Barbie Blank, better known to WWE fans as Kelly Kelly, hopes that fans will forget about her early WWE days. In a recent interview with the Wrestling Classics YouTube channel, Blank reflected on her 2006 debut as an “exposure player,” recalling the weekly segments where she appeared topless.
She described her role, saying, “My own exposure is shrinking… I have to go on TV nationwide and do my own strip pieces every week.” Later, her exposure became even more pronounced when matched against Brooke Adams and Leila. Blank mentioned that although she considered herself a “bad dancer,” it was easier to endure the segments when she wasn’t performing alone.
With WWE’s evolution in how female wrestlers are portrayed, it’s unlikely fans will see characters introduced primarily to be undressed. Barbie Blank’s experience highlights how anything was possible in WWE’s sports entertainment world back then.
Fan Take: This revelation about Kelly Kelly’s early WWE career is a reminder of how much the company has grown in its treatment and portrayal of women. It shows the progress made toward empowering female wrestlers and signals a more respectful and athletic future for women’s wrestling.
