnered with Johnny Gargano, Indi Hartwell, and Austin Theory in The Way.

LeRae’s final WWE took place at the Great American Bash NXT special in July 2021 where she and Hartwell lost the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships to Io Shirai and Zoey Stark. They held the championships for 63 days.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the above transcription.