"Wasn't ready for that work grind" - Fans erupt after major star reportedly leaves Tony Khan's AEW

A major star has reportedly left AEW and fans on Twitter have now reacted to their departure. The name being discussed here is Paige VanZant.

The 30-year-old started appearing on the Tony Khan-led company's programming in 2021 and signed with the promotion in March 2022. Since then, she has wrestled inside the ring only once and it was at Double or Nothing 2022. VanZant teamed up with Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky to defeat Frankie Kazarian, Sammy Guevara, and Tay Melo.

On a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer was asked if Paige VanZant was still under contract with AEW. He replied that she was not with the company anymore. However, it is interesting to note that her photo is still on AEW's official roster page.

"No, even though I know she's still on the roster. She's not with AEW anymore. She decided she didn't want to be a wrestler. If she wanted to be a wrestler, she'd still be there," Meltzer said.

Following the update from Dave Meltzer, fans on Twitter reacted to VanZant's rumored exit. One Twitter user claimed that the former UFC star wasn't ready for the pro wrestling business.

"She wasn't ready for that work grind," a fan wrote.

"Wonder how much Tony [Khan] was paying her to do nothing," a fan tweeted.

Some fans were upset after hearing the news of VanZant's potential AEW exit.

"Shame - she had some potential as a character if she could ever become passable in the ring," a user wrote.

"Paige Van to WWE confirmed," a user thinks she will move to WWE.

Before joining AEW, VanZant made her name in UFC. She was signed to the organization between 2013 and 2020.

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Why did AEW star Paige VanZant never face former WWE Ronda Rousey in UFC?

Paige VanZant and Ronda Rousey are both former UFC fighters turned pro wrestlers. During a Q&A session on her Instagram handle in January 2024, the 30-year-old revealed why she never faced The Rowdy One inside the Octagon.

VanZant disclosed that she and Ronda Rousey belong to different weight classes, so they never had the chance to go toe to toe in MMA.

"I have not considered fighting Ronda because she's significantly bigger than I am. I fought the majority of my career at 125 and 115. Err, 115 mostly, and then 125. I'm a true 125-er, so that's like, that is my weight class. I'm only 5 ft 4 in. Umm, so yeah, just different, different sizes."

Rousey kicked off her pro wrestling journey in WWE where she performed for nearly five years. She left the Stamford-based promotion in 2023 after competing in an MMA Rules Match against her real-life friend, Shayna Baszler, at SummerSlam.