Paige VanZant Reveals Why She Signed With AEW Over WWE

AEW pulled off a coup when they signed former UFC star Paige VanZant to an AEW deal, with ‘12 Gauge’ signing her contract on top of Tay Conti on a recent edition of AEW: Dynamite.

VanZant is yet to have her first match in AEW and is currently training with Gangrel, but revealed on the MMA Hour that she was destined to become a pro wrestler:

"I knew my career was going to take me to the WWE or to AEW. I was watching both of them… huge fan of both," VanZant said. "The first AEW show I went to, though, the feeling, the audience, the crowd, everything about it, I just knew I belonged and it was something I knew I'd be really good at."

VanZant is a legit cross-over star with mainstream appeal, and it’s no surprise to learn that WWE wanted to sign her:

"I went down to their training center about a year ago. I did have some things in the works, but AEW kind of said what they needed to say. They had all the right words to get me to come over to the AEW,” VanZant said.

Ultimately, Paige became All Elite, ”There was just different contract details and styles," she said. "[AEW] is working hand-in-hand with BKFC and letting me be a professional fighter still. I still get to be myself. It's not an exclusive, full-time, wrestling contract."

VanZant is still signed to bareknuckle boxing association BKFC, and has an OnlyFans page, both commitments she’d likely lose if she were to have signed with WWE.