In October 2025, Jin Tala the ring name of Leigh Laurel found herself among many names cut from WWE’s developmental roster. Rather than stay silent, she responded with candor, emotion, and defiance. In her own statement, she wrestled with whether her name simply didn’t stand out or maybe WWE didn’t see what she saw in herself. Her words echoed a deeper struggle familiar to many in the wrestling world: fighting for visibility, recognition, and belief.
The Journey Before the Release
Leigh Laurel competed under her real name on the first season of WWE’s LFG. From there, she adopted the persona of Jin Tala in WWE’s Evolve brand, and tried to carve a niche for herself in promos and in-ring work alike.
Though her match count was modest (about seventeen), she put everything into each appearance working promos, studying psychology, asking mentors for feedback, and trying to display aggression and presence.
Despite those efforts, she finds herself asking: Was the timing wrong? Was she too small a name? Did she fail to break barriers fast enough? And ultimately, who was she trying to prove it to? As she put it:
“The only person I have to prove my worth to is me.”
The Anatomy of Her Response
What makes Tala’s reaction stand out is its mixture of vulnerability and resolve. She didn’t lash out or point fingers she questioned, reflected, and reaffirmed her identity. She acknowledged her weaknesses, but also insisted she poured 110% into her work.
Her message is layered:
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Recognizing that wrestling isn’t just about physical moves, but psychology and emotional storytelling.
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Owning that she may not have moved fast enough to “break down walls.”
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Differentiating between the persona (Jin Tala) and the person (Leigh Laurel) a metaphorical rebirth in adversity.
It’s akin to an athlete saying: the scoreboard doesn’t always tell the full story of how hard I played.
What This Means for Her Future
Her release is part of a larger wave: WWE recently cut several talents from its development and ID system, including names tied to LFG and Evolve.
Yet Tala’s mindset pushes forward. Her resolve suggests she sees more than a setback: she sees a crossroads.
| Factor | Reality | Tala’s Viewpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Match count | Only ~17 matches | She sees each as a building block |
| Recognition | Still relatively unknown | She questions whether she was “unrecognizable” |
| Developmental cuts | Many talents released | She’s one of many, but she refuses anonymity |
| Future path | Uncertain beyond WWE | She vows to keep pursuing her wrestling dream |
To fans and critics alike, Tala’s voice now signals that she won’t quietly step away. Her story will carry into independent circuits, or wherever her passion leads her next.
Conclusion
The release of Jin Tala from WWE may have been recorded in a log of cuts, but her response transcends mere headlines. She turned it into a personal manifesto a mix of introspection and grit. Whether WWE saw her or not, she sees herself, and that shift in perspective can be the pivot point in any career. In a business built on showmanship and spectacle, her quiet bravery commands attention.