Paige recently revealed how frustrating it was to watch WWE’s carefully guarded plan for her return unravel the day before WrestleMania 42, when a canceled signing appearance helped tip fans off to the surprise Triple H had personally arranged.
Speaking on the Nikki and Brie Show podcast, Paige detailed how the deal came together on short notice after Nikki Bella suffered an injury that left her unable to compete.
According to Paige, the call to step in came from the very top.
It was crazy because it was Hunter, Triple H, calling me. We were already in talks about potentially doing something maybe, but it was very last second where they’re like, ‘Can you come to Mania and take Nikki’s place for a second?’ And I’m like, ‘Sure.'
How The Surprise Got Spoiled
Paige explained that she was already booked to appear in Las Vegas during WrestleMania week, so her presence near WWE did not immediately raise suspicion. That changed once one of her scheduled bookings was pulled at the last minute.
Everyone was kind of guessing. Everyone was just like, ‘Oh, Nikki’s hurt. The only person I could potentially replace would be Paige, right?’ So people were starting to guess,” she said.
Then the day of Mania I was supposed to go to a signing, and then at the last second they pulled the signing and got me to go to Mania. And I was like, ‘Well, that gives it away then, because I had to cancel the signing.’ We got so frustrated, you guys, because it leaked the day before.
A Comeback Years In The Making
Paige was let go by WWE in July 2022 when the promotion opted not to renew her deal, one of the final calls made under Vince McMahon’s regime. She went on to wrestle as Saraya in AEW before becoming a free agent in March 2025.
Her WrestleMania 42 appearance marked her first WWE match in nearly eight years. Paige originally stepped away from in-ring competition in 2018 following a neck injury, making her return both a storyline moment and a genuine comeback.
Teaming with Brie Bella, Paige also captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. However, they dropped the title to the Fatal Influence at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
