WWE star Jordynne Grace has finally revealed why fans have not seen her on television in recent weeks. While many expected an update on her return to SmackDown, the former TNA Knockouts World Champion instead shared a deeply personal setback involving her dream of becoming a pilot.
Grace, whose real name is Patricia Forrest Gresham, disclosed that she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition that has complicated her efforts to obtain clearance from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Jordynne Grace Says ADHD Diagnosis Has Delayed Pilot Training
Grace shared the update in a lengthy Facebook post after nearly a month without posting about her flight training progress.
According to the wrestler, the issue came to light just before she was scheduled to complete her first solo flight. During the mandatory FAA medical evaluation, she learned that her ADHD diagnosis is considered a disqualifying medical condition for pilots.
She explained that she is now trying to restart the certification process, describing it as lengthy, invasive and expensive.
Grace said she must stop taking her ADHD medication for 90 days before undergoing a neuropsychological evaluation. If she wishes to qualify for FAA medical clearance, she will also have to discontinue the medication permanently.
The evaluation itself costs around $5,000 and involves eight to ten hours of testing designed to determine whether she can safely function without medication while operating an aircraft.
Despite the setback, Grace said she remains hopeful that she will eventually overcome the obstacle.
Admitting that the situation has been emotionally draining, she wrote that while she currently feels defeated, she believes this challenge will one day seem like only a small bump in the road.
WWE Absence Follows Injury And Stop-Start Return
Grace’s absence from WWE television comes after another difficult stretch in her first year on the main roster.
She made an immediate impact following her SmackDown debut earlier this year by entering a rivalry with then-WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill. However, that momentum was interrupted when she suffered an ankle injury during a Saturday Night’s Main Event match against Alba Fyre, forcing her off television.
Grace eventually returned in April and later competed against Tiffany Stratton in a No. 1 Contender’s Match for the Women’s United States Championship. She lost the bout and has not appeared on WWE programming since.
During her absence, Tiffany Stratton went on to capture the Women’s United States Championship, while Grace shifted her focus toward personal recovery and her aviation goals.
WWE Return Timeline Remains Unclear
For now, Grace’s immediate priority is completing the FAA medical clearance process and resuming her journey toward becoming a licensed pilot.
Her return to WWE has not yet been confirmed, but whenever she makes her way back to SmackDown, a potential rivalry with Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton remains one of the most likely storylines based on where both stars currently stand.