Ex-WWE & AEW World Champion Finally Returns To Wrestling
A former WWE & AEW Champion recently returned to professional wrestling.
Saraya, fka Paige, began competing in the indies in 2005, aged 13. After making her presence known in various promotions, she signed with World Wrestling Entertainment.
She competed in Florida Championship Wrestling in 2011 before it was rebranded into NXT the following year, where she was crowned the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion.
In 2014, Paige appeared on the main roster, winning the WWE Divas Championship by defeating AJ Lee on the Raw after WrestleMania 30 in her debut match.
Her title reign lasted 84 days, as she lost to Lee on the June 30 Raw episode. Her second title reign would come less than two months later, but end within 35 days, losing it again to AJ Lee in a triple threat match, which also involved Nikki Bella.
Multiple neck injuries prematurely ended Paige’s in-ring career, resulting in her taking non-wrestling roles in the Stamford promotion. After working in backstage roles for four years, she quit the promotion in 2022.
She joined AEW in September 2022, rebranding herself as Saraya, which is also her real name.
In All Elite Wrestling, she picked a feud against Britt Baker, whom she would wrestle and beat at that year’s Full Gear event.
At the 2023 All In: London, she won the AEW Women’s World Championship for the first time, which she held for 44 days.
After being featured on multiple storylines for almost two years, she quit the promotion in March 2025.
Former WWE Champion Returns To Professional Wrestling
After being away from wrestling for over 9 months, Saraya made her return to professional wrestling.
She recently made a surprise appearance at an Insane Wrestling Revolution event, and later, took to X to express her feelings, by looking back on her initial wrestling days in the independent circuit.
I forgot how fun indies are! Minus my dad’s shows it’s been 14 years since my last one. Was supposed to be a one off but man what a blast, might have to do more 🤔.. Thanks to IWR for having me. We packed the place out and and they were loud af. So fun!!
Till next time ⚡️🖤— SARAYA (@Saraya) December 28, 2025