AEW: Who is Paige VanZant?
None should be surprised that Paige VanZant is signing with AEW, but who is the former MMA standout?
Tony Khan took to Twitter for yet another announcement on Friday. As AEW Rampage rolled on, the President and CEO revealed that Paige VanZant is set to sign with All Elite Wrestling on Wednesday during the next episode of AEW Dynamite. This is an interesting addition to the roster, but many who follow AEW may not be familiar with VanZant the fighter. Yes, she’s a fighter, but that’s not all she will bring as an attraction for the promotion.
I had offered a 7th spot in the Face of the Revolution match to 2021 winner @ScorpioSky but instead I just bartered with Dan Lambert: Scorpio Sky will challenge the winner of tonight’s 3 way #AEWRampage TNT Title match this Wednesday @ Dynamite + @paigevanzant will sign with @AEW https://t.co/uCOf6HWFPZ
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 5, 2022
Yes, Paige VanZant established herself in the world of combat sports. The UFC recognized her as a potential reality show attraction and tried to involve her in The Ultimate Fighter but since she was only 20 years old at the time, she was turned away. That did not stop them from signing her to a direct contract and she would kick off her UFC tenure in 2014.
VanZant put together a 5-4 record in the Octagon. Along the way, she picked up key wins over names like Felice Herrig and Bec Rawlings while taking losses to Michelle Waterson, Amanda Ribas, and current UFC Strawweight Champion, Rose Namajunas.
Along the way, VanZant’s notoriety received a big push when she was featured on major television shows, Chopped and Dancing with the Stars. She finished second on the show and this was the moment when her star power took off. Even after leaving the UFC in 2020, she moved over to bare-knuckle boxing where success didn’t follow. She took two losses in 2021, but BKFC still promoted her as a draw.
VanZant has found a way to capture eyeballs in media
VanZant’s involvement with AEW has been sporadic to date, but it will be interesting to see how she’s added to the women’s division. She comes with a massive following across social media. Her Instagram touts three million followers, with an additional 1.5 million on Tik Tok. Wrestling fans may roll their eyes at those metrics, but they are the types of measures that organizations need to consider as they look for ways to increase their audience and exposure. Will VanZant have that impact on AEW? That remains to be seen but they certainly played a part in her involvement with the company.
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The crossover between mixed martial arts and professional wrestling continues to grow. Shayna Baszler, Ronda Rousey, Marina Shafir, Thunder Rosa, and many others have taken part in both. None should be surprised that Paige VanZant is making the same move in what will be an interesting moment for the future of the company.