Paige, the former WWE Divas Champion, dropped hints last year that she was planning a return to the ring on several occasions.
Paige tweeted “January” and “I’m not done yet” in September 2021. [flexed biceps]” she said on her Twitch stream after discussing a possible return to pro wrestling. Paige said during the same stream that she wants her return to be a surprise, so she won’t say when she’ll be back.
Paige fueled speculation a month later, in October 2021, by posting a photo of her wrestling boots with the Divas Title and a poster for the film Fighting With My Family in the background.
Paige’s name began to trend after WWE announced the names of some upcoming Royal Rumble participants on Friday Night SmackDown, despite her name never being mentioned on the show. When she realized this, she pointed out that it was January, the Rumble month.
Paige has previously stated that she aspires to follow in the footsteps of WWE Hall of Famer Edge and AEW star Bryan Danielson, who overcame adversity to come back from seemingly career-ending injuries.
Paige, 29, had to retire after suffering a career-ending neck injury at a WWE live event in December 2017. Paige was thought to be under contract with WWE until 2023, but she recently revealed that her contract will expire in June 2022. Her last WWE television appearance was on March 20, 2020, when she appeared on SmackDown via Skype to confront Bayley and Sasha Banks and announce that Bayley would defend her title in a six-way elimination match at WrestleMania 36. When Dana Brooke was unable to compete, the match became a 5-way elimination match.