Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya has fuelled speculation on a possible in-ring return for Paige.

The first-ever NXT Women’s champion was forced to retire from competing in 2018 following repeated injuries to her neck. She would continue in an on-screen role as manager of Absolution and then as General Manager of SmackDown but hasn’t been seen in WWE since being part of WWE Backstage for Fox, which ended in 2020.

Reports emerged prior to January’s Royal Rumble that the 29-year-old has been cleared to compete was rumoured as a possible surprise entrant for the women’s rumble match. That surprise never materialized and a return is yet to be confirmed, with her current deal with WWE running out in June 2022. 

However, WWE star Natalya has weighed in the possible comeback for Paige with a cheeky reply to one of her Instagram posts. Paige shared a clip of herself dropping the Queen of Harts with superkick and praising the WWE veteran.

@natbynature the queen of making me look good in the ring. ♥️

Natalya’s reply then seem to a hint that she could share the ring with the Norwich native once again in the future. 

Awww you’re one of my all time favorites to wrestle!!!!! Can’t wait to do it again❤️

Paige has enjoyed an eventful WWE career thus far, from the inaugural NXT Women Championship reign to her memorable debut on Raw where she shockingly defeated AJ Lee to become Diva’s Champion. There were also a number off-screen controversies as well as her role on Total Divas and as inspiration for the 2019 film Fighting With My Family.