It’s been rumoured for weeks that Paige was returning to Raw (after months of speculation she may be heading to Smackdown Live instead), but it finally happened tonight in Houston, Texas, when the 25-year old former Divas and NXT Women’s Champion Paige returned to the WWE after over a year at tonight’s Monday Night Raw. Paige’s last match in the WWE was in June of 2016, before she was put on the injury list. Paige interrupted the Fatal 4-Way Match between Bayley, Sasha Banks, Mickie James and Alicia Fox for the #1 Contendership to Alexa Bliss‘ Raw Women’s title.
SCREAM FOR HER!!!!! @RealPaigeWWE is BACK on #RAW!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LnJVHemJcL
— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2017
After telling the WWE Universe that she was back, she mentioned that she didn’t come alone. Suddenly two women stormed the ring and took out all four women in the ring. For those who watch NXT, they were instantly recognizable. For those uninitiated, it was two former NXT Superstars, Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose.
Sonya Deville is the more recognizable member, as she’d been getting a small push of late in NXT. Under her real name, Daria Berenato, she was a former MMA fighter, who caught the attention of the WWE Universe in the last Tough Enough in 2015. She was the third competitor eliminated, but soon signed with NXT shortly after the season ended. She became Sonya Deville early this year, last seen on October 18th’s episode of NXT in the first qualifying match for the NXT Women’s title match at NXT Takeover: War Games, facing Ember Moon and Ruby Riot.
Mandy Rose is another member of the 2015 Tough Enough season, who, despite not appearing on NXT TV (except for a few enhancement matches) has become somewhat of a cult favourite on the NXT Live Event circuit. Mandy Rose finished as the women’s runner-up to Sara Lee (who was recently released by NXT). She also joined the cast of Total Bellas last season.
The two have joined with Paige in a new trio faction, who proceeded to issue a warning (and a beating) to current Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss later in the show.
The pleasure is all theirs, @AlexaBliss_WWE…#RAW @RealPaigeWWE @SonyaDevilleWWE @WWE_MandyRose pic.twitter.com/7mE6RcW9h6
— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2017
