# Naomi Opens Up About Her 2022 WWE Departure: “I Thought I Was Done”
**Current WWE Women’s World Champion reflects on walking away, finding herself, and returning stronger than ever**
WWE Women’s World Champion Naomi has revealed the raw emotions behind her controversial 2022 departure from WWE, admitting she genuinely believed her wrestling career was over.
“I thought I didn’t want to wrestle anymore… I thought I was done,” Naomi confessed during a recent appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast alongside her husband, Jimmy Uso.
## A Time for Self-Reflection
The champion described her time away as a crucial period of self-reflection that ultimately transformed her approach to the business. “It was the first time… I had the chance to stop, rethink, redefine, and figure out what I really wanted next,” she explained.
Naomi’s journey included a successful run in TNA Wrestling, which Jimmy Uso praised as showcasing “the most authentic we’ve ever seen Trinity.” The experience outside WWE proved pivotal in rebuilding her confidence and purpose.
## Finding Her Purpose
“I have never quit anything in my life… I wanted a better ending—for my parents, my stepkids, for legacy,” Naomi stated, revealing the deeper motivations driving her return.
The champion also addressed overcoming self-doubt, a battle that previously hindered her career. “I let [the self-doubt voice] win before—now I fight it,” she declared.
## An Intentional Return
Her intentional approach to her current run has paid dividends. “When I came back, I was ready… refreshed… intentional on what I wanted this time to be like.”
Naomi’s story reflects a broader evolution in how female wrestlers navigate their careers, with the champion noting that “women are showing if I wanted to stop and have a baby, we can do it—gracefully.”
—
*Source: What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon*