Following the release of Kelly Kelly from its Divas roster, World Wrestling Entertainment has found a suitable replacement in child pageant contestant and reality TV star Honey Boo Boo.

“Although we wish Kelly Kelly all the best in her future endeavors, we think members of the WWE Universe will hardly notice she’s gone, thanks to the arrival of Honey Boo Boo,” reads a WWE press release issued today.

The star of a hugely popular TLC reality program about a pudgy pageant princess and her hillbilly family, Honey Boo Boo (real name Alana Thompson) is expected to debut on WWE programming soon with a match against Natalya.

Although she has received much less formal in-ring training than Kelly Kelly, Honey Boo Boo is widely believed to be a more proficient and entertaining professional wrestler than her predecessor.

“At the very least, Honey Boo Boo knows how to run the ropes,” said wrestling analyst Oliver Wadrick. “Kelly Kelly never quite figured that one out.”

Before hiring Honey Boo Boo, WWE reportedly considered replacing Kelly Kelly with a pair of silicone implants capped with a blond wig.