Tag: Saraya

Saraya addresses free agency status, potential WWE return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though she’s currently on a break from pro wrestling, Saraya is contractually free to pop up anywhere whenever she wants.

Saraya confirmed on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet that her departure from AEW was a “clean split.” She is currently a free agent and has no restrictions on where she could appear, including a potential WWE return should that opportunity arise.

“I’m a free agent now,” Saraya said. “I could pop up anywhere. No, my contract’s done, done. That’s the one thing that helped, they gave me the opportunity to walk away from this contract. I mean, not a lot of companies or businesses would do that, you know? But Tony [Khan] was really, really great about it.”

Saraya has not wrestled since October 2024, instead focusing on projects outside the wrestling industry. She’s started a new podcast called “Rulebreakers” and is pursuing acting roles. Those projects are important to Saraya, but she’s also ready to end her wrestling hiatus if the right opportunity comes up.

“Yeah, I am,” Saraya responded when asked if she’s ready to come back. “I don’t want to like — if the opportunity is there, I’ll take it. I won’t chase it too hard, you know? Because, again, I want to be focused on stuff outside of wrestling. I want to get into a bunch of different things. But if the opportunity arises and I get a call to be like, ‘Hey, can you come in and do this?’ Sure.”

Saraya told Van Vliet that, if she were to return to WWE, she would want to do so as Paige rather than wrestling under her real name. She misses being the “badass, tough as nails” Paige, with Saraya feeling like that character is an elevated version of herself. She made the decision to differentiate herself from that persona in AEW. But, in hindsight, Saraya wishes she leaned more into that character.

It’s been nearly eight years since Saraya last competed in a WWE ring. She was medically disqualified from wrestling for the company due to neck issues following a December 2017 match but eventually made her return to the ring for AEW in 2022.

Last month, Saraya told the Orlando Sentinel that she has not had any conversations with WWE regarding a return. Van Vliet asked if she would be open to returning at WWE Evolution this weekend if the company were to contact her.

“It’s like a bittersweet thing, because the first [Evolution], I couldn’t be on it because of my neck,” Saraya said. “So if I had the opportunity to be on this all-female pay-per-view, of course, yeah, I would think about it.”

The 32-year-old Saraya said wrestling is still her first love. She never fully wants to walk away from the industry, even if she takes breaks from time to time.

“I want to go — I think I can squeeze 10 more years out of me,” Saraya responded when asked how much longer she plans to wrestle. “Yeah, 10 more years on and off. We’ll see.”

Saraya says she hasn’t had any conversations with WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

While some fans are hoping to see her return at Evolution, Saraya says she has not had any conversations about a WWE return.

“I haven’t had a conversation with them,” Saraya told the Orlando Sentinel in an interview that was conducted on June 17 and published today. “I know, I always get tagged in everything, as soon as there’s a mystery going around, they’re like, ‘Hey, she’s coming back.’ But no. I love the WWE, but no.”

Saraya — formerly known as Paige in WWE — mutually parted ways with AEW this March, saying she loved her time there and expressing appreciation for Tony Khan and the women’s locker room. Her departure has inevitably led to rumors that she’ll end up back with WWE. Saraya is open to that possibility in the future, but she told the Orlando Sentinel that she’s taking a break from wrestling right now to focus on other pursuits.

“It feels good to take a little break from wrestling and then see the outpouring of love from people saying they want me back,” Saraya said. “I just want to get my feet wet outside of wrestling for a little bit and take care of myself this year. It’s consumed me my whole life. All 32 years of my life has been wrestling, so I just want to find myself a little bit outside it and next year, maybe come back.”

Saraya published her memoir “Hell in Boots” in March and has launched a new podcast called “Rulebreakers.”

It’s been nearly eight years since Saraya last competed in a WWE ring. She was disqualified from wrestling due to neck issues before making her return for AEW in 2022.

WWE Evolution 2025 is taking place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Sunday, July 13. So far, the only match confirmed for the all-women’s event is Jacy Jayne defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Jordynne Grace.

Saraya says she turned down ‘love storyline’ with Daddy Magic in AEW

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Saraya once turned down a romantic storyline in AEW, feeling it would be inappropriate since she had a real-life boyfriend at the time.

During a new Q&A episode of her Rulebreakers podcast, Saraya was asked if she ever turned down a storyline in AEW or WWE. Saraya revealed that, when she was in AEW, she was asked to do a “love storyline” with Daddy Magic (Matt Menard) but rejected the idea.

“Daddy Magic, they wanted me to do a love storyline with him, and I’ve managed to go on my whole career without doing a love storyline, and I wasn’t going to start it, you know? And they were like, ‘No, all he’s going to do is kiss you.’ And I had a boyfriend at the time, and I was just like, ‘I can’t do it, you guys. I just can’t do it.’ So I turned down that,” Saraya said. “And then there’s not really anything storyline-wise else that I’ve turned down. It’s just like if I have to kiss someone and I have a boyfriend, I just don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Saraya said she loves Daddy Magic and thinks he’s a good guy, but the storyline just wasn’t something she could do. Saraya did play a part in AEW’s romance angle with Ruby Soho and Cool Hand Ang (Angelo Parker), who are a real-life married couple that welcomed their first child into the world in October 2024.

Ronnie Radke of the band Falling in Reverse was Saraya’s boyfriend at the time, but the two have since broken up.

It was announced earlier this year that Saraya is no longer with AEW. She mutually parted ways with the company and is currently taking a break from wrestling and focusing on other interests.

Saraya on never wrestling in Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber: ‘Maybe one day I will’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Saraya is taking a sabbatical from wrestling but plans to return to the ring by the end of the year.

The 32-year-old announced her departure from AEW in March, calling it a mutual decision between her and the company. Speaking with TV Insider, Saraya said she intends to “get her feet wet” outside of wrestling in the near future, but hopes to begin training again later this year—ideally at Natalya’s gym in Florida.

Saraya said:

“I would like to get back in the ring this year and really train and find myself again. I feel like I didn’t do that the past couple of years. I want to do the training side of things. I want to go to Nattie’s training. School and get in the ring with her. That’s my focus this year. I didn’t get to do a Royal Rumble or an Elimination Chamber or anything I didn’t get to do. Maybe down the line I will get to do them, who knows?”

Later in the interview, Saraya mentioned how today’s female wrestlers get to wrestle matches she wasn’t able to earlier in her career.

She continued:

“I’m proud of the women today. They get to do matches I wasn’t able to do in my time. This revolution started around my time. Now they get to do these stipulation matches the guys get to do. It’s bittersweet for me because I think about how I wish I could be more involved in that, but at the same time, I’m proud of them all. They grabbed the brass ring and ran with it. They are doing amazing things. The women in all companies are absolutely killing it.”

Saraya is currently promoting her memoir Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives, which was released on March 25. Her podcast Rulebreakers launched two days later, on March 27. She announced her AEW departure in the first episode.

Saraya’s full interview with TV Insider is available here.

WOR: Saraya & Mina Shirakawa, TNA departures, AEW & NXT TV recaps

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Dave Cameron, updates on Saraya and Mina Shirakawa, Orlando bidding on WWE and UFC, a lot of ratings notes, AEW and NXT TV reports, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Dave Cameron passes away, more on Bill Mercer

7:54: Saraya leaves AEW, Mina Shirakawa signs with AEW

16:17: TNA departures

21:07: Orlando launches bid to host future WWE & UFC shows

27:24: Ratings

41:18: AEW Dynamite recap

1:03:45: WWE NXT recap

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Saraya announces ‘mutual’ departure from AEW: ‘There’s no bad blood’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya is no longer with the promotion.

After having been on hiatus since October, Saraya confirmed today that her time with AEW is now over. She called the “parting” mutual and said AEW will always hold a special place in her heart.

“It’s mutual! But I loved my time at AEW and I had such a blast with the girls there,” she tweeted. “It’ll hold a special place in my heart. Tony was a great, AEW was great. I feel so lucky to be apart of this family for a couple years. Here’s to 2025! Wtf am I gonna get myself into now.”

Saraya is now a published author with her memoir — “Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives” — having been released yesterday. She’s pursuing acting roles and is launching a new podcast called “Rulebreakers” this week. The first two episodes will debut on Thursday.

Entertainment Weekly published exclusive quotes from the yet-to-be-released podcast’s first episode.

“I’m here to tell you that me and AEW’s relationship has come to an end,” Saraya said. “I had an amazing time there. There’s no bad blood between us. I had such a magical time.”

Saraya felt like there wasn’t a spot for her in AEW right now and doesn’t think there is much for her to do in wrestling at the moment, but she left the door open for an AEW return in the future.

“That’s not to say I will never come back to AEW — I absolutely love it,” Saraya said. “But I’m taking a little step back and focusing on myself for a bit, and putting my energy into the podcast with all the crew here. What a wonderful crew I have here.”

During media interviews, Saraya has also mentioned a potential WWE return as something she is open to in the future. She previously wrestled for WWE as Paige, holding championships both on the main roster and in NXT.

AEW wrestler Harley Cameron will be among the guests on the first season of Saraya’s podcast, with musician Hayes Warner, Teen Mom star Kali Lowry, and comedians Brad Williams and Joe Stapleton also set to appear.

Saraya debuted for AEW in 2022 and last wrestled for the promotion in October 2024. On her podcast, she thanked the AEW fans and had praise for Tony Khan as a boss.

“Thank you, AEW. Thank you to the AEW fans — I loved my f—ing time there,” she said. “Tony’s f—ing awesome. And anyone that goes to work there will just enjoy their time. It’s just great. And I’ll miss the girls’ locker room. I’ll miss you, but don’t be a f—ing stranger! You know where I am. I see some of you outside the company anyway.”

Saraya teases big announcement: ‘I’m about to start a whole new life’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Saraya says she has something big to announce.

The 32-year-old’s memoir, Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives, releases today. During an interview to promote the book, Saraya said her life has “changed drastically” over the last few months, and fans will soon find out why.

“I need to write a second book because the way the book ends—I can’t change it now because it’s already out—but things have changed in the past four or five months, things have changed drastically,” Saraya said during an appearance on The Wrestling Classic.

“I need to write a new one because I’m about to start a whole new life and I’m really excited for people to learn about what’s happening.”

She says an announcement will be made when she debuts her new podcast, Rule Breaking.

“I do have my my new podcast that’s coming out,” she said. “And I’m going to be making a big announcement on the first one so I’m excited for people to find that out.”

Saraya’s AEW contract is believed to expire in September. When asked about a potential match against Mercedes Mone in the promotion, she said that she may not be around to wrestle her.

“We both wanted to, so we were just waiting for that trigger to be pulled, but I think she has other people that she has to wrestle for right now. I don’t know when that time would be. Unfortunately, I may not be there to be able to do that with her.”

“It should have happened a while ago but it is what it is. We wanted it but it hasn’t been the right time, I guess.”

On Monday evening, Saraya posted a lyric from her WWE theme song, Stars in the Night, to social media.

While talking about her book, Saraya said that she hopes readers will walk away feeling inspired.

“I want them to walk away and know whatever they’re going through is going to get better, that’s all. I just want people to be inspired,” she said.

Her full appearance on The Wrestling Classic is available below:

Saraya gives update on AEW return: ‘There isn’t really a spot for me right now’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Saraya will eventually be back in the ring, but she doesn’t feel like AEW needs her right now.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion has been away from the promotion since October 2024. She’s currently on a media tour to promote her new memoir “Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives,” with the book set to be released this Tuesday. While appearing on the Lightweights Podcast, Saraya said she’s been doing great and staying busy but has been devoting most of her time to non-wrestling projects.

“Oh my gosh, yeah, so this year’s been really frigging busy, which is great. Like, I’ve been doing a lot of self-tapes, which is like auditions that you do [for acting roles],” she said. “I do self-tapes. I do, obviously, media for the book and all that kind of fun stuff. And then, yeah, just a lot of things outside of wrestling. I haven’t been doing a lot of wrestling things.”

Saraya said she loves wrestling and will be back at some point. However, she doesn’t feel like there’s a spot for her at this very moment.

“Yeah,” Saraya responded when asked if she wants to get back in the ring eventually. “I mean, I feel like at this age and time, there isn’t really a spot for me right now. I feel like everybody’s got their own thing. Eventually — I love wrestling, I will be back at work at some point. But, right now, it’s just like — it’s good. They don’t need me. They don’t need me [smiles].”

Though she hasn’t given a timeframe for when she plans to retire, the 32-year-old Saraya recently told Sports Illustrated that the end of her in-ring career is coming soon. She said she wants to uplift other competitors during the time she has left in the ring.

Saraya’s AEW contract is scheduled to expire this September. She indicated to TMZ Sports earlier this year that she could be open to returning to WWE one day, but Saraya said she’s loved her time in AEW.

Saraya says end of her wrestling career is coming ‘very soon’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It doesn’t look like Saraya has much time left as an in-ring competitor.

Though she did not give a timeline for when she expects to retire, the 32-year-old Saraya told Sports Illustrated that the end of her in-ring career is coming “very soon.” She said she’s focused on uplifting other competitors during the remaining time she has left.

“I’m letting people beat me, left, right and center. I was on a losing streak, but I just wanted people to get their rub,” Saraya said. “I want to uplift everybody. I’m not gonna be in wrestling forever. I’m coming to the end of it and it’s very soon. And I don’t wanna go out being like, I need to be on top.”

Saraya has been on hiatus from AEW since October 2024, but she’s ready to return whenever the time comes. Her contract with AEW is scheduled to expire this September. She’s been with the promotion since departing WWE in 2022.

Formerly known as Paige, Saraya recently indicated to TMZ Sports that she would be open to returning to WWE one day. But Saraya did say that she’s loving her time in AEW. She’s had one reign as AEW Women’s World Champion while with the promotion.

Neck issues left Saraya unable to compete for five years from 2017-2022, but she’s remained healthy since coming out of retirement for AEW.

“Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives,” a memoir written by Saraya, is set to be released next Tuesday (March 25). She’s announced upcoming book signing dates in Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Kansas City, and Cherry Hill (New Jersey).

Saraya’s brother Zak Knight no longer with AEW as contract expires

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Zak Knight, the brother of former AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya, is no longer #AllElite after his contract expired last month, according to PWInsider.

After going 3-0 in Ring of Honor, Knight was signed in February 2024 and introduced as a potential love interest for Ruby Soho as part of Saraya’s revamped Outcasts group.

He made his AEW in-ring debut against Soho’s husband Angelo Parker on an April 2024 Rampage, picking up a win. He then won four straight dark matches from May through June 2024, in addition to two ROH wins, and was never heard from again on TV. Knight has wrestled sparingly in the UK since last August.

After signing a one-year extension, Saraya has been away from AEW since last October as she was working on TV projects and preparing for the upcoming release of a book. She said in late-January that she is ready to return, but is waiting on the right story which she hopes is against TBS Champion Mercedes Mone to play off their past in WWE.

Wrestling Observer Radio: WWE Royal Rumble preview, Saraya’s comments about WWE

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with our Friday episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Here were some of the things we covered:

  • Come hang out with Bryan and Dave in Las Vegas
  • Royal Rumble preview
  • The two obituaries in the issue
  • Saraya’s comments to TMZ
  • AEW Grand Slam
  • AEW Dynamite & NXT ratings
  • Bryce Mitchell’s idiocy
  • The rest of the categories for the Observer Awards

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)

Saraya ready to come back to AEW, won’t rule out WWE return

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

After being on the sidelines for nearly four months, former AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya is ready to return to action.

The 32-year-old had a brief talk with TMZ that was posted Friday where she was asked about her status, saying she wants to find the best time to reintroduce herself. She hopes that when she does, it will be against reigning TBS Champion Mercedes Mone — a match that she said is “important.”

Mone was in the ring with Saraya in WWE when she suffered a neck injury in December 2017 that put her into an early retirement for five years before she eventually returned in an AEW ring in November 2022.

She last appeared in a four-way number one contender’s match on the October 8th Dynamite and said in late-November that she was taking time off to work on TV projects. Her first book is due out this March.

TMZ asked her if she wanted to return to WWE at some point to which she said, “Yeah, I love WWE. One day…who knows?” before saying she has loved her time in AEW and later joked she didn’t want to get in any trouble.

After reportedly signing a one-year deal last September, she confirmed it expires this September.

Saraya (then Paige) departed WWE after her contract expired in July 2022, signing with AEW later that year. At the time, she told a story about Paul “Triple H” Levesque attempting to keep her by offering her a chance to wrestle or take on an on-screen role as general manager which she considered taking.

Daily Update: Netflix price increase, Penta, Saraya

Posted on by Bryan Rose

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Saraya ‘taking a little break’ from AEW to focus on TV projects

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Saraya has been off the AEW grid for nearly two months and on Thursday, she revealed why.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion attended the American Reality Television Awards and while doing an interview, she gave an update as to her status.

“I’m taking a little break right now so I can do more of this (red carpet/events) again. I haven’t been on a red carpet in a minute. It’s nice to be back,” she said.

Saraya last appeared in a four-way no. 1 contender’s match on the October 8th edition of Dynamite.

The 32-year-old said she recently co-hosted an episode of Catfish, a long-running documentary series on MTV “about the truths and lies of online dating.” She said everything on the show is completely legitimate and that she was blown away by the experience. She would love to host a show based on the popular The Challenge show and anything that is active.

She reportedly signed a one-year extension with AEW in September and has a biography coming out in March 2025.