Former WWE Divas Champion Paige, AKA Saraya, is expected to return to the WWE at WrestleMania 42, per multiple reports.
PWInsider.com‘s Mike Johnson reported on Friday that Paige recently signed a new contract with WWE, the company where she spent 11 years from 2011 to 2022 before leaving for AEW.
“In a story that would have seemed unthinkable when WWE ruled her medically disqualified from being an active competitor in 2018, PWInsider.com is told that Saraya Jade-Bevis, known as Paige during her original run for the company, has signed to return as a wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment and is expected to return to the ring this weekend as part of Wrestlemania 42,” Johnson wrote.
As the report noted, Paige’s in-ring career ended in 2018 after she sustained a severe neck injury during a live event match on December 27, 2017. She transitioned into the role of a backstage analyst and on-screen general manager, but reportedly wanted to return to the ring, a request that WWE’s medical team declined. The English wrestler would therefore leave for AEW, where she wrestled extensively for nearly two years.
Paige to Return at WrestleMania 42
Per PWInsider, Paige could be inserted as Nikki Bella’s replacement in Saturday’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way match pitting The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria and The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella).
“The belief among those we have spoken with is that Saraya, as Paige, will be part of Saturday’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way, substituting for Nikki Bella who has not been cleared to return from the ankle injury suffered several weeks back on Smackdown.
“We are told she was seen taking part in a run through for the match earlier this week.”
WWE WrestleMania 42 Card
WWE WrestleMania 42 will be a two-night event taking place on Saturday and Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Night 1 match card:
- Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight
- Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)
- Women’s World Championship — Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship — AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
- Women’s Tag Team Championship — Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Nikki & Brie Bella
- Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
- Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton
Night 2 match card:
- Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
- Intercontinental Championship — Penta (c) vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio (Ladder Match)
- WWE Women’s Championship — Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
- United States Championship — Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
- Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
- World Heavyweight Championship — CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
WrestleMania 42 will stream live on the ESPN App in the United States and on Netflix worldwide, beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
Former WWE, AEW Star to Return at WrestleMania 42: Report