Saraya Exposes WWE’s Tight Grip on Talent’s Appearance Under Vince McMahon

Former WWE Superstar Saraya isn’t holding back when it comes to exposing how tightly controlled her life was under Vince McMahon’s regime.

Speaking on her Rulebreakers podcast, the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion revealed just how far WWE went to manage her personal decisions—right down to her body and appearance. “If I wanted to get a tattoo, my boobs done, or even cut my hair, I had to ask permission from WWE,” she said.

Saraya made it clear that this level of micromanagement was mainly enforced during Vince McMahon’s time at the top. “Things are different now under Triple H’s regime,” she noted. Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE again in January 2024 following the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, and many within the company have claimed things have loosened up since.

Before his first departure in 2022, McMahon chose not to renew Saraya’s contract—one of his final calls before stepping down. While Triple H tried to bring her back into the fold, Saraya ultimately chose to sign with AEW, where she’s praised the company for offering its talent significantly more freedom both on and off screen.

Her story adds another layer to the ongoing conversation around how much control WWE exerts over its roster—and whether that approach still flies now that there’s legitimate competition from AEW.