Several WWE figures, including Liv Morgan, recently responded to the unexpected return of former champion Sonya Deville, now performing as Daria Rae. After leaving WWE in early 2025, Deville made her comeback on January 15, 2026, debuting with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) during their Thursday Night Impact premiere on AMC. This return marks a significant shift for the 32-year-old, who had announced retirement from active competition just months prior.
Under her new ring name, Daria Rae appeared as the Director of Operations in TNA, introduced by Santino Marella, the company’s Director of Authority. Rae also revealed TNA’s latest signing, ex-WWE talent Cora Jade, highlighting the promotional shakeup.
WWE’s Reactions to Deville’s Return
TNA Wrestling’s official Instagram shared footage of Rae’s authoritative entrance, capturing attention across the wrestling community. Numerous WWE personalities like Liv Morgan, Trish Stratus, Raquel Rodriguez, Cathy Kelley, Maxxine Dupri, Deonna Purrazzo, Megan Morant, and Samantha Irvin expressed their support by liking the post. Others, including Natalya, CJ Perry (Lana), and Mandy Rose, left heartfelt comments for their former colleague.
Bayley contributed with an Instagram Story celebrating Deville’s comeback, expressing her happiness for the former WWE star’s new chapter.
“Daria Rae has arrived in TNA in a position of authority! #TNAiMPACT,”
– TNA Wrestling Instagram team
Insights on Sonya Deville’s Unexpected WWE Departure
In February 2025, Sonya Deville spoke candidly about her release from WWE during an episode of her podcast, Daria and Tony Unwrapped. Having spent a decade with the promotion, she described WWE as feeling like family and said the decision to part ways came as a surprise.
“There’s so many things to lead us to the mindsets we were in leading up to the phone call. [The] fact that I had been there for 10 years, the fact that I had a great relationship with almost everybody, from backstage to talent to across the board, and everyone was like family. You work somewhere for 10 years consecutively, you become like a family. So it was unexpected,”
– Sonya Deville, former WWE Wrestler
Future Prospects Following Deville’s Wrestling Comeback
With Daria Rae assuming a leadership role at TNA, the wrestling world is watching closely to see how her return will shape the promotion’s trajectory. Her involvement as an authority figure signals potential storylines and new directions in TNA, while her association with rising stars like Cora Jade reflects a bridging of wrestling talent across companies.
As Liv Morgan WWE reactions and other wrestlers continue to engage with this development, Sonya Deville’s comeback adds a suspenseful and intense dynamic to the professional wrestling landscape.
