WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has weighed in on the recent announcement from former NXT star Cora Jade (Elayna Black) that she is taking a break from wrestling for her mental health. On his “Hall of Fame” podcast, Booker T offered his perspective and some advice for the young star.
Understanding But Advising Against A Long Break
Booker T stated that he could understand her perspective of needing to “detox” from the business, especially after being successful at such a young age and then having it taken away with her recent WWE release. However, his ultimate advice was for her to keep pushing forward.
“If I could give her any advice, I’d say stay on the horse, man. And keep it going, because you got momentum right now,” Booker T advised. “Out of sight is out of mind. Time off is going to be your worst enemy trying to get back in this business.”
‘Keep Grinding’
Booker T elaborated on his “keep grinding” philosophy, explaining what his own mindset would be in her situation. He acknowledged that the business is different now but stressed the importance of maintaining momentum.
“When once those calluses all heal up and you try to get back… if I was Elayna Black, I would say, damn it, I’m gonna just keep grinding until I see that there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for me. That’s the way I see it,” he concluded.
Elayna Black, who was released from her WWE contract in May 2025, announced last week that she was taking a break from wrestling for the “foreseeable future” to take care of her mental health. She stated she would take the rest of the year off and then reassess her future.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Hall of Fame with Booker T & Brad Gilmore with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
