2025 recap
2025: A Year of Refining — Faith, Injury, Identity, and Obedience
If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you know that 2025 was a wild year — professionally, personally, spiritually… all of it.
I usually stick to education-based mini blogs and podcasts for my faith and fitness audience, but this time I felt called to simply share my story.
Because maybe you’re walking through a season that doesn’t make sense yet either.
So let’s start at the beginning.
Wrestling for WWE Again — and Feeling Hopeful
At the start of 2025, I was still wrestling for WWE.
Things were looking UP. In January, a group of us made history by competing in the first-ever match of WWE Evolve, a brand-new show. I had just been cleared from two hip surgeries, and while I wasn’t back on NXT yet, this was the best I had felt in years.
Pain-free is relative when you’re getting suplexed from the top rope — but for the first time, I trusted my body again. My legs felt strong. My confidence was back. And honestly? I was having the most fun I’d ever had wrestling.
Those hip surgeries changed my life. I’ll always be grateful to WWE — not just for my career, but for introducing me to my future husband too.
January felt like a fresh start.
Choosing Conviction Over Comfort
Even though I loved wrestling, I struggled with the earthly pressures of being on TV — especially around modesty and how I was perceived.
There was a disconnect in my heart.
That month, I made a simple but meaningful change: I started wrestling in jorts. And honestly? It was kind of a sick look. I felt more confident, more myself, and people focused on my wrestling — not my body.
Some fans disappeared. And I was okay with that.
My work felt more aligned with my values.
The Match That Changed Everything
In February, I main-evented an Evolve show with a great gal — Kali Armstrong. The timing, chemistry, and energy were perfect.
Until they weren’t.
Late in the match, I hit a second-rope meteora and felt a massive pop in my right knee. I knew instantly — I had torn it.
I told the referee I tore my knee… but I also told him I could finish.
At 27 years old, with two hip surgeries behind me and a torn knee in front of me, I knew what this likely meant. Wrestling is a cutthroat business. I understood the risk.
But if this was it, I was going out strong.
I finished the match on sheer adrenaline and God’s strength alone. I later found out I had torn my PCL — an injury that comes from blunt force to the kneecap.
That night was strangely calm.
And that’s when I remembered something.
The Dream That Came Before the Injury
Back in January — before I tore my knee — I had a vivid dream about The Refinery.
That night after my injury, the dream came rushing back. I realized something: I was already in the refining fire.
So I did the only thing I knew how to do.
I showed up.
Rehab, Release, and Relief
Rehab was brutal — especially after relearning how to walk twice already. I struggled mentally watching practice when all I wanted was to be in the ring.
Months passed. I practiced my comeback on Joe, which was where the majority of my move set occurred, and I did one of my regular moves, and boom, cried out in pain. Immediate tears. Luckily the only people really in the performance center at the time was Joe and medical.
It hurt.
Badly.
That day happened on Monday, and I was medically cleared that Friday, 4 days after.
And later that same day…2 hours after I was cleared, I got a phone call saying that I was being released.
Shockingly, my first emotion wasn’t sadness — it was relief.
Then I cried. I truly loved wrestling…But then like an hour later, I was like, “Joe, I think I am actually okay.” LOL.
Because I already knew what was next.
Building The Refinery Movement by Faith
2 weeks after my release, The Refinery Movement was trademarked.
On June 1st, it officially launched.
But wooo, what a ride so far. Entrepreneurship is not for the weak.
I battled imposter syndrome, fear, overwhelm, and learning curves I never expected. I wore every hat — coach, marketer, app builder, content creator.
Some days I wanted to quit.
Then July came… and I lost my Meemaw — the woman who helped raise me. That was the hardest week of my life.
Losing a false identity — and Finding a Calling
I had to grieve a lot in 2025:
The end of a 27-year athletic career
Public criticism for talking about Jesus
Lost followers
Learning technology I never planned to learn
But God was holding me over the fire just long enough to refine me.
Not to destroy me.
To transform me.
HE IS SO GOOD!
Provision, Peace, and Purpose
The Refinery Movement grew steadily — enough to pay my bills and serve women well. I paused enrollment to build better systems, then reopened stronger.
In November, I traveled to Japan with Joe while still coaching clients remotely — and I felt deep confirmation that I was walking in obedience.
My calling is to be a mom one day.
And this business gives me the freedom to honor that calling.
Jehovah Jireh — God provides. Always.
Looking Up and Realizing: I’m Doing It
One day at a coffee shop, while checking in on clients, sending meal plans, praying over women, just kinda the chaos of a Monday morning — I felt God whisper:
“Look up.”
And I did.
And I realized… Man, Im doing it. I said yes. I stepped out in faith. And God met me there.
In December, I told Joe that 2025 was my favorite year yet.
Not because it was easy.
But because I’ve never been more aligned with God’s plan.
A Year of Refining
2025 tested me.
Refined me.
Strengthened my trust.
And if you’re in your own refining season — you’re not behind. You’re being prepared.
Ready to Be Refined Too?
If you’re a woman who wants faith-based coaching that goes deeper than workouts — into habits, mindset, discipline, and your walk with God — I’d love to walk with you.
✨ Applications are open for the Holy Habits Project ✨
This is high-touch coaching designed to help you build sustainable habits, renew your mind, and align your health with your faith.
👉 Apply for the Holy Habits Project through the link in my bio or website.
You don’t have to white-knuckle transformation alone.
Sometimes refining happens best with guidance. I got ya girl, but most importantly, God’s got ya!
Thanks for reading,
-AJ