Saraya (Paige) Names Dream WWE Opponent Amid Return Talk - 'It Would Be Fitting'

Saraya, who went by the ring name Paige in WWE, left the company back in July 2022 when her contract expired, having dealt with a neck injury that caused her to announce her in-ring retirement in April 2018. But she was cleared by doctors in rival promotion AEW to return to the ring, which she did, spending two and a half years competing before her departure in March of this year.

The 33-year-old watched on as her former friend and rival AJ Lee made a shock return to WWE in September after a decade away. They were two of the Divas era, which led to the Women's Revolution.

Paige, like AJ, will get the chance to face the current generation of female talent if she does make a comeback. She told Poker Scout that Rhea Ripley is her dream opponent:

"It has to be Rhea Ripley. When I was in WWE, we had just started getting the ball rolling with the Divas Revolution. So the matches like the Elimination Chamber and the Royal Rumble and stuff like that was only just starting to happen. So I didn’t get the opportunity to do those, at least in WWE anyway."

She added:

"So I feel like it would be fitting for me and Rhea to do an Extreme Rules match or something like that. Something edgy for us!"

Rhea has become one of WWE's top stars, on par with Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. The Eradicator is a three-time WWE Women's Champion who has been involved in title matches at WrestleMania over the past three years.

The 29-year-old will be competing in a similarly "edgy" match on Saturday (November 29) when she participates in the Women's WarGames match at Survivor Series. She is used to such matches, having been at the forefront of an era when women were booked for matches with extreme stipulations.

Paige Might Have to Deal With AJ Lee First

While Paige seemingly has Rhea Ripley at the top of her wishlist of opponents if she does return to WWE it seems there may be unfinished bussiness between herself and AJ Lee. The latter celebrated the 11 year anniversary of their rivalry last month with an intriguing post on her Instagram story:

"Never over, freaks and geeks and frenemies for life @Saraya"

AJ and Paige feuded throughout 2015 after the Brit had beaten and dethroned the former Divas Champion on her debut in April 2014. Their rivalry concluded at Hell in a Cell with AJ picking up the victory.

Both are two Divas legends and if Paige were to return she would bolster a women's division already thriving. All three of WWE's brands are stacked with female talent ahead of the Road to WrestleMania 42.