Eva Marie Says Outside Wrestling Offers Never Pursued

The former WWE performer, now 42, described the terms she would require to consider working for another promotion.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Wrestling

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a lone wrestler seen from behind in an empty ring under a single spotlight, rendered in loose painterly brushwork. — Former WWE performer Eva Marie, 42, said she would only consider wrestling for another promotion for a very large payday and creative control. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Eva Marie said she considered wrestling outside WWE after her release but never pursued it, requiring a very large payday and creative control. The comments came when she was asked on TMZ's Inside the Ring whether promotions such as AEW had reached out after WWE released her in November 2021.

Why it matters

Eva Marie's remarks shed light on how former WWE talent weigh outside options against the promotion's creative constraints. Her comments describe limited input into storylines for most roster members, a factor that shapes performers' decisions about where to work.

The statement comes from a personal interview rather than a formal filing or contract disclosure, so the figures cited are biographical timeline dates. Eva Marie's comments do not reveal whether any outside promotion actually made her an offer.

The players

WWE

WWE is a major professional wrestling promotion based in Stamford, Connecticut, known for its televised programming and large roster of performers.

Eva Marie

Eva Marie is a former WWE performer who gained recognition on the company's roster and returned under the ring name Doudrop.

The details

Eva Marie said the idea of wrestling outside WWE crossed her mind early, but any offer would need to be incredibly good and come with creative control. She said she never looked into other companies further, and she noted that WWE writers generally give most roster members little input into storylines.

2013: Eva Marie signed with WWE with no wrestling background.
2017: Her first WWE run ended.
2021: WWE renamed her Doudrop and returned her to the roster.
November 4, 2021: WWE released Eva Marie in a round of budget cuts.

Big Picture

Eva Marie's release came during WWE's 2021 budget cuts, which removed several roster members at once. Her remarks about outside offers reflect how released performers weigh pay and creative control against the limited options in professional wrestling.

For readers who follow wrestling, Eva Marie's comments indicate that a performer's decision to leave a major promotion depends heavily on pay and creative control. Fans tracking roster moves may find this a useful lens for interpreting future departures.

The takeaway

Performers released in budget cuts often weigh outside offers against creative control and pay, and Eva Marie's remarks show how strict those conditions can be. Readers following wrestling careers can watch how released talent's stated terms shape where they end up next.