Paige made her long-awaited return to WWE NXT after more than a decade away from the brand, but her comeback didn’t exactly go according to plan. The inaugural NXT Women’s Champion stepped back into the ring for a championship opportunity, only to walk away empty-handed.
During WWE NXT on November 4, 2026, Kelani Jordan was scheduled to defend her NXT Women’s Championship against a mystery opponent. That challenger turned out to be Paige, who returned to the brand where she made history as its first Women’s Champion.
Jordan wasted no time taking control of the match, but Paige showed she hadn’t forgotten how to fight. The returning star unloaded with headbutts, strikes, and knees before taking the action outside the ring. Paige slammed Jordan onto the floor and sent her crashing into the barricade.
The champion eventually turned things around by targeting Paige’s neck, sending her headfirst into the floor and ring apron. Paige refused to stay down, fighting back with a series of strikes, a suplex, and a superkick before connecting with her signature RamPaige finisher. However, Jordan managed to kick out. Jordan responded by locking Paige in a crossface and connecting with a DDT. She then attempted a split-legged moonsault, but Paige got her knees up to stop the move.
It looked like Paige might finally put the champion away when she went for another RamPaige. Unfortunately for the returning star, Jordan had other plans. The champion countered the move into a rollup and scored the three-count to retain her NXT Women’s Championship.
The loss made Paige’s return particularly disappointing considering her history with the championship. She was the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion and never actually lost the title during her original run, making this opportunity a chance to reclaim the championship she helped establish.
Instead, Paige’s first NXT match in more than a decade ended with Kelani Jordan celebrating another successful title defense. Whether this was a one-night appearance or the beginning of a longer run remains to be seen.
What do you think about Paige returning to WWE NXT only to lose to Kelani Jordan? Should WWE have given the former champion a victory in her comeback match? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
