Daria Rae has opened up about the frustration she felt when she was required to take a break from professional wrestling following a kidnapping attempt in 2020.
The performer, known as Sonya Deville during her tenure with WWE, told The Metro that she “never wanted to step away” from the spotlight after the incident. In August 2020, Phillip Thomas broke into her home with the intent to hold her hostage.
Rae explained that while the decision was made with her well-being in mind, she was eager to return to work immediately.
I never wanted to step away. That wasn’t my choice. It was probably what was best for me at the time, so I’m glad people had my personal well-being in mind, but I never wanted to step away.
I was chomping at the bit every second I was home, texting the powers that be like, “When can I come back? When can I come back?”
At the time of the break-in, she was involved in a prominent storyline with Mandy Rose, which was set to culminate in a match at SummerSlam. The stipulation of the match was altered to a “Loser Leaves WWE” contest to explain her absence.
Thomas was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2023 after pleading guilty to charges including attempted kidnapping and aggravated stalking.
Rae returned to wrestling screens last week, making her debut for TNA Wrestling during the promotion’s premiere on AMC. She appeared in an authority role, positioning herself as an antagonist to Director of Authority Santino Marella.
She noted that she reached out to TNA President Carlos Silva just before the company announced its new broadcast deal.
I had had conversations with Carlos from TNA as soon as I left WWE, and that wasn’t the time for me… And then it just felt right. So I shot him a text, and it happened to be the day before they announced the AMC TV deal. So he’s like, “Did you know?” And I was like, “No, I had no idea, but that’s great news”.
Her contract with WWE was not renewed in February 2025, ending a decade-long run with the company.
Now 32, she described her current position in TNA as “exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
