Paige VanZant Returns To AEW, Attacks Brandi Rhodes On Dynamite

The former UFC fighter showed up and (almost) gave Brandi Rhodes hell on Dynamite.

Paige VanZant
AEW

Paige VanZant returned to All Elite Wrestling last night, appearing at American Top Team leader Dan Lambert's behest during an in-ring confrontation with Brandi Rhodes.

The segment began with Brandi in the ring, beginning a heel promo before Lambert interrupted with one of his own, drawing babyface pop from the Chicago, Illinois crowd. Flanked by the Men of the Year, Lambert - a self-admitted "rich, angry, sexist, anti-AEW old man" - traded low-brow barbs with Rhodes, culminating in him saying that while slapping the AEW Chief Brand Officer was on his bucket list, he had a better idea.

Out came PVZ. The former UFC fighter grabbed Rhodes when charged then tackled her into the corner, though the women's locker room emptied out to separate the two before significant damage could be done.

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Whether or not VanZant has been signed by AEW is currently unclear, though she has previously appeared for the promotion as part of American Top Team's late-summer 2021 feud with The Inner Circle. A professional fighter, her last bout was for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 23 July, when she lost to Rachael Ostovich.

For now, it looks like she's being put into a feud with Brandi.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.