Saraya Confirms AEW Departure: "I Just Don't Fit In Right Now" (AEW News)
Saraya announces AEW departure in her Rulebreakers With Saraya podcast's first episode.
Saraya is leaving All Elite Wrestling.
The former AEW Women's World Champion will formally announce her decision on the first episode of her new podcast, Rulebreakers With Saraya, which drops on Thursday. Entertainment Weekly has the scoop ahead of time.
"I'm here to tell you that me and AEW's relationship has come to an end," said Saraya on Rulebreakers' inaugural episode. "I had an amazing time there. There's no bad blood between us. I had such a magical time."
Saraya stated that after asking for time off from AEW last year, she started wondering what was left for her to do in wrestling. "There's really no storylines where I could fit in," she claimed, adding that AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan had nothing to do with her decision. Rather, it was the feeling that she didn't fit AEW right now, and may be taking somebody else's spot "who could be doing something really special."
The 32-year-old claims she is open to returning to AEW someday. For now, however, she is "taking a little step back and focusing on myself for a bit."
"Thank you, AEW. Thank you to the AEW fans — I loved my f---ing time there," Saraya said. "Tony’s f---ing awesome. And anyone that goes to work there will just enjoy their time. It’s just great. And I’ll miss the girls' locker room. I’ll miss you, but don’t be a f---ing stranger! You know where I am. I see some of you outside the company anyway."
Recently, Saraya told Booker T that she'd "absolutely" go back to WWE if given the chance.
AEW had not officially confirmed Saraya's departure at the time of writing.
Saraya had been with AEW since September 2022, when she debuted during that year's Grand Slam special in Queens, New York. She had been released by WWE three months prior and had not wrestled since 2017 at the time, having been forced into an early retirement due to a string of neck issues.
Saraya ended up wrestling 28 total mades for AEW. Her biggest in-ring success came at All In London 2023, where she defeated Hikaru Shida, Britt Baker, and Toni Storm to become AEW Women's World Champion.