Kelly Kelly Says She Wanted To Be A Heel In WWE

Former WWE star Kelly Kelly, known outside the ring as Barbie Blank, has revealed the amusing reason why she never portrayed a villain during her wrestling career – she simply couldn’t stop laughing when trying to look menacing.

During a candid interview on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, the Divas Champion shared the story of her failed pitch to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon when she attempted to convince him to let her explore a darker side to her cheerful character.

Kelly Kelly was me. It was me just 100 times more. That was the greatest thing, to just be myself. I could have never been a bad guy. I tried.

The model-turned-wrestler then recounted the memorable office meeting where McMahon put her heel aspirations to an immediate test that she couldn’t pass.

Vince was like…that was the other time I went to his office, ‘I want to be a bad guy.’ He’s like, ‘Alright, let me see your bad guy face.’

What followed was a moment that perfectly encapsulated why Blank’s six-year WWE career was spent exclusively as a fan-favourite. Despite her best efforts to produce a threatening expression, she immediately broke character and started laughing, prompting McMahon’s direct response:

Kelly, get out of my office. No.

During her WWE tenure from 2006 to 2012, Blank became one of the company’s most recognisable female performers during WWE’s transition to PG-rated programming. Her signature entrance featuring the “Kelly Kelly twirl” and naturally exuberant personality connected particularly well with younger fans and female viewers, making her an unlikely candidate for a villainous turn.

Since departing WWE, Blank has built a diverse entertainment career spanning reality television, modelling, and occasional wrestling appearances, including a surprise return at the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble Match where she received a warm reception from nostalgic fans.

Kelly Kelly Reveals How She Got Her WWE Name

Former WWE star Kelly Kelly has revealed where her unusual ring name came from. Vince McMahon was watching an episode of the iconic TV show, Cheers, and saw a bartender on the show named Kelly with a song on the show called ‘Kelly, Kelly, Kelly’.

H/t to Fightful