WWE fans will be treated to a celebration of the company’s women’s wrestlers this weekend, as WWE Evolution gets underway for a second time. The original Evolution PLE took place in 2018. But could the fans be treated to an extra special surprise with the return of a former women’s world champion?
Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Several leading stars have already been confirmed for the PLE, with the likes of Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair set to compete in championship matches. But faces from the past, including Trish Stratus and Nikki Bella, are also set to compete this weekend. Sitting down on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Saraya, known as Paige in WWE, seemed eager to make up for lost opportunities.
“It’s like a bittersweet thing, because the first one, I couldn’t be on it because of my neck [injury],” recalled Saraya. “So if I had the opportunity to be on this all-female pay-per-view, of course, yeah, I would think about it.”
WWE Evolution: A Second WWE Chance for Paige?
The first WWE Evolution PLE took place in October 2018, six months after Paige announced her in-ring retirement. After taking on various non-wrestling roles, including SmackDown general manager, Paige exited WWE in 2022.
She would soon join AEW in a wrestling capacity as Saraya. She went on to capture the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In 2023.
Since her AEW exit in March, Saraya has been exploring other avenues outside of wrestling. She released her biography, “Hell in Boots”, and started a podcast, Rulebreakers With Saraya. AEW star Harley Cameron appeared as the podcast’s first high-profile guest.
Despite a litany of new ventures, Saraya expressed a longing to reconnect with her Paige persona. It is suggested that, should WWE come calling, Saraya would have a difficult time turning that offer down.
“I miss Paige so much,” Saraya said. “I loved being her. She was a f***ing badass, and that felt more like an elevated version of myself, rather than doing what I was doing in AEW. But again, that was my decision to be [a chicken s**t heel]. But then I was like, ‘Damn I wish I leaned more into my original character.’ But it is what it is. You live, you learn.”
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Paige, Saraya, WWE Evolution 2025, and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments) and Peacock (WWE Main Event as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
