Paige says her heart was never fully in AEW during her two-year run there, and she thinks it showed in the ring.
Speaking on the Nikki & Brie Show’s live podcast at Fanatics Fest NYC, alongside fellow guest AJ Lee, the former WWE and AEW women’s champion reflected candidly on her time in All Elite Wrestling after leaving WWE in 2022.
I did go to AEW and I did have a great time there, but my heart wasn’t in it. And I feel like you could see that in my performance when I was in the ring there and my character. It was just like, I’m a WWE girl, man. I love WWE.
She was quick to stress there was no bad blood on the way out.
I went there for a couple of years, and then we went our separate ways. It ended really, really great, and I have nothing but love when it comes to AEW and Tony [Khan] and stuff like that.
WWE’s Gravitational Force
For Paige, the pull back to WWE was always there.
When it comes to WWE, that’s just where I’ve wanted to be forever. I’ve been there since I was 18 years old. I gave my neck for this company. I grew up here. I was a baby.
Paige signed with AEW in 2022 and competed under her real name, Saraya, winning the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In London in 2023 before reaching a separation agreement with Tony Khan. She made her surprise WWE return at WrestleMania 42, stepping in for an injured Nikki Bella to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles alongside Brie Bella.
The reign was short-lived. Paige and Brie dropped the titles to Fatal Influence at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden.
What Paige Has Said Previously
Saraya discussed her experience working in AEW for Tony Khan in a March 2025 appearance on Busted Open Radio. She said: “There wasn’t very much left I could do. I don’t think there was a place for me anymore in there.”
Describing Tony Khan’s response to her departure, she said: “He was really great… he’s been so supportive since I asked for time off in November.”
