WWE Had A "Different Plan" For This Current AEW Star

Vince McMahon planned to do things his way when this AEW star visited WWE HQ.

by Jamie Kennedy
Paige Vanzant
AEW

AEW star Paige VanZant claims WWE had a very "different plan" for her pro wrestling career.

VanZant told Renee Paquette and Miesha Tate on the pair's 'Throwing Down' podcast that she visited WWE headquarters "about a year ago". The future All Elite worker was there to discuss inking a deal with the company and beginning her journey from MMA to wrestling.

It didn't work out.

Advertisement

Paige hinted that WWE weren't as on board with the idea of her continuing to fight during her training - Tony Khan is letting VanZant "fight MMA and do bare knuckle boxing" as she preps for a run on Dynamite, Rampage and AEW pay-per-view. That freedom was a huge thing for her.

Presumably, WWE weren't so keen on the thought of VanZant fighting when she was under contract. That was something Dan Lambert's current on-screen client didn't have a clue about until hitting WWE HQ for a chat with top brass.

Advertisement

Paige has yet to work her first match for AEW, but it's surely imminent. She did seem destined for a feud vs. Brandi Rhodes before Brandi and Cody left the promotion.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.