Paige Needed Medical Clearance and a Drug Test Before WWE Would Bring Her Back

A chance mention by country star Jelly Roll helped jump-start Paige’s WWE return after he asked Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s agent Brad Slater on wife Bunnie’s podcast why WWE hadn’t brought her back. That led to a quick meeting with WWE President Nick Khan, who set two clear conditions: Paige’s neck had to be medically cleared and she had to pass a drug test. Paige recounted the exchange on Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” and praised Khan’s straightforward, businesslike approach.

Paige said she is now eight years sober after failing two drug tests earlier in her first WWE run, and had been medically disqualified following a December 2017 match due to neck issues before wrestling in AEW in 2022. She flew to Birmingham for a 10-hour evaluation, cried when she was cleared, entered contract talks, and was brought back in time for WrestleMania 42 to team with Brie Bella and win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles after replacing an injured Nikki Bella — a comeback Stephanie once feared might never happen and previously marked by her hug when Paige returned in 2017.
Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/wwe-two-conditions-paige-needed-for-return/.