標籤: Paige

Paige has opened up about the unexpected series of events that led to her WWE return, revealing that Jelly Roll played a direct role in starting the negotiations and that Nick Khan laid out two non-negotiable conditions before any deal could go forward. Paige shared details during a new episode of What’s Your Story with Stephanie McMahon.

The road to returning to WWE began with a live recording of Jelly Roll’s Wife Bunny’s podcast, where Page was a guest along with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s agent Brad Slater. Jelly Roll used that moment to directly ask why WWE didn’t bring Paige back. That question set off a chain of events that led to a meeting with Nick Khan being arranged within 30 minutes of Jelly Roll calling.

She said, “I went and met him for about 10 minutes, great guy. I love him. Big fan of his. Very smart.” “He has a business mind. I thought I would be intimidated by him. But getting there, he’s comfortable. He says, ‘Two things – your neck has to be fine and we have to do a drug test.’ I said, ‘Fair enough.’ I said, ‘Hey, I can handle the drug testing.’

“I’m clean as a whistle. And so I was like, ‘I don’t know what my neck is like. It’s been a few years since I’ve had it checked. Last time I got it checked, it was perfect. So I’m not really worried about it.’ And so, next week I fly to Birmingham.

Given Paige’s history with the company, the personal significance of the drug testing situation was immense. During her first stint in WWE, she failed two drug tests and, by her own admission, was “a little messed up”. Stephanie McMahon said in the episode that there was genuine concern for Paige within WWE at the time, and when Paige first returned in 2017, Stephanie hugged her and said she was glad she was still alive. Paige is now eight years old.

Paige is getting medical clearance

The medical clearance side of the equation required a 10-hour appointment in Birmingham. Paige was medically disqualified from WWE in December 2017 after a match, which revealed the severity of her neck problems, leading to her forced retirement from the company. She later returned to in-ring competition in AEW in 2022, but receiving formal WWE medical clearance was a completely different process. When the results came out she was devastated.

“It was a few things. The fact that my neck was good,” Page said. “And the last time I was in WWE, my neck wasn’t right, and I had to retire. And I had to miss all the big things like the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, all these things I didn’t get a chance to be a part of, even though I was part of the group that helped ignite it, right? And it’s just the fact that I’m going to be OK.”

With both conditions met, Paige entered contract negotiations and was brought back in time for WrestleMania 42, where she teamed with Brie Bella to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Paige stepped in as a replacement for Nikki Bella, who suffered an ankle injury during WrestleMania.

This wasn’t how the Dallas Wings wanted their new star’s first media introduction.

The Wings introduced their 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick, Azzi Fudd, in a press conference on Thursday, marking his official arrival as a professional player. The former UConn star joins the franchise that selected her college teammate Paige Bueckers with the top pick in the 2025 draft.

The two players, who first met while competing for the Huskies, now form a highly anticipated backcourt duo in Dallas.

During the session, a reporter dallas morning news A question from Fudd asked whether she and Bueckers would remain in a romantic relationship — which Bueckers publicly acknowledged on social media last year — and whether the pair had consulted with other WNBA couples about navigating the unique dynamics of being both teammates and partners.

Before Fudd could respond, a member of Wings’ public relations staff quickly intervened.

“I understand why you have to ask this question, but we respectfully decline to comment on the personal lives of our players,” the person said.

This moment created an immediate sense of unease in the room, as the team chose to treat the questioning as out of bounds. Fudd’s expression remained largely unchanged during the conversation and the press conference continued without further discussion of the topic.

Well, his expression was mostly Unchanged. At one point, you can actually see Fudd’s eyebrows furrowed as if he was surprised and confused as to why the team wouldn’t let him answer the question. To keep an eye …

A reporter asked Ezy Fudd about his relationship with Paige Bueckers, but the Wings’ media team said they would not comment on their players’ personal lives. pic.twitter.com/iH3enGfoVE

– The Sporting News (@sportingnews) 16 April 2026

This goes back to my previous claim that it is the team that is trying to eliminate the relationship aspect, because they don’t want to be accused of acting like the Lakers, and drafting someone based on trying to please their star.

Veteran sports journalist Jeff Pearlman recently accused the league of pressuring reporters to ignore or downplay the long-standing romantic relationship between Fudd and Bueckers, calling it “the number one piece of this story.”

Pearlman argued that the Wings had essentially set up Fudd to reunite him with his fellow Bueckers on the court – and in life – but said it was the league itself that was trying to stay away from the obvious.

He said, “Ezzie Fudd and Paige Bueckers are in a long-term relationship, and no one is mentioning it. And the WNBA has apparently asked people not to mention it. And that’s very confusing to me journalistically.”

“Like, it’s fascinating that these two guys who have been dating for a long time, dating since college, would be the starting backcourt for a team. To me, that’s really the number one piece of this story. It’s not that they drafted AZ Fudd, they drafted AZ Fudd to play with his longtime teammate, Paige Bueckers.”

The fact that the Wings went out of their way to shut this down should inspire good sports journalists — if there are any left — to keep the pressure on this matter.

Fans have a right to know whether their team selected someone in the draft based on their personal relationships, not whether they were actually worthy of being selected number one.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

Chelsea youngster Kendry Paez has started to show signs of progress during his loan spell at River Plate, The Ecuadorian player contributed his first goal since arriving in Argentina.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who hails from Chelsea, recorded an assist against Sarmiento at the weekend. It was his first direct involvement in a goal since joining River earlier this year, following a difficult start to life in Europe.

The London club invested heavily in Paez as one of South America’s brightest prospects. Now they are keeping a close eye on the effort to recreate the momentum in Buenos Aires.

Chelsea’s plans after Strasbourg affair

Chelsea agreed a deal worth around €23m (£19.6m) for Kendry Paez when he was a teenager at Independiente del Valle. The plan was always long term.

However, his first European experience proved complicated. After reaching England, he was sent to Strasbourg, part of the Bluco network.

The midfielder played 21 matches there, seven as a starter, scoring once. Yet he never fully established himself, and Chelsea surprisingly decided to recall him Before the loan has completed its entire term.

The River Plate then emerged as the next stage in the development plan. The Argentine club secured the young player on an 18-month loan, while Chelsea retained recall rights in the transfer window during the deal.

First glimpse – and first help

Since arriving, Kendry Paez has been added to the team. In his early appearances he has played just over 200 minutes, mostly rotating between substitute outings and first starts. chelsea player had shoulder injury last month, but his recovery was rapid as he gradually returned to the starting eleven.

In that respect, the numbers show a player still adapting to the rhythms of Argentine football.

They have created an average of almost one chance per 90 minutes and attempted three shots in total so far. His passing accuracy has fluctuated between 59% and the mid-70s, reflecting the risk-heavy nature of his game.

This risk was evident in his first start for River, when he played 88 minutes against Huracán.

At the start of the match he produced a nutmeg down the right and made a diagonal run that drew away the defenders, opening up space for Gonzalo Montiel to assist Sebastián Druisi.

However, the game also shed light on the adjustment process. Paez completed 13 of 22 passes (59%), blocked one shot, won three of seven duels, recorded one recovery and one interception, and lost possession 17 times.

Nevertheless, River manager Eduardo Coudet saw encouraging signs in the Ecuadorian’s role within the team.

“I watched him very well from a game and attitude point of view,” Caudet told the local newspaper hail. “We have players with good technique, but we need them to be physical. I said from the beginning, I like physical teams.”

The coach then explained why he decided to start Chelsea’s side. “His selection is linked to the fact that I want to reclaim my game.”

Coudet believes that the midfielder provides a different balance than using a second striker.

“Because he plays more as a midfielder than as a second forward, he generates more combination play”he explained. “We can link up better. When you go with a second striker you are more direct. And we need to fix our game. We generate a lot. In my mind he comes first. I have seen him well.”

River pressure is being seen as a real challenge

Those who worked closely with Kendry Paez early in his career believe the river environment may be exactly what he needs.

Diego Martínez, one of the coaches who helped develop him with the youth teams of Independiente del Valle and Ecuador, sees the move to the Argentine as an important step forward.

“The fact that he has gone to River is more demanding than playing in France,” martinez explained The Millionaire Page. “That’s what he needs. The pressure of a big and important club.”

According to Martínez, hope around the river can fuel youth development. This will help Chelsea.

“Playing for River requires a lot of character and a lot of things that, in my opinion, are more demanding than many European teams”He said. “What he needs is a demanding context that will propel him forward. This is not a step back. This is a very interesting platform for his development.”

He also believes that the club’s leadership can help Paez mature.

“Marcelo Gallardo will be very important. I don’t know him personally, but I admire his ability to lead and develop talent”, He said. “It makes a lot of sense that Kendari chose Rivers because of the challenge and because of the coach’s reputation. Kendry needs affection. He likes being close to the coach.”

Our take: The perfect place to bloom

This current loan at River Plate represents another step in the carefully managed development of a player who made his professional debut in Ecuador aged just 15.

Kendry Paez is still adjusting to a new league and a new tactical context. But his early statistics in Argentina underpin that process with some positives, and the assist against Sarmiento signals the first sign of momentum.

It’s fair to say that Liam Rosenior will not be active His ‘surprising’ reminiscence section anytime soon. If the creative midfielder continues to thrive in one of South America’s most demanding environments, Chelsea will hope the River experience will sharpen the qualities that have made him one of the most coveted teenage prospects on the continent.

🇦🇷 Ian Subiabre | Chelsea groundwork faces new challenge ➡️ Arsenal’s strength for wonderkidhttps://t.co/qFhasGbytm #cfc #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 19 March 2026