Former AEW star Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, has made a surprise return to wrestling during IWR’s Seasons Beatings Fest on December 27. Entering to her iconic WWE theme “Stars in the Night,” she received an enthusiastic ovation from the crowd, and after being interrupted, delivered a low-blow that got a huge pop. This marked Saraya’s first involvement in pro wrestling since departing AEW earlier this year, potentially hinting at a 2026 indie run.
Saraya rose to fame as the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion and two-time Divas Champion, becoming the youngest titleholder in WWE history before a 2017 neck injury forced her into retirement. After departing WWE in 2022, she soon joined AEW and surprisingly returned to in-ring action, memorably capturing the Women’s World Championship in 2023 at Wembley Stadium. However, she left AEW in March 2025 by mutual consent, six months before her contract was set to expire, to pursue outside projects.
