Saraya (formerly known as Paige in WWE) has opened up about her emotional decision to sign with AEW in 2022 instead of returning to WWE—and the major factor was family. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Saraya detailed her mindset after parting ways with WWE, the simultaneous offers she received from both companies, and why signing with AEW felt like the right move for her and her brother Zak Knight.
Saraya recalled feeling lost after her WWE contract ended in 2022.
“I was never open to the idea of wrestling again, because I just assumed I wasn’t going to do it,” she said. “So when me and WWE parted ways, I was like, What the f** am I going to do with my life now?* I can’t wrestle, what the hell am I going to do?”
Just weeks later, both WWE and AEW reached out to her.
“Hunter [Triple H] was the one that called me, and then AEW called me at the same time. WWE said, If you want to wrestle again at some point, we can check your neck. But I was just going to do a GM role again there.”
The deciding factor, Saraya revealed, was AEW’s offer to also sign her brother Zak Knight, a lifelong wrestler who had never received a mainstream opportunity.
“That’s been his dream since he could tie his boots… I don’t know if WWE will ever sign my brother, but I know AEW has given me the opportunity to bring my brother in, and he can finally get his moment.”
“I’ve been out here by myself for 13 and a half years without my brother. We grew up like twins… and it always f***ed with me that he never got the opportunity.”
Saraya also wanted an outside, unbiased medical opinion before returning to the ring.
“Tony [Khan] was like, Let’s see where your neck is at, and I said, I don’t want a wrestling doctor. I wanted someone more cautious, so I went to a top California specialist who works with A-list celebrities. If he says yes, I know it’s legit—because he wouldn’t risk his own reputation.”
While Zak Knight briefly appeared in AEW programming, PWInsider.com has since reported that his contract expired in early 2025, and he has since departed the company.
