Zayda Steel on Leaving WWE and Joining AEW
Professional wrestler Zayda Steel has detailed her decision to leave WWE’s ID program and subsequently join All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The 22-year-old, whose real name is Fatima Zahra, cited a demand to prioritize her passion for wrestling and mental well-being as key factors in her departure.
Choosing a New Path
In a recent appearance on the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Steel explained that her decision to leave WWE was entirely her own. “I chose to walk away from my previous employment by choice. I’m on my own journey. I love wrestling. I just want to be around people that love it just as much as I do. So I chose to walk away,” she stated. [Source: Ringside News]
From Japan Plans to an AEW Opportunity
Steel initially planned to take a break and pursue opportunities in Japan after leaving WWE. However, those plans quickly changed when AEW President Tony Khan reached out to her just five days after she announced her departure. [Source: WrestlePurists] “My plans at first were to go to Japan… And five days after I tweeted that tweet [about leaving WWE ID], Tony Khan texted me, so plans changed,” Steel revealed.
Losing the Love for Wrestling
The core reason for leaving WWE, Steel explained, was a growing disconnect from the sport she loved. “Once I started to feel like my only escape was work, I started to not like it and not have fun. I want to always love this, so I chose to walk away,” she said. [Source: Ringside News] She likewise expressed concerns about her mental health and a feeling of losing herself. “I was losing myself and my love for wrestling, so I knew I needed to do my own thing.”
Early Career and Current Status
Zayda Steel began her professional wrestling career in August 2022, debuting at Combat Zone Wrestling Limelight 8. [Source: Wikipedia] She has since wrestled for various independent promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, DEFY Wrestling, and Game Changer Wrestling, as well as WWE’s Evolve brand through the ID program. [Source: Wikipedia]
Currently signed to AEW and a member of the SkyFlight team, Steel also makes appearances for Ring of Honor (ROH). She recently competed on the March 1st episode of ROH, losing to Mina Shirakawa. [Source: Wikipedia]
About Zayda Steel
Born on October 13, 2003, in Arlington County, Virginia, Zayda Steel is a Moroccan-American professional wrestler. [Source: Wikipedia] She dropped out of high school at 18 to pursue a career in wrestling. [Source: Wikipedia]