Saraya Announces AEW Departure and Launches Rulebreakers Podcast

Saraya, the wrestling icon formerly known as Paige in WWE, has officially announced her departure from All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The news comes in the debut episode of her new podcast, Rulebreakers With Saraya, set to premiere this Thursday. Entertainment Weekly exclusively revealed this major development, signaling a new chapter in Saraya's storied career.

During the conclusion of her first podcast episode, Saraya candidly shared her decision to part ways with AEW.

"I'm here to tell you that me and AEW's relationship has come to an end," she stated. "I had an amazing time there. There's no bad blood between us. I had such a magical time."

Saraya explained that she initially planned to take a brief hiatus around the holiday season for personal reasons. However, upon further reflection, she questioned her future direction in wrestling.

"And then I got to thinking — what is there left for me to do in wrestling right now? Right now, there’s really no storylines where I would fit in," she shared.

She made it clear that her departure had nothing to do with AEW founder Tony Khan, expressing gratitude for his leadership.

"It’s just me thinking that I just don’t fit in right now. I feel like I might be taking someone else’s spot, someone who could be doing something really special," she explained.

While stepping away from AEW, Saraya remains open to a potential return in the future.

"That’s not to say I will never come back to AEW — I absolutely love it," she assured fans. "But I’m taking a little step back and focusing on myself for a bit, and putting my energy into the podcast with all the crew here."

She expressed deep appreciation for her experience with AEW, particularly cherishing her time in the women's locker room.

"Thank you, AEW. Thank you to the AEW fans — I loved my f---ing time there," she said enthusiastically. "Tony’s f---ing awesome. And anyone that goes to work there will just enjoy their time. It’s just great. And I’ll miss the girls' locker room. I’ll miss you, but don’t be a f---ing stranger!"

Saraya is now shifting her focus to her podcast, Rulebreakers With Saraya, which promises to be an unfiltered and raw platform featuring an array of guests. The show is dedicated to highlighting individuals who have challenged the norm and carved their own paths in various industries.

The first season will include interviews with AEW’s Harley Cameron, musician Hayes Warner, Teen Mom star Kailyn Lowry, and comedians Brad Williams and Joe Stapleton.

"If they've shaken s--- up, they're on my list," Saraya teased in the trailer. "We're talking about the insane stories that no one else asked about, the fights, the failures, the moments that changed everything."

In addition to guest interviews, Saraya will also release solo episodes covering her personal and professional life, including topics such as veganism and the struggles of supporting an incarcerated loved one.

Saraya's career has been defined by resilience and reinvention. Rising to prominence in WWE under the name Paige, she was forced to retire from in-ring competition in 2017 due to a neck injury. She later made a triumphant return to wrestling with AEW in 2022, capturing the AEW Women’s World Championship in August 2023.

Beyond wrestling, she has now added author to her list of achievements. Her newly released memoir, Hell In Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives, delves into her wrestling lineage, personal battles with substance abuse, the infamous leaked sex tape scandal, and her recovery from a nearly career-ending injury.

Saraya’s remarkable journey from growing up in a wrestling family to achieving WWE superstardom was first documented in the 2012 film The Wrestlers: Fighting With My Family. This was later adapted into the critically acclaimed 2019 biopic Fighting With My Family, starring Florence Pugh as Saraya, alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Vince Vaughn.

As Saraya steps away from AEW, she remains focused on her podcast and other ventures, while leaving the door open for a potential return to professional wrestling. Fans can tune into Rulebreakers With Saraya, produced in partnership with Audacy and Denim Pictures, with executive producers Adam Reynolds and Leah Reis-Dennis. The first two episodes drop this Thursday.

With a fearless attitude and a bold new platform, Saraya continues to redefine her legacy, proving once again why she’s one of the most compelling figures in professional wrestling and beyond.