The main question coming out of Saraya’s AEW debut on Wednesday’s Dynamite Grand Slam was whether or not she could still wrestle following her neck injuries in 2016 and 2017.
According to Dave Meltzer in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, she is still not cleared to do so, but would like to be.
The former Paige in WWE debuted Wednesday by running in and backing up Athena & AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm after they were beat down by Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter and Serena Deeb. She didn’t get physical in any form.
“We were told that she had not been cleared as of very recently, which would explain not touching anyone, but would like to be cleared,” Meltzer wrote, noting that she is refereeing for her family’s WAW promotion in a few weeks.
It’s unknown her non-clearance by was her own doctors or AEW’s.
The 30-year-old suffered a major neck injury in June 2016 while in WWE that required surgery. She was cleared over a year later, returning in December 2017. However, she took a kick from Sasha Banks less than two weeks later on a house show which re-injured her neck.
The WWE medical team then refused to clear her, keeping her under contract and using her in various roles until her deal expired this past July. At that point, AEW contacted her and talks began. It’s unknown when the deal between the two sides was finalized.
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