Saraya returned to professional wrestling in 2022 and landed a contract with AEW shortly after leaving WWE.

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding her return, which culminated in a victory over Britt Baker at AEW Full Gear, Saraya had her fair share of struggle.

During a recent interview with The Guardian, Saraya revealed that she faced major challenges during her early days in AEW, causing her to doubt the soundness of her decision. She said,

“Going back was so hard. My body was no longer a giant callus. I wasn’t a tough, giant scab any more – I was soft and to start taking all the bumps again was awful. I did think I’d made a mistake at first.”