Former WWE NXT star Priscilla Kelly, known to fans as Gigi Dolin during her tenure, has shared an emotional and candid account of the severe depression and mental health struggles she endured while under WWE contract. In a revealing interview with Denise Salcedo, Kelly spoke about how bullying, creative pressures, and personal family issues compounded to push her into a dark place, including moments where she experienced suicidal thoughts.
The Dark Side of WWE Fame: Depression Behind the Curtain
Kelly’s WWE career peaked as a member of the prominent Toxic Attraction stable, alongside Mandy Rose and Jacy Jayne. The group enjoyed considerable on-screen success, but Kelly admits that this came at a significant personal cost. She explained that, over time, she felt she lost her identity as a performer within the stable’s “sexy glam” gimmick, departing dramatically from her preferred “gritty, grungy, unnerving” persona. She said this disconnect contributed heavily to her emotional decline.
“I did feel like with Toxic Attraction, I lost myself as a character,” Kelly said. “I became what they wanted me to be rather than the person I always was inside,” which caused an internal conflict and spiraled into depression at the tail end of Toxic Attraction’s run in WWE[2][3].
Kelly detailed how this depression manifested, including significant weight gain and losing passion for wrestling. She openly admitted, “I started not caring about my ring work; I kind of gave up because of things that were happening behind the scenes.” The pressure and negativity surrounding her WWE experience made her feel trapped in a job that drained her mentally and emotionally[1][4].
Behind-the-Scenes Bullying and Mental Health Struggles
More disturbingly, Kelly revealed that the mental strain she felt was worsened by bullying from certain individuals backstage, though she chose not to name names. “Some people were very, very not nice to me to the point that I was suicidal for a little bit, I was really going through it,” she confided[2][5]. She emphasized that her darkest moments were the result of both WWE environment factors and personal life stress, including longstanding family difficulties.
Kelly spoke frankly about her tumultuous family situation, which added to her sense of isolation and despair. Her father had been in prison for four years, recently released, while her younger brother also faced severe challenges on his own. “I have a lot going on in my personal life on top of everything else,” she shared, underscoring how these struggles compounded her mental health battle[4].
According to sources close to WWE, while the company has established wellness policies, it has faced criticism in the past for not adequately addressing backstage bullying or creating a fully supportive environment for mental health. A WWE insider confirmed, “There’s been an ongoing tension about how talent mental health is safeguarded, especially newer or younger performers who may feel isolated”[4].
Injury and Its Impact on Recovery
Just as Kelly began to regain a sense of herself after the depressive period, another setback struck. She suffered a torn meniscus, an injury that forced her out of action and further delayed her emotional recovery. “I kind of went through this down period of, ‘I hate my life, I’m collecting a paycheck. I’m just hoping someday I can get back to who I am and the performer that I am.’ As soon as I started to feel like I was myself again—I tore my meniscus,” she revealed[1][4].
This injury, coupled with the ongoing pressures she faced at WWE, culminated in her contract not being renewed when it expired in May 2025. Since then, Kelly has found opportunities outside WWE, performing in companies such as GCW and MLW where she reports feeling more in control and creatively satisfied[1].
The Broader Conversation About Mental Health in Wrestling
Priscilla Kelly’s story is emblematic of a persistent issue within professional wrestling: the hidden mental toll behind the spectacle. Wrestling involves intense physical demands, travel schedules, and high-pressure creative environments, all of which can exacerbate mental health issues. Kelly’s courage to speak publicly about her suicidal thoughts calls attention to the vital need for better support systems within WWE and the wider wrestling industry.
Experts and industry insiders have increasingly stressed the importance of proactive mental health resources. According to a wrestling wellness consultant, “Promotions need to foster environments where talent feel safe to report bullying and mental health struggles without fear of stigma or career repercussions.”
Kelly’s experience has sparked conversations among fans and wrestling professionals alike about improving backstage culture. Many advocate for anti-bullying initiatives and enhanced mental health programs that include confidential counseling, peer support networks, and wellness checks[4][5].
Final Thoughts: A Story of Survival and Resilience
Despite the trials she faced, Priscilla Kelly’s journey is also one of resilience. She has not only survived this harrowing chapter but is rebuilding her career on her own terms. Her openness serves as a reminder that behind every wrestler’s persona is a human being facing their own battles.
Kelly’s story encourages wrestling promotions, fans, and talent to prioritize mental health and foster genuine support. As she herself put it, the goal is to one day fully reclaim the performer she truly is beyond the mask of any gimmick.
Backstage Source: A WWE insider familiar with the NXT locker room remarked, “Talent like Priscilla walk into this business with so much fire and creativity. But sometimes the environment can stifle them, which can lead to real emotional damage. The company has taken steps, but stories like hers show there’s still work to be done.”
Priscilla Kelly’s candid revelation about her WWE experience highlights the importance of mental health care in wrestling, urging the industry to evolve for the well-being of its performers.
This article respects Priscilla Kelly’s privacy by not speculating beyond her public statements and encourages anyone struggling with mental health issues to seek professional help.