After being forced to retire from professional wrestling at the tender age of 25, many believed they would never see Saraya wrestle a match again. But five years after announcing her retirement, the British star was cleared by doctors and able to make a return to the ring.
The former WWE star made her welcome return to in-ring action at last weekend’s AEW Full Gear and marked the occasion with a victory over Britt Baker in one of the most anticipated matches on the card.
Despite needing to shake off some self-confessed ring rust, Saraya came through her return match relatively unscathed and is delighted to be back doing what she loves. Although she has admitted that there are a number of wrestling moves she will not be willing to take due to her past injuries.
“There’s Just Some Moves I’m Taking Out Of My Repertoire” – Saraya
While Saraya has been 100% cleared by doctors to perform in the ring, she recently spoke to the ‘AEW Unrestricted’ podcast about remaining cautious about her neck and revealed a couple of wrestling moves that she will not be willing to take in her matches:
“I need to be cautious this time. I don’t want to take a German suplex, you’ll see plenty of those in other matches. I’m good not taking a German suplex and a piledriver. I can tell a story. It’s fine. I’m still gonna be bumping around and doing my thing. There’s just some moves I’m taking out of my repertoire.”
Following her initial retirement in 2018, the former Paige remained with WWE and performed in a number of non-wrestling roles, most notably as SmackDown general manager. Upon her WWE contract expiring, Saraya departed the company in July of 2022 before making her AEW debut at Dynamite Grand Slam in September.
H/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.