Ex-UFC star Paige VanZant starting new career as a pro wrestler with WWE’s rivals AEW after Bare Knuckle Boxing foray
THE BEAUTIFUL Paige VanZant is officially beginning a new career as a professional wrestler.
The 27-year-old former UFC star has already appeared several times on television for WWE’s rival promotion All Elite Wrestling.
Now she is set to become the latest star name on the roster after her American Top Team manager confirmed the news on last night’s AEW Rampage.
And following Dan Lambert’s announcement, the company’s owner Tony Khan, who also owns Fulham football club, confirmed it on Twitter.
The AEW President tweeted: “I had offered a 7th spot in the Face of the Revolution match to 2021 winner @ScorpioSky but instead I just bartered with Dan Lambert: Scorpio Sky will challenge the winner of tonight’s 3 way #AEWRampage TNT Title match this Wednesday @ Dynamite + @paigevanzant will sign with @AEW.”
VanZant, 27, was released by the UFC in July 2020 following her first-round submission loss to Amanda Ribas.
The former Dancing with the Stars contestant was promptly snapped up by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, although her brief stint in the promotion hasn't been successful.
The former MMA strawweight and flyweight suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Britain Hart in her debut in February 2021.
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And she suffered a unanimous decision defeat to fellow UFC alum Rachael Ostovich in July.
VanZant went into a state of depression after the loss, admitting: “When I walked out of the ring, I didn’t just walk to my locker room, I literally walked all the way outside and I just went and cried in the parking lot by myself.
“I said some things to my husband that are pretty terrible about like my mental state.
“I told him I didn’t want to live anymore, that this wasn’t for me anymore.
"Like life wasn’t for me anymore so I was disappointed, It was hard.”