You won’t be seeing CJ Perry on AEW going forward. The talented veteran made it clear on Friday morning that her “time with them has just finished” and that means she is officially a free agent available to sign with any promotion she so chooses, and that of course opens the door for a potential return to WWE.
That doesn’t mean, however, that it would be as an in-ring performer.
"I'm really focused on finding talent and cultivating them, and helping them become the best wrestler [and] champion possible," she told USA Today, speaking from the 2024 ESPY Awards. "I guess you could say I want to be the Paul Heyman."
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Heyman has literally built a Hall of Fame career for what he’s done as a manager, beginning with ECW and now throughout his career at WWE, and that includes steering the legendary pro wrestling arcs of Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.
Perry, 39, is looking toward the next chapter of her wrestling career, having not appeared in-ring at AEW since November 2023, having now been removed from their roster entirely.
Her career with WWE began with development at NXT under the name Lana, eventually earning her way to the RAW roster in alliance with Rusev and having had programs with several superstars who are still currently active on the RAW and SmackDown rosters — e.g., Bobby Lashley, Nia Jax, Bianca Belair, Asuka and Shayna Baszler.
She was released in 2021 and signed with AEW in 2023, debuting at the All-Out PLE in September of last year and her final appearance was that as manager of now-WWE superstar Andrade.
FULL STORY ON VACQUER WAVING OFF AEW FOR WWE.
By now, you’re seeing more than enough to believe she could mount a return to Triple H’s and The Rock’s promotion — particularly in how she praised the performance and storyline of Liv Morgan’s Revenge Tour, the return of Rhea Ripley to combat it with the Brutality Tour and, adding in the signing of Stephanie Vacquer, the overall insane depth of the women’s divisions in all three of the WWE’s brands.
Perry feels she can manage any one of those superstars to the peak of their career.
"Women need to be represented, and yes we are different from men," she said. "But we bring value. We can sell tickets. I mean look at Liv Morgan right now. It shows you that we need everything.
“We need the competitors, we need the badasses, we need the love stories and there's a spot for everyone."
There will always be a spot for amazing mentors though, and Perry has a very real shot at being exactly that going forward — for any promotion lucky enough to land her.
