# 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.
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.
“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.
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*