Ex-WWE Star’s AEW In-Ring Debut Ends In Disaster
This young star made her in-ring debut on the latest episode of Collision
22-year-old Zayda Steel, who was formerly in WWE as part of the NIL/ID program, made her AEW debut on the January 10th episode of Collision.
Zayda decided not to renew her WWE ID contract and became a free agent. She competed in Ring of Honor, AEW’s sister promotion, last month in three matches.
On her AEW TV debut, she appeared alongside Scorpio Sky and the Sky Flight faction against The Death Riders in a match. After Sky Flight lost, Zayda was seen getting into an altercation with a Death Riders member, Marina Shafir. The Megasus, Megan Bayne, then showed up to deliver a sit-down powerbomb to Zayda.
On the latest episode of Collision: Maximum Carnage, in her in-ring AEW debut, she lost her match against Marina Shafir via submission, setting her off to a rough start at the Jacksonville-based promotion.
AEW’s Tony Khan Sees Promise In Zayda Steel
Despite her loss, Tony Khan’s signing of her means that he and the management trust her ability and talent.
Khan confirmed Zayda’s official inclusion in the roster on X by praising her efforts in her debut match.
She put up a great fight in her AEW debut match on #AEWCollision tonight, and now it’s official:@ZaydaSteel is All Elite! pic.twitter.com/A6SijXTy3A
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 18, 2026
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