All Elite Wrestling star Saraya opened up on her “miracle” return after being cleared to wrestle for the first time in five years. After the Brit left WWE in June 2022, many wondered what the future held for the former Divas champion. Three months later, she shocked the world when she made her first appearance for Tony Khan’s promotion back in September. Known in WWE as Paige, Saraya immediately set her sights on Britt Baker, who has been with the company since its inception in 2019.
After multiple physical and verbal altercations, AEW would announce that after five years, the 30-year-old will contest a match inside the squared circle at AEW Full Gear against its former Women's World Champion, which took place this past weekend. Prior to her big return, the Norwich native sat down with Mirror Sport to explain the process behind her being able to do what she does best once again.
“I was not going to step back in the ring again unless I 100% knew my neck was good to go," she explained. “I did some x-rays and he [doctor] said they look fantastic. It wasn’t going to be the perfect read on what my neck truly is but as of right now, above and below it looks clear there’s no fractions there and my fusions are intact.
“But he said he wanted to know about the fluid around my spinal cord. That was the thing that stopped me from coming back to wrestling. If I got one kick when I didn’t have any fluid around my spinal cord, which is the cushion to protect it, I would be paralysed, so that’s what I was nervous about.” Saraya’s fears were soon put to rest after she was shown the results of her scans.
“So I went and got MRIs and a CT scan on the same day and the doctor said ‘you’re 100% fine, and I couldn’t believe it,” she added. “He said there’s no risk of paralysis and your neck looks 100% ready to go. This is the biggest miracle I could ever hope for, after five years my neck is completely healed.” This was the news many wrestling fans longed to hear, but the hope was gradually fading with every passing year.
But as is the case so often in the world of wrestling, the phrase “never say never” holds more weight than perhaps any other industry. With her brother Zak watching at ringside, after 1,788 days without competing, the star grappler emerged victorious over Baker in a very physical and emotional matchup. Tears formed in Saraya’s eyes as she left the ring to share a warm embrace with her dear sibling. She soaked up the adulation from the crowd who were thrilled to see her not only compete again, but also win.
Post-match, a confident Saraya stated: “I was extremely nervous, I've never felt this nervous in my life. I came in I did exactly what I said I was going to do. I made AEW my house, sorry Britt Baker, but I promised you I was going to take over this division and that’s exactly what I did. So it’s onto the next now.”
Before any part of Saraya’s triumphant return came to fruition however, her and Baker engaged in two brawls prior to their match being announced. This was a risky move from the wrestler, who revealed she agreed to engage in those bouts of physicality with Baker, without officially being cleared yet.
“AEW never cleared me to wrestle up until this recent point," she said. "The first time I got physical me and Britt just did it. We said ‘don't ask permission, ask for forgiveness later.' But Tony was cool with it and the doctors said just ‘please don’t take a bump’, not until we fully know what’s happening with your neck. So we kinda just did it again and they said ‘please go and see a doctor’ and I said I want to see the very best.”
It is unknown what the future holds for Saraya, but one thing’s for sure, she is delighted to have begun a new chapter with AEW, where she aims to bolster their women’s division. Opening up on why she chose to sign with Tony Khan and co over signing a deal with the now Triple H-led WWE, Saraya shared: “I love WWE, everyone has their ups and downs but I was raised there, I was there for over years. I don’t have any complaints, I love them.
“When it comes to my contract not being renewed, Vince and John Laurinaitis said they didn't want to renew my contract which was fine. I got to a stage in my life where I said ‘okay, I'm ready to move on, this is fine, I'm okay with this. A month or so later Triple H came in and took over, and he contacted me and asked if I would like to come back.
“But I got so used to having all that freedom now, but I was still interested. I was also talking to AEW and Tony Khan's fantastic boss also, and he was willing to give me the freedom I’ve always wanted. I didn't want to sit at home for years again when I wasn't doing anything, and I wasn’t able to go and do anything either.
“So I was steering more towards AEW and I got speaking to Jon Moxley, Renee Paquette and Jericho and Britt. They said ‘you can come over here and help the women’s division too behind the scenes.’ I love doing that, that’s my bread and butter, that’s what I’ve been doing for years.
“So I thought it’s somewhere new and I get to help out women and I get to have the freedom outside that I can go and do what I want work-wise and that really sold me, so that’s why I hopped over to AEW. I just wanted something new to sink my teeth into when it comes to the women’s division.”
