Paige Training For In-Ring Return

The Anti-Diva is "not f**King done" with wrestling.

Aug 30, 2021 August 30th, 2021

With this weekend bringing news that Paige's current WWE deal expires in June 2022, the Anti-Diva has now announced how she's making tentative plans to hopefully return to the ring.

Speaking on her Twitch channel, the former Divas Champion confirmed that she's "not f**King done" with pro wrestling, and that she's now mentally ready to start the road to an in-ring comeback.

As per Fightful, Paige said:

"I'm not f**king done. I'm not done yet. This is going to be my comeback story. I'm inspired. I'm so inspired by the people coming back to wrestling, and the more I think about it, I'm like, 'Okay, mentally, I'm ready to go'. I'm going to start working around, getting in the ring a little bit. Maybe. We'll see. This is not saying I'm making a comeback tomorrow. It's a long f**king road. I still have to get cleared by doctors, I have to get cleared by WWE. It's such a big process, but emotionally I'm ready. The past few months, I didn't think I was emotionally ready, but no, I'm f**king ready to get back on the horse. Even if it takes me a year. One step at a time, build to it; that's exactly what I'm doing. There's a whole journey and it's going to take some time."

Paige last competed at a December 2017 live event, with her then officially announcing her in-ring retirement the night after WrestleMania 34 due to neck issues. Following that news, the inaugural NXT Women's Champion served as an on-screen figure as the General Manager of SmackDown and then later as the manager of the Kabuki Warriors tandem of Asuka and Kairi Sane.

Hearing that she's starting on the road to an in-ring return is hugely positive, although it's clear that the English grappler is very much rightfully taking things slowly and seeing how this journey develops.

If and when Paige does return to a wrestling ring, she added how she's going to keep it a surprise. Previously, she's named Edge and Daniel Bryan as two inspirations in terms of returning from forced retirement.

Here's wishing the best to Paige as she looks to return to the ring.

Andrew Pollard

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, Jamie Hayer, 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.

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