Lacey Evans is coming back to professional wrestling, and a four-year-old is partly to thank for it.

The former WWE Superstar, who now goes by her real name Macey Estrella, announced her return on Wednesday in a video posted to her Instagram account. Evans has not competed since July 2023 and asked for her WWE release the following month, walking away from the business to focus on her family and her Beaufort, South Carolina cafe.

"Hello, I am Macey Estrella, also known as former WWE Superstar Lacey Evans, and I've got some really exciting news," Evans said in the video. "I will be returning to wrestling. Yes, the Sassy Southern Belle is on her way back."



The caption Evans paired with the announcement told the story in even fewer words:

Sunny: "Mom you were a wrestler"
Me: "yep"
Sunny: "I wanna see you fight"
Say no more..... ??? #SheTalkedMeIntoIt

Beyond the request from her daughter, Evans pointed to a recent appearance at WrestleCon during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas as the moment she decided to come back. The convention ran April 16-19 at Horseshoe Las Vegas, drawing thousands of fans across four days of signings and meet-and-greets.

"As you all know, I just did a signing in Las Vegas during WrestleMania and it really lit that fire," Evans said.

The interaction with fans was reinforced by what was happening right next to her at the signing table. Evans said Sunny was watching the whole time and wanted to see the rest of it live.

"I stepped out of the wrestling business for my children, and technically I'm stepping back in for my kids," Evans said. "My four-year-old was just looking around at this signing. She has seen me on TV and she just wants to see it live. What kind of mama would I be if I didn't show her?"

Evans was candid about what the comeback will require physically. She has not had a professional match since a dark match on the July 7, 2023 episode of SmackDown, more than two and a half years ago.

"I've got to get back in shape. I've got to get in ring-shape back. I wonder where I'll be going. I have to train, I've got to get a personal trainer, I've got to make my way back," Evans said. "I'm ready to see what I have to offer as a talent, to see what I have to offer as an entertainer."

She has not announced where she will be wrestling. The 36-year-old former United States Marine is a free agent, and her WWE run included main-event programs with Becky Lynch in 2019, a 2021 Royal Rumble entry, and feuds with Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Asuka.

Evans said she will be documenting her training journey on her secondary Instagram account, @limitlessmacey, where Wednesday's announcement was posted.