Paige made her WWE return on Saturday to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships alongside Brie Bella.
The unannounced comeback occurred during the first night of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium.
Nikki Bella appeared on the entrance ramp using a crutch and explained she failed to secure medical clearance. She introduced her friend to take her place in the Fatal Four-Way match so her sister Brie would not miss her WrestleMania moment.
The newly formed duo unseated defending champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend. The challengers also overcame the teams of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and Bayley and Lyra Valkyria.
Late in the contest, Nikki Bella pulled Flair out of the ring and struck her with a crutch. Bliss subsequently missed a top-rope aerial maneuver. This opening allowed the returning star to execute the Ram-Paige on Bliss for the pinfall victory.
Action throughout the contest featured rapid exchanges between all four teams. Legend showcased her power by hitting a double powerbomb on Bliss and Valkyria from the corner.
The substitute partner entered the fray late, delivering a fisherman’s suplex to Bayley and a Paige Turner to Valkyria. She then shared a brief, crowd-pleasing exchange of strikes with Flair in the center of the ring.
Saturday marked the British wrestler’s first match in a WWE ring in eight years. A severe neck injury forced the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion into premature retirement in 2018. Real-life Saraya-Jade Bevis departed the promotion in 2022 when her contract expired.
She subsequently joined All Elite Wrestling and captured the AEW Women’s World Championship at Wembley Stadium before departing the company.
