Paige’s return at WrestleMania 42 delivered one of the weekend’s biggest surprises. Nevertheless, new footage shows the moment that nearly didn’t happen — and why it meant so much.
The former Divas Champion stepped back into a WWE ring on April 18 in Las Vegas after an eight-year absence. She replaced an injured Nikki Bella in a high-stakes match.
However, the story behind her return adds a deeper layer to what fans witnessed on the grandest stage.
Paige reveals emotional reaction to WWE medical clearance before WrestleMania 42
In footage shared on April 21 (via @FadeAwayMedia), Paige opened up about the moment she learned she had received clearance to compete again. “I just got some great news… I am cleared to go home, back to WWE,” she said. “It’s just been a long road for me… it just feels good.”
She admitted that doubt lingered until the very end. “I was stressing out… there’s no way they’re gonna let me wrestle again,” Paige revealed. “I can, like, breathe now; I was stressed, I was, like, shaking.” For a performer known for her fearless style, this was a different kind of fight — one that didn’t involve a ring, but plenty of near falls emotionally.
That clearance set the stage for her surprise appearance at WrestleMania 42, where she teamed with Brie Bella in a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Stepping in for Nikki Bella, who could not compete due to an ankle injury, Paige made the most of the opportunity.
The comeback didn’t just end with a return — it ended with gold. Paige pinned Alexa Bliss to secure the titles, marking her first in-ring WWE moment in years. After the match (during the post-WrestleMania show), she described the experience as “magical” and “surreal,” even noting she briefly forgot her signature entrance due to the emotion.
With Paige now back in the mix, attention turns to how WWE builds on a return that proved anything but routine.
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