Former WWE Divas Champion Paige has announced that she will leave the company on July 7.
The 29-year-old, who was born in Norwich, was forced to retire from in-ring competition in 2018 due to a severe neck injury suffered during a live event. She had already undergone neck surgery nearly two years earlier.
After her retirement, Paige remained a constant fixture on WWE programming. She spent most of 2018 serving as an on-screen general manager.
The following year, she began managing the team of Asuka and Kairi Sane. Her final appearance for the company came in March 2020. She has not been featured on live programming since then.
Despite her main roster stint lasting only four years – and being punctuated by various injuries – between 2014 and 2018, Paige was one of the most popular and successful female Superstars in WWE. She is a two-time Divas Champion. Her first reign began on the night of her main roster debut in April 2014, when she defeated AJ Lee for the title.
Although she has not wrestled since announcing her retirement, fans have held out hope that she will one day be able to return to the ring.
Paige confirms WWE exit
Paige has now officially announced her departure from WWE in a lengthy message on social media. However, despite the news being tinged with sadness, her last paragraph has given fans plenty of optimism.
She wrote: “July 7th will be the last day with WWE.
“I’m so thankful, and I appreciate the opportunities that the company has given me. I will always be appreciative of the company that took in an 18-year-old British pale emo girl that didn’t look like your average diva, giving me the chance of a lifetime and making me feel like a superstar.
“I know after my neck injury taking me out of in-ring status, it was pretty hard to keep me around for as long as you did. For that, I’m thankful too.
“Thank you to the WWE Universe. You guys are the most passionate group of fans I’ve ever seen. Hope you continue to stay on this journey with me.
“I think the toughest part, weirdly enough, is having to let the Paige name go! But Saraya is helluva name. Kudos to my mum for that one.”
Paige concluded the message by saying: “FYI, I’m not saying I’ll never be in the ring. That day will most certainly come again! Wherever the return maybe.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty
