- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Saraya Hints at Future Plans After Returning to the Ring
The former AEW Women's World Champion is training again and teasing a potential comeback.
Feb. 19, 2026 at 8:47pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Saraya, the former AEW Women's World Champion, has returned to in-ring training after over a year away from wrestling. Though she hasn't officially announced any plans, Saraya has hinted that 2026 is looking "really great" for her and that she's getting her "lick back" in the ring. The 30-year-old wrestler, previously known as Paige in WWE, was forced to retire in 2017 due to a neck injury but made a comeback in AEW in 2022 before departing the company last year.
Why it matters
Saraya's potential return to wrestling would be a major storyline, as she was one of the most popular and successful women's wrestlers of the 2010s. Her comeback could shake up the women's divisions in both AEW and WWE, where she previously held championships. Fans have been eager to see Saraya back in action after her abrupt retirement several years ago.
The details
Saraya last wrestled in a fatal four-way match for the AEW Women's World Championship in late 2024, which she lost to Willow Nightingale. She then confirmed her departure from AEW in March 2025. In a recent interview, Saraya revealed she has been training in the ring again since January 2026 and hinted at a potential return, saying "2026 is looking really great" for her and that she's "having such a great time" getting back into wrestling.
- Saraya's last match was in late 2024 for AEW.
- Saraya confirmed her AEW departure in March 2025.
- Saraya began training in the ring again in January 2026.
The players
Saraya
A former NXT Women's Champion and multiple-time WWE Divas Champion, who was forced to retire from WWE in 2017 due to a neck injury. She later made a comeback in AEW in 2022 before departing the company in 2025.
Willow Nightingale
The wrestler who defeated Saraya in a fatal four-way match for the AEW Women's World Championship in late 2024.
What they’re saying
“2026 is looking really great. I have a busy schedule ahead of me and that's about it. That's all I'm giving you.”
— Saraya (Muscle Man Malcom)
“I'm just trying to get my lick back. I missed wrestling. I lost my passion for it for a second. I told people months ago I was getting back in the ring in January and I did just that and I'm having such a great time. I said if I was to ever come back to wrestling, I'll be better than I was before.”
— Saraya (Muscle Man Malcom)
The takeaway
Saraya's potential return to wrestling after a multi-year absence would be a highly anticipated event, as she was one of the most popular and successful women's wrestlers of the 2010s. Her comeback could shake up the women's divisions in both AEW and WWE, where she previously held championships, and give fans a chance to see her back in action after her abrupt retirement several years ago.
