Paige (Saraya) Finally Breaks Silence On Missing WWE Royal Rumble

A former WWE Champion has expressed their feelings about missing out on the 2026 Royal Rumble match.

Saraya, fka Paige, is a two-time Divas Champion who was forced to retire in late 2017 due to multiple neck issues. She continued to appear in the Stamford promotion in non-wrestling roles, even serving as the SmackDown general manager.

In June 2022, she departed the company after her contract expired, ending her nearly 11-year stint.

A few months later, Saraya appeared at WWE’s rival promotion, AEW, where she confronted Britt Baker before getting into a physical fight. This was the first time she fought since 2017.

She subsequently began wrestling, even forming a faction called “The Outcasts.” She ultimately became the AEW Women’s World Champion at the 2023 All In after defeating Hikaru Shida.

The 33-year-old left the Jacksonville company in March 2025. Since then, she has focused on other activities, including running her podcast on YouTube.

Saraya Wanted To Be In WWE Royal Rumble

The WWE Royal Rumble is a show with not just the ability to turn fortunes around for wrestlers, but also spring surprises for fans.

In the past, retired wrestlers have competed in the Rumble match, often committing to fan service rather than winning it.

Saraya recently spoke with Freddie Prinze Jr. on his Wrestling with Freddie podcast, where she claimed she wanted to be in the Royal Rumble.

A few days before the event, she even teased returning to wrestling by uploading a video of her inside a squared circle, sparring with independent wrestler Vipress.

A lot of people were mad that I wasn’t in the (Royal) Rumble, and a lot of people thought I was gonna be number 30 too… I’ve had that much support before but, I thought I had lost all that support, because of all my controversy. But it was just absolutely bonkers.

There was thousands of videos across all platforms on just a couple of training videos. It was at 13 million a couple of days ago and now it’s like 18 million. It is just absolutely insane. I cried one day because of it, because I’m just like, ‘I can’t believe people still love me. This is crazy.’

I wish I could be in the Rumble and there was a viral video circulating of the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble, and it was the same year I got told I couldn’t wrestle again and no one knew it at the time, and then fast-forward, I do my retirement speech day after WrestleMania but, no one knew at the time so I wasn’t part of it and I was backstage in Gorilla and I’m really emotional. They have images of me backstage just crying, just being like, ‘This is what I’ve always dreamed of.

This is what I wanna be a part of. I hope one day I can be a part of it again…’ It was viral as well, and everyone’s just like hoping that I was gonna be in this Rumble, that I finally get to be a part of that, that I’ve always dreamed of being a part of. So yeah, it was incredible. I wish I was part of it but it’s more to it. WWE has to make that decision. Not me… Everyone obviously wants me to go back. [H/T: Fightful]

Also read: Saraya Admits Legitimately Angering Current WWE Star During Match