Ex-AEW Star Saraya Has NOT Held WWE Talks... Yet (WWE News)

Saraya seemingly rules out a WWE return... for now.

Saraya Harley Cameron
AEW

With the all-women Evolution Premium Live Event on the horizon later this month, some fans are hoping for the WWE return of Paige. As per Saraya herself, though, it doesn't look as if that return is quite on the table just yet.

Speaking to The Orlando Sentinel, Saraya revealed she's yet to have any talks with WWE:

"I haven't had a conversation with them. 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."

The former AEW Women's Champion is currently enjoying some time away from the squared circle, although she is seemingly weighing up a wrestling return in 2026:

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“It feels good to take a little break from wrestling and then see the outpouring of love from people saying they want me back. 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.”

It's worth noting that, while this interview was only published yesterday, it was actually conducted on June 17, and we all know how quickly things can change in the wrestling business. By all accounts, though, Paige back in WWE doesn't look like it'll be happening anytime soon.

Paige WWE
WWE.com

From Saraya To Paige To Saraya

Having made her in-ring debut in 2005 at the age of just 13, Saraya signed with WWE in 2011 and was soon given the Paige moniker. Once the FCW developmental territory was shaken up to become NXT, it was the Anti-Diva who'd be crowned the first-ever NXT Women's Champion.

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In a whirlwind few years, Paige would win the WWE Divas Championship in her first main roster match, debuting the night after WrestleMania 30 and defeating AJ Lee for that prize, in turn forcing Paige to vacate the NXT Women's Championship. All of that success would be brought to a crashing halt when ongoing neck issues forced the Brit into retirement in 2018, and she'd then take on various roles with the company - such as being the SmackDown General Manager and being a part of WWE Backstage - before departing the promotion in the summer of 2022.

Post-WWE, Saraya would soon land in AEW, announce that she'd been 100% cleared to resume her in-ring career, and wrestle her first match - against Britt Baker at Full Gear 2022 - in over five years. At All In the following August, Saraya would win the AEW Women's Title at Wembley Stadium. Saraya announced her AEW exit this past March, as she instead turned her attention to non-wrestling ventures, such as her Hell in Boots autobiography.

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As for WWE Evolution, that takes place on Sunday 13 July, with WWE going all out to fill the show with the top female talent of today, tomorrow, and yesteryear. Given how Trish Stratus and the Bellas are being lined up for roles at that PLE, someone like Paige would certainly fit the bill for an appearance. Whether that ultimately happens, that remains to be seen.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.