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Saraya’s AEW Contract Set to Expire

5K views 58 replies 36 participants last post by  Hotdiggity11  
#1 ·
A notable AEW star’s contract is currently set to expire next month, with conversations having begun regarding an extension.


Former WWE Diva’s Champion Saraya (FKA Paige) made her debut for AEW back at the Grand Slam episode of AEW Dynamite in 2022.

Following her debut, Saraya was cleared to return to in-ring competition, returning to the ring at Full Gear in 2022, taking on Britt Baker.


In an update on Saraya’s status with AEW from Fightful Select (subscription required), Saraya’s contract with the company extends until at least September, where there were option years available for her.


The nature of the option years has been “up for debate internally” as sources have claimed each side held them, but Fightful reports the two sides have “at least been in talks” for a potential extension of the current deal for a year – whether that be the option in the current contract being exercised, or an entirely new contract.



Fightful notes that, while Saraya does not currently have an official match announced for this year’s All In, she is “planned for the show”.


Last year, she won AEW Women’s World Championship, before losing it back to Hikaru Shida just 44 days later.


Saraya has mentioned in interviews that the door was left open for a WWE return after she had a conversation with Triple H upon her departure in 2022, as it was the previous regime’s decision to not have her re-sign.
Source: Notable AEW Star's Contract Set To Expire Next Month - WrestleTalk
 
#2 ·
She's past it, her debut was cool and she won the title at Wembley, but she's been lackluster. She's a "Divas Era" talent that just doesn't fit in anymore with the current crop of talent in AEW/WWE, especially when you have talents like Giulia and Vaquer on deck in WWE if she decided to go back there. She's still hot though. I wonder how they utilize Saraya at All In this year though if she's "planned for the show".
 
#4 ·
She'd be better in WWE.

History there, crowd would be more receptive, more opportunity to work with better talent, more opportunity for TV time as WWE has Raw, SD and NXT going.

Paige like many of ex WWErs would be better without creative freedom. WWE isn't going to put her brother on national television with her. Doubt she'll ever be a champ in WWE but she'd be a decent throwaway PPV opponent on those England PPV's WWE has.
 
#25 ·
She'd be better in WWE.

History there, crowd would be more receptive, more opportunity to work with better talent, more opportunity for TV time as WWE has Raw, SD and NXT going.

Paige like many of ex WWErs would be better without creative freedom. WWE isn't going to put her brother on national television with her. Doubt she'll ever be a champ in WWE but she'd be a decent throwaway PPV opponent on those England PPV's WWE has.
She can mentor Tatum but I think she’ll return since HHH likes her
 
#5 · (Edited)
I'm not sure what she offers to any company at this point. She's not media savvy, she's not particularly entertaining, and perhaps most importantly the bulk of the women's wrestling landscape has passed her by.

She'd be better in WWE.



History there, crowd would be more receptive, more opportunity to work with better talent, more opportunity for TV time as WWE has Raw, SD and NXT going.



Paige like many of ex WWErs would be better without creative freedom. WWE isn't going to put her brother on national television with her. Doubt she'll ever be a champ in WWE but she'd be a decent throwaway PPV opponent on those England PPV's WWE has.
Needing to be reigned in creatively isn't limited to ex-WWE acts. There just isn't many people in the business PERIOD better off with significant creative freedom.

Saraya is a non-entity in AEW and WWE has a significantly BETTER Women's division than AEW. There's not much room for her there either.
 
#6 ·
I could see her going back to the WWE, if for no other reason that it feels like she's hit her ceiling in AEW. But she'll hit her ceiling in WWE quickly as well.

WWE have too many women on the roster now in all honestly, the roster in general is bloated. There's already so many women being underutilised and then so many more incredible talents on the way in.
 
#8 ·
I have no idea how good or bad she is because despite her being there for awhile now I've only seen her wrestle 3 or 4 times. I've only heard her on the mic 2 or 3 times. Like many AEW wrestlers her debut was the best part of her run.

Tony spent a lot of money for nothing. No sense I'm bringing back another part timer.
 
#21 ·
Saraya is to exposed in AEW as she’s hasn’t been good since she signed. The Outcasts run she overshadowed by both Toni and Ruby. Wembley moment last year was just a thank you to her. AEW roster is just to stacked for her to do anything as majority are either more exciting or just simply more of the total package.

WWE return might work but other than a pop return, would be much the same as AEW.

The best for her would probably be TNA as they have the lightest schedule, smaller roster and there is the NXT deal so she could still appear in WWE, if WWE want her. In TNA, she’d likely win Knockout title so another accolade for her career and would actually be the first to win AEW, WWE and TNA belts.
 
#29 ·
Like so many others, she's a victim of TK booking.
 
#30 ·
All the people saying she'll return to WWE forget that WWE never medically cleared her and she was on a lucrative contract for years without wrestling. They decided not to negotiate / renew and AEW picked her up.

They ain't gonna re-sign her on a contract not to wrestle again. She's likely staying in AEW unless Tony releases her.
 
#35 ·
She's past it, her debut was cool and she won the title at Wembley, but she's been lackluster. She's a "Divas Era" talent that just doesn't fit in anymore with the current crop of talent in AEW/WWE
She was exact opposite actually. She was standout independent performer in UK prior to signing with NXT (FCW). In stark contrast to what the actual "Divas" were ie signed usually with zero knowledge of the business even and thrown on Raw or SD with a week's training. Divas era was long over when Paige debuted on Raw in 2014.
I assumed it was the Vince regime that didnt want to let her wrestle, and if WWE really plans to bring back AJ then makes no sense they dont do it with Saraya tbh
It wasn't Vince but the doctors who wouldn't clear her, same doctors still work there and with NFL. There is zero chance WWE clear her to work with the lawsuit already hanging over NFL and UFC
 
#37 ·
She was exact opposite actually. She was standout independent performer in UK prior to signing with NXT (FCW). In stark contrast to what the actual "Divas" were ie signed usually with zero knowledge of the business even and thrown on Raw or SD with a week's training. Divas era was long over when Paige debuted on Raw in 2014.
It wasn't Vince but the doctors who wouldn't clear her, same doctors still work there and with NFL. There is zero chance WWE clear her to work with the lawsuit already hanging over NFL and UFC
The divas era was most definitely NOT over in 2014. Look back at the roster of women in 2014.

The Bellas, Rosa Mendes, Aksana, Layla, Kaitlyn(one of the better "divas" era talents), Cameron, Alicia Fox, Naomi(long before she was a decent hand), Eva Marie came in that year, Tamina, and Nattie. That's a far cry from a division based around "wrestling". The group in NXT was a sign of the shift but they weren't major players yet and even after the call up of Becky, Charlotte and Sasha(all of whom quickly surpassed Paige in talent alone) in 2015 it took some time for the shift to really start to take hold. He'll they tried to throw Mandy Rose on to the main roster with limited experience in 2016.

Paige may have been a standout in the early 2010s and been a largely unique performer on the WWE main roster in 2014 but she's STILL that same performer. No growth, no adjustment and it's now 2024. Even her contemporaries from that timeframe exist in two camps. Becky, Sasha, Bayley, Charlotte, flourished and people like Emma, Peyton, and Billie are all essentially out of the business because they were passed by. That's without mentioning that there has been a massive improvement in WWE's women's division whether it be people that dreamed of being pro wrestlers or were people hired with no experience in the industry and it's still getting deeper and more loaded with talent.
 
#45 ·
Honestly, just thinking about this Outcasts angle makes me angry. They did pretty much the same segment like 6 weeks in a row. Outcasts beat Britt Baker down, Riho makes the save. Outcasts beat Riho down, Britt Baker makes the save etc... and just the logic of having a heel with a "feel good" title win.

I'm glad you enjoyed it
 
#48 ·
Wasted her best years injured and partying
Image
kind of shame she had talent and at the time a unique look but threw it all away and only had herself to blame.

She's been really mishandled by Tony too,so I wouldn't be surprised if she returned to WWE for a cheap pop and minor push before disappearing into catering and coming out when the new NxT calls ups need a Natay.......... I mean veteran to beat up.