10 Reasons 2022 Was Wrestling's WILDEST Year Ever
7. Saraya Leaves WWE, Heads To AEW
When Paige announced this summer that she was leaving WWE,
her wrestling home of 11 years, at the end of her contract, it raised questions
about her future, and whether this could signal bigger news on the horizon.
After all, Paige hadn’t wrestled since December 2017 when a neck injury forced her into a premature retirement. Despite keeping active with WWE in various roles – manager, GM, commentator, studio host – it felt like she was never fully utilized. Her appearances also served as a reminder of a career cut far shorter than it ever should have been.
Fast-forward to September, when Saraya (Paige’s real name) debuted at AEW Grand Slam, and then to Full Gear in November, when she returned to the ring, defeating Britt Baker, and her journey had come full circle finding her way back to wrestling. Saraya has gone from being retired at 25 to having a second chance at an in-ring career. That in and of itself is insane, and the fact it only happened after jumping ship from WWE makes it even wilder.
Saraya was one of the biggest female free agents on the
market, save for maybe Sasha Banks (more on her later), making it a huge “get”
for AEW. As she reacclimates in the ring, Saraya could continue to provide more
of a boon to the company.