A former WWE champion has credited CM Punk with inventing one of the most memorable women’s tag team names.
Former WWE Divas Champion Layla recently revealed that CM Punk helped create the name “LayCool,” the popular partnership she formed with Michelle McCool during their time on SmackDown.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Layla explained that WWE officials had begun pushing for the duo to adopt an official team name after they had been paired together for an extended period. While brainstorming backstage, they struggled to find something that worked.
According to Layla, Punk happened to walk by and offered a suggestion that immediately stuck.
“Yeah, he did. He wasn’t even part of the conversation. That’s what’s so funny about it,” Layla said.
Layla Said CM Punk Casually Came Up With The “LayCool” Name Backstage At A WWE Event
Layla recalled that she and Michelle McCool were trying to come up with ideas when CM Punk casually asked what they were doing.
“We’re trying to think of a name. And then we were Cool-Lay, it was so stupid. And then he’s like, ‘LayCool?’ Then we’re like, yeah, that’s it.”
Layla said the moment was completely unplanned and occurred while the group was standing in a backstage corridor.
The former WWE Women’s Champion also revealed that the LayCool partnership was never part of the original plan.
According to Layla, WWE initially paired Michelle McCool with Alicia Fox as part of a developing storyline involving Mickie James. Layla was brought in as a temporary addition while WWE built toward future matches.
“Mickie was brought to SmackDown. Michelle and Mickie were going to go against each other; they first had Alicia Fox,” Layla said. “They needed a filler, and they were like, Layla. So they would put me in there to be the filler so that they wouldn’t touch each other, and they’d save it for the pay-per-view.”
Layla explained that she was not originally expected to become part of the long-term act. She noted that Stephanie McMahon had reportedly envisioned a “mean girl” style faction, with McCool and Fox expected to be central figures.
However, Layla said her chemistry with McCool quickly changed those plans.
“It just started like that. I was never supposed to be in LayCool,” she said. “For some reason, me and Michelle working together, and just the chemistry, and just trust. She trusted me. She gave me so many opportunities.”
