Despite only spending about five years on the main roster, Michelle McCool was one of the most accomplished and decorated female wrestlers of her era - one that might get her into the WWE Hall of Fame some day.

McCool surprisingly retired at the young age of 31 back in 2011, her final match being a singles bout aainst Layla at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view. The match stipulation was that the loser would have to leave the company, and McCool was defeated by her former tag team partner and long-time ally.

Few details were given about McCool's decision to leave in the midst of her career, especially given how much she had accomplished in the WWE. Eight years later, and we finally have an answer.

On Lilian Garcia's Chasing Glory podcast (h/t Ringside News), McCool discussed her relationship with The Underaker (they've been married since 2010), and how it drew the frustration of one writer:

"It was tough just leaving in itself was tough because it got to a point where I was dealing with so much again mostly being Undertaker’s girlfriend and why I was on TV and even having a writer throw the papers up one day and say ‘Why don’t we just call it the Michelle McCool and Undertaker show?!'

It was nonstop and I went to Vince on numerous occasions and bless his heart he was wonderful, but I just said Vince, I don’t wanna hate something that I grew up loving so much and the longer I stay the more I’m like like getting a sour taste in my mouth.

So making that decision to leave was as hard as it is, but more than wanting to be in WWE or be a champion I’ve always wanted to be a mom."

McCool and Undertaker would have their first child together in 2012, a year after she had left the WWE. McCool also revealed after her departure from the company that she was dealing with numerous injuries, including a torn MCL.

Related: Goldberg And Undertaker Could Compete For A New Legends Championship

Since her retirement, McCool has made a handful of appearances for WWE. She took part in the very first 30-women Royal Rumble match last year, eliminating four competitors before Natalya finally took out McCool.

On top of that, McCool appeared at Evolution in October - the very first all-women's pay-per-view in WWE history. She was involved in the 20-women battle royal match to determine the No. 1 contender for a championship match, which Nia Jax wound up winning.

What This Means

McCool deserves plenty of credit for retiring while she was ahead, rather than continue to do something that she was no longer all that keen on. She chose family first, and nobody can fault her for that. Even if she only spent five years in WWE, McCool's resume speaks for itself: Two Divas Championships and a pair of Women's Championships. She has done enough to earn consideration for a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

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