Tag: Paige

WWE Moves AJ Lee, Paige, And Bella Twins To Free Agent Section

WWE has quietly updated its official online roster page, and several high-profile names are now listed as free agents.

Fans spotted on May 8 that AJ Lee, Paige, Nikki Bella, and Brie Bella had all been moved into WWE’s free agent category. Prior to the change, AJ Lee and The Bella Twins were listed under the RAW roster section.

The update means the four stars are no longer officially assigned to a specific brand, potentially opening the door for appearances across both RAW and SmackDown moving forward.

Paige recently made her in-ring WWE return at WrestleMania 42 after stepping in for an injured Nikki Bella during the Fatal Four-Way Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Paige teamed with Brie Bella in the bout, and the duo ultimately captured the titles from The Irresistible Forces.

AJ Lee also made a major comeback to WWE last year after returning in September. Since then, she had been involved in the women’s title picture before dropping the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42.

At the moment, AJ Lee has not been featured in an active storyline, though reports indicate she is expected to resurface on WWE television ahead of a major upcoming premium live event.

While WWE has not publicly commented on the roster adjustments, placement in the free agent section typically allows talent to appear on multiple brands without being locked into one specific show.

“Fighting With My Family” (Paige’s Life Story) To Become A Stage Musical

Paige’s return to WWE has already delivered a major WrestleMania moment—but now her story is about to reach an entirely new audience outside the ring.

After spending years away from WWE working with AEW and pursuing projects beyond wrestling, Paige made a high-profile comeback at WrestleMania 42. Stepping in as a replacement for Nikki Bella, she teamed with Brie Bella and captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, instantly reestablishing herself as a key player in the division. But as it turns out, that in-ring success is just one part of a much larger resurgence.

According to a new report from Deadline, Paige’s life story—previously told in the 2019 film Fighting With My Family—is now being reimagined as a stage musical. The project already has some familiar names attached. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who helped produce and appeared in the original film, is returning as a producer alongside writer and director Stephen Merchant.

The creative team for the musical is also taking shape. British playwright Jon Brittain will handle the book and lyrics, while the music itself will come from songwriting duo Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler. The production is being developed under Cooper’s Tilted Musicals banner, with early plans aiming toward a public debut sometime in 2027.

Johnson spoke about the transition from screen to stage, emphasizing how naturally Paige’s story fits into a live performance setting. He noted that the blend of real-life emotion and the theatrical nature of professional wrestling makes it an ideal candidate for a musical adaptation, suggesting audiences could be in for something unique when it finally premieres.

The original Fighting With My Family film performed well relative to its budget, bringing in over $40 million worldwide and earning solid reviews. It also helped introduce wider audiences to Paige’s journey from a wrestling family in the UK to WWE stardom. Along the way, it gave a boost to rising actors Florence Pugh and Jack Lowden, who portrayed Paige and her brother Zak Knight, respectively, alongside a cast that included Nick Frost, Lena Headey, and Vince Vaughn.

With Paige back in WWE gold and her story heading to the stage, it’s clear her legacy continues to evolve in unexpected ways. From the squared circle to Hollywood—and now to theater—her journey is far from over.

Paige Set for Stunning WWE In-Ring Return at WrestleMania 42

In what once felt like an impossibility, Saraya Jade-Bevis is reportedly heading back to WWE—and not just for an appearance, but for an in-ring return.

According to PWInsider, the former Divas Champion—best known to WWE fans as Paige—has signed with the company and is expected to compete as part of WrestleMania 42 weekend. If the report holds true, this marks a remarkable comeback story for a performer who was medically ruled out of action back in 2018.

The current expectation is that Paige will be inserted into Saturday’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way match, stepping in for Nikki Bella, who is dealing with an ankle injury suffered on SmackDown in recent weeks. There’s already speculation building, especially after reports that Paige was spotted participating in a match run-through earlier this week.

WWE has yet to officially comment on the situation.

For longtime fans, this potential return carries major significance. Paige was a trailblazer during a pivotal shift in WWE’s women’s division. A second-generation wrestler from Norwich, England, she made waves early—debuting in the business at just 13 years old before eventually becoming one of the defining stars of NXT’s early era.

At a time when the main roster women’s division leaned heavily on presentation over performance, NXT—led in part by Paige—focused on in-ring ability and storytelling. That approach would eventually reshape WWE’s entire women’s division, and Paige was right at the forefront of that evolution.

Her main roster debut remains one of the most memorable in company history. The night after WrestleMania 30, a 21-year-old Paige shocked the world by defeating AJ Lee to win the Divas Championship in her very first match. In doing so, she became the youngest Divas Champion ever and the only woman to hold both the NXT Women’s and Divas titles simultaneously.

But her momentum came to a sudden halt in late 2017. During a match involving Sasha Banks, Paige suffered a serious neck injury that led to her being pulled from in-ring competition. Given her history of neck issues, WWE ultimately made the call to medically disqualify her from wrestling in early 2018.

From there, Paige transitioned into a non-wrestling role as SmackDown General Manager and remained a visible figure within the company. Outside the ring, her story reached mainstream audiences through the film Fighting with My Family, which chronicled her journey from a wrestling family in the UK to WWE stardom.

After her WWE contract expired in 2022, Saraya made the jump to AEW, where she successfully returned to in-ring action. She went on to capture the AEW Women’s Championship and remained an active competitor through early 2025, proving that her wrestling career was far from over.

Now at 33, Saraya appears poised to revisit her roots and add another chapter to her already unique legacy—this time back under the WWE banner.

If she does indeed step into the ring at WrestleMania 42, it won’t just be a return—it’ll be one of the most unlikely full-circle moments WWE has seen in years.

Saraya Speaks Out After Fan Reportedly Tried to Kiss Her at Autograph Signing

Former AEW and WWE star Saraya is calling out inappropriate fan behavior after a disturbing incident at a recent autograph signing, where a fan reportedly tried to kiss her without consent.

The incident occurred on Saturday during a public meet-and-greet. Saraya took to Twitter shortly after to express her anger and frustration, writing:

“Crazy I have to say this but. If you come to my signings… please don’t try to kiss me anywhere. Especially ON MY MOUTH. He wasn’t able to because I moved. But Jesus f**king Christ.”

The post quickly went viral, resonating with fans and fellow wrestlers alike, many of whom voiced support for Saraya and condemned the fan’s behavior. The moment has reignited ongoing conversations in the wrestling world about respecting personal boundaries, especially during fan interactions like signings and conventions.

While most fans who attend these events are respectful and appreciative, this situation highlights a persistent issue — particularly for women in the industry — where personal space is too often disregarded. Wrestling may blur lines between characters and real life, but there’s no excuse for violating someone’s autonomy and safety.

Saraya, who has been a high-profile presence in both AEW and WWE, is no stranger to public scrutiny and has long been vocal about setting boundaries with fans. This latest incident only reinforces the importance of wrestlers — and promotions — taking stronger stances on safe fan engagement protocols.

Let this serve as a reminder: admiration does not grant permission. Respect wrestlers as performers and as people — and when you’re at a signing, keep your hands, and lips, to yourself.

Saraya: WWE Medical Staff Said ‘Book Was Closed’ On Neck Injury, Refused To Examine

It was only a year ago when Saraya, then retired following a neck injury, found herself at a crossroads as a free agent after her WWE contract expired. Now, Saraya not only finds herself wrestling again, but a prominent member of AEW’s women’s division – part of The Outcasts with Ruby Soho and AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm.

But in an interview with “Inside The Ropes,” Saraya revealed that she could’ve gone down a different path if WWE would had taken a look at her neck to see if she had healed enough. But that was never something the promotion seriously considered.

“At WWE, I asked to see my neck a few times, and the medical said that the book was closed on that, and they weren’t gonna keep checking on it, which was really disappointing,” Saraya said. “So if I wanted to check on my neck, it would have to come out of my own pocket. Her name was Stacy — that was her who said that, by the way. So it wasn’t anything to do with like Hunter or anything, it was just that medical department, which I thought was a little unfair, but it’s okay.”

Ultimately, things worked out well for Saraya following a phone call from AEW owner Tony Khan, who offered her a job and the freedom to do whatever she wanted, including pursuing an in-ring comeback. Still, Saraya admitted she’s taken this comeback slow, in order to preserve herself as a competitor long-term.

“I was like ‘I’m smarter this time,'” Saraya said. “I have to be smarter. I’m starting my thirties here and I just want to work smarter, not harder, you know what I mean?”

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to “Inside the Ropes”

Saraya (Paige) Makes AEW Debut On Dynamite ‘Grand Slam’

Saraya (Paige) is All Elite.

During Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite ‘Grand Slam’, the former WWE Divas Champion made her debut following a Fatal-4 Way Match for the AEW Women’s Championship that featured Toni Storm, Serena Deeb, Athena, and Dr. Britt Baker.

As Britt Baker, Rebel, and Jamie Hayter were attacking Toni Storm and Athena after the match, Saraya came out to the ring and ran everyone off. She then had a staredown with Britt Baker and the rest of the women in the ring.

AEW President Tony Khan took to Twitter following the segment to announce that Saraya is officially All Elite.

Saraya departed WWE back in July after her contract expired and the company decided not to renew it.

According to a report from Fightful, the company reached out to Saraya after she departed WWE back in July. Fightful Select report also suggested that WWE had expressed interest in hiring Saraya. 

Following “Dynamite,” Saraya took to Twitter to discuss the live reaction to her debut and revealed who allowed her to use the theme song she came to the ring to: “F WOW! Absolutely blown away by the pop in the stadium and the reception outside of it. Been a long journey. Couldn’t be happier to be in @AEW thank you to everyone! 🥹🥹 and thank you to my babe @RonnieRadke for letting me use his song Zombified! LFG!! ❤️❤️”

It’s typical for wrestlers who plan to make a surprise debut to stay hidden beforehand. Saraya tweeted a photo of the outfit she wore yesterday, stating: Thanks @Lizzy_Cupcake for capturing me in my prime hiding attire last night 😂”

 (Saraya) Paige Announced For Starrcast As Her WWE Deal Nears Its End

Earlier this month, Paige revealed her WWE contract will come to an end on July 7 and her deal will not be renewed. The former Divas Champion also confirmed she intends to wrestle again, but as of right now, where exactly she plans to do that has not been revealed. Especially since she also confirmed in the same statement that even though she intends to wrestle again, Paige has not yet been cleared.

While she might not be wrestling there – or if she is that’s yet to be confirmed – what will likely be Paige’s first post-WWE appearance has now been revealed. The soon-to-be former WWE Superstar will be a guest at Starrcast 5. Paige will be meeting and greeting fans at the event as well as hosting her own show which will be called Saraya: Turning The Page.

The name of Paige’s Starrcast show also reveals what name the retired wrestler will be going by once July 7 has been and gone. Saraya was the most likely choice as not only is the name Paige likely owned by WWE in this instance, but Saraya is Paige’s real name. She doesn’t seem to hold much animosity towards WWE, though anything she needs to get off her chest may well be revealed once her contract has officially run down.

Starrcast is returning for a fifth time and will take place across SummerSlam weekend at the Nashville Fairgrounds in Tennessee. The addition of Paige is a big deal, but the crown jewel of the weekend is still Ric Flair’s return match. At the age of 73, The Nature Boy will be competing for the first time in more than a decade. The match has proven so popular that it was recently moved to a larger venue.

As for Paige, her wrestling life has been somewhat stagnant recently. Even though she has been under contract with WWE, she hasn’t appeared on TV since 2020. Paige’s last match was at the end of 2017. In that match, Paige was kicked in the back, suffering the scary injury that would force her to retire at the age of just 25.

Source: TheSportster

Paige Has Got Fans Thinking She’ll Be Back In The Ring In 2022

Paige has got some fans convinced she’ll be back in the ring in 2022 thanks to a one-word tweet.

Paige has continued to fuel rumors that she may be preparing for an in-ring return, hinting that she could be back as soon as January 2022.

The word retirement has never really meant much in wrestling. Wrestlers often have multiple retirement matches. However, more recently, even those who have been forced into retirement thanks to injuries have been stepping back into the ring. Edge and Daniel Bryan are the two biggest examples of wrestlers who were, at one point, told they could never wrestle again.

Paige appears to have been inspired by Bryan and Edge to try and get cleared to wrestle herself. The former Divas’ Champion has been hinting that she is training for an in-ring return, and her latest tweet appears to have confirmed when she is expecting to wrestle again. Paige simply tweeted “January” which has got fans thinking that is when she’ll be back.

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1438166626935840769

Paige wrestled her last match right at the end of 2017, suffering a scary-looking injury when she was kicked in the back by Sasha Banks. The Norwich native had recently returned to the ring after more than a year off. During that time Paige had surgery on her neck and it seems the damage was more extensive than initially feared.

However, three years later, Paige’s injuries may have been rested enough that they have recovered so that she can wrestle again. Either that or medicine has progressed to a point that there are more ways her body can be helped and fixed. The January tweet could also mean nothing, of course, or could be in relation to something entirely different. Perhaps a wrestling project that doesn’t involve her stepping back between the ropes.

Whether it’s in the ring or out of it, it will be interesting to see where Paige shows up next. Although she hasn’t appeared on WWE TV for a while, it’s assumed she is still under contract with the company. January might even be an indicator as to when Paige’s contract comes to an end. It has been reported WWE has been going through contracts checking dates and clauses after what happened with Adam Cole and Malakai Black. Perhaps an upcoming end date for Paige’s contract was discovered in the process.

Source: TheSportster

Paige Provides Big Update On Her Neck Injury

Former two-time WWE Divas Champion Paige has provided an encouraging update on her career-ending neck injury.

Earlier on Friday, Paige informed fans via Twitter that she’s able to squat 185 lbs again and that her “neck is feeling so awesome.”

Paige tweeted:

You guys I’m getting stronger. squatting 185lbs again. I know it’s not a ton but it’s a big accomplishment for me who was worried to do any gym stuff because of my neck. But my neck is feeling so awesome. I’m so proud of myself.

As seen in the tweet below, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix congratulated Paige on her progress. Others such as Zelina Vega, RAW Women’s Champion Nikki A.S.H. and Bronson Reed also sent out encouraging tweets.

Earlier this year, Paige said she was hoping to follow in the footsteps of WWE Hall of Famer Edge and Daniel Bryan, who overcame the odds and returned from career-ending injuries.

The 28-year-old Paige retired in 2018 after suffering a neck injury during a house show.

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1421239004507246593

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Paige Hoping To Come Out Of Retirement, Beth Phoenix Responds

Former two-time WWE Divas Champion Paige is hoping to follow in the footsteps of WWE Hall of Famer Edge and Daniel Bryan and come out of retirement from a career-ending injury.

During a backstage segment on last Friday’s SmackDown, Edge said that Bryan returning to the ring in 2018 inspired him to do the same. Bryan then said that Edge, the winner of the 2021 Men’s Royal Rumble, should pick him as his opponent at WrestleMania 37 if Bryan is able to capture the Universal Championship at Sunday’s Elimination Chamber event.

Edge then asked Bryan if he would call that “a dream match.” Bryan said some people would call it “long overdue,” to which Edge said those people would be right.

While reacting to the segment, Paige tweeted, “one day” with a fingers crossed emoji. She was responding to a tweet from the WWE on FOX handle, which captioned “Retirement” while sharing the Edge-Bryan exchange.

Beth Phoenix, the wife of Edge, reacted to Paige.

“You deserve it,” wrote Phoenix.

Paige, 28, retired in 2018 after suffering a career-ending neck injury during a house show.

Source: Wrestling Inc.