Former AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya, a former WWE Superstar, has announced that she is nearing the end of her wrestling career. Saraya revived her career after retiring from WWE in 2018.
Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, suffered a career-threatening injury in 2017. During a WWE live event, Mercedes Mone delivered a backkick to her during their match, which caused her neck injury and forced her to retire in 2018.
Determined to return, Saraya worked hard on her rehabilitation. After her WWE contract expired in 2022, she signed with AEW and made her in-ring return at AEW Full Gear, defeating Britt Baker. Since then, she has established herself as a top star in AEW’s women’s division.
In 2023, at AEW All In at Wembley Stadium in London, Saraya won the AEW Women’s World Championship in her home country. While she had a short reign as champion, she has suffered multiple losses in AEW over the past few years.
Since October 8, Saraya has been absent from AEW television after losing to Willow Nightingale in a match that also featured Jamie Hayter and Nyla Rose, fueling speculation about a possible injury. However, she dismissed the rumors, confirming that she was not injured. Amid this development, she recently made a shocking revelation her wrestling career is nearing its end.
AEW star Saraya on her retirement: ‘It’s very soon’
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Saraya discussed her wrestling future and revealed that her in-ring career is approaching its final chapter. Reflecting on her recent string of losses in AEW, she explained that her focus has been on elevating new stars.
She stated, “I’m letting people beat me, left, right and center. I was on a losing streak, but I just wanted people to get their rub. I want to uplift everybody. I’m not gonna be in wrestling forever. I’m coming to the end of it and it’s very soon. And I don’t wanna go out being like, I need to be on top.”
Saraya has been absent from AEW for over five months, while Toni Storm currently holds the AEW Women’s Championship. With her career nearing its end, will she make a comeback to chase the title one last time and have a final run as champion? Only time will tell.
