Saraya: When I Returned To WWE After My ‘Very Rough Patch’ In Life, Vince McMahon, Triple H & Stephanie McMahon Told Me They Were Worried I Was Going To Die

There was major concern for the former Paige.

There was a period in Saraya a.k.a. Paige’s career when her personal matters were unfolding in the public eye, and there was growing concern for her.

She opened up about that time while on Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Wrestling with Freddie podcast. Saraya described it as a ‘very rough patch’ in her life. She remembers when she made her way back to WWE, Vince McMahon, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, and Stephanie McMahon expressed to Saraya that they were so concerned for her during that time in her life. They thought it would result in her dying.

“I had that year and a half where I was just an absolute mess when it came to drinking, drugs. I was popping drug tests, there was leaks happened to me. All these crazy things happened and I hit complete rock bottom… I was in a really bad place and everyone did think I was gonna die. I remember when I came back on the first day, and Vince (McMahon) gave me a hug, Stephanie (McMahon), Hunter, and they were like, ‘We thought we weren’t ever gonna see you again. We thought you were gonna die.’ It was a very rough patch that I went through… Some people wouldn’t say that they’re grateful for the bottom that they hit but I’m very grateful for it because I feel like I’m the right person to take those things because I did come out the other side and now I can help so many other people with it, and I get so many people talking to me about sobriety and at my signings, people will come up to be me and be like, ‘I got sober because of you,’ and I just love that I’m inspiring people with the sh*t that I put myself through, and I’m grateful for it now. I feel like I’m the perfect spokesperson.”

Saraya has begun training for a potential in-ring return. In this same media appearance, she addressed not being in the 2026 women’s Royal Rumble match.

The last time Saraya wrestled on television was in October 2024, when she was still with AEW.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit Wrestling with Freddie with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.