Zayda Steel’s transition from the WWE ID program to the AEW/ROH roster happened far faster than she expected.
Speaking with MuscleMan Malcom, Steel explained that she did not initially envision immediately moving into another major opportunity after her WWE ID contract came to an end. Rather than renew the deal, Steel said she was considering taking a break from wrestling and traveling overseas, with Japan among the destinations on her mind. Within five days of her deal expiring, however, she heard from Tony Khan and her next chapter began to take shape.
Steel was officially announced as part of the AEW/ROH roster in January 2026. Her early appearances included a handful of matches on AEW Collision and several bouts on ROH television before she made her first appearance on AEW Dynamite in late March. That match placed her in an especially high-pressure setting, as she teamed with SkyFlight in a mixed tag match against Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia and Marina Shafir of The Death Riders.
The speed of her arrival in AEW is a notable development for a young wrestler who had been preparing for a much different immediate future. Steel’s comments also underline how quickly circumstances can change in professional wrestling when a contract ends and a new opening presents itself.
For more background on this topic, read Paul Wight Eyes Heel Run and Potential Darby Allin Program in AEW.
Steel Was Preparing for a Break and a Possible Japan Trip
Steel said her departure from WWE ID was a deliberate choice. With her agreement finished, she did not want to extend it and had begun looking toward time away from her usual schedule. Japan was part of the plan, suggesting she was open to exploring opportunities and experiences outside of the path she had been on.
“I’ll put it simple. After I left WWE ID, my deal was up; I didn’t want to renew. I was going to take a break, go to overseas to Japan. And then literally five days later, Tony contacted me. And I go, ‘You know what? AEW. Real Deal will take over AEW, I guess.’”
The comment gives a clear timeline to Steel’s move. Her AEW connection was not described as a long-running process or a carefully announced next step that had been arranged far in advance. Instead, the opportunity arrived almost immediately after the WWE ID agreement expired.
Steel’s “Real Deal” reference also reflects the confidence she has brought into the new environment. The quick turnaround meant there was little room for a lengthy reset or extended period away from the ring. A wrestler expecting to slow down, regroup and potentially travel instead found herself joining the AEW and ROH system.
That shift is especially meaningful because Steel had already decided against continuing under the WWE ID banner. WWE ID was designed to identify and support developing independent talent, but Steel’s choice to move on opened the door for another promotion to pursue her. The AEW/ROH announcement in January confirmed that a new route had emerged almost as soon as the old one closed.
An Opportunity Steel Did Not Expect
Rather than frame the situation as part of an elaborate career blueprint, Steel described a more spontaneous approach to navigating wrestling. She acknowledged the importance of having goals, but stressed that unexpected messages and opportunities can change plans overnight.
“So yeah, I genuinely was not — I kind of just go life through life, just day by day. I don’t really — I planned some things, you have goals but you never know tomorrow who’s going to text you, what opportunities will come. Just make the most of it. But yeah, it happened really quick, actually.”
That perspective fits the way her AEW run began. Steel did not enter the company after publicly laying out a lengthy campaign for an AEW contract. She was ready to pursue other priorities, and then an offer arrived. Her decision to accept gave her a platform across two connected brands, allowing her to gain ring time on both AEW programming and ROH television.
For Steel, the initial stretch was not limited to one showcase match. She worked multiple times on Collision and appeared several times on ROH TV before her eventual Dynamite debut. That sequence provided a gradual introduction to the company’s broader audience while also leading to a major first-night test on AEW’s flagship Wednesday program.
Her comments do not specify every detail of the discussions that followed Khan’s contact, nor do they suggest that the move had been guaranteed before her WWE ID exit. What Steel did make clear is that the process developed quickly enough to overturn plans she had only recently made.
A Dynamite Debut Against Jon Moxley
Steel’s first AEW Dynamite match was significant not only because it marked her debut on the program, but because it put her opposite one of the promotion’s most prominent and accomplished performers. Teaming with SkyFlight, Steel faced Moxley, Garcia and Shafir in a mixed tag contest involving The Death Riders.
Being placed across the ring from Moxley carried personal meaning for Steel. She recalled being a fan of Moxley long before their match, including owning his merchandise as a teenager. The experience therefore brought together the nerves associated with a major debut and the surreal reality of competing against a wrestler she had watched and supported.
“My first wrestling merch was his. I have little 2016 — I was like what, 13? 13-year-old Zayda with little [Sounds of Justice], that version of Moxley… I was a huge [fan]. I mean, I still am. Who isn’t a mark for Moxley? He’s great.”
Moxley’s career has made him a familiar figure for a generation of younger wrestlers who followed his work before entering the business themselves. Steel’s recollection illustrates that connection directly. She went from being a 13-year-old fan with Moxley merchandise to sharing a televised AEW ring with him in her first match on Dynamite.
Steel did not hide the anxiety that came with that assignment. A debut is demanding under any circumstances; debuting against Moxley and alongside a group that included Garcia and Shafir raises the intensity considerably. Still, Steel viewed the moment as a challenge she managed to get through.
“And having my debut against him — the nerves, guys. The nerves. So I mean, they throw you to the wolves, I guess. But I survived that, too.”
Steel also made a joking apology after saying she may have accidentally hurt Moxley during the match. Addressing Renee Paquette, she said, “Sadly, I think I hurt his balls maybe in that match. Yeah. So maybe, I don’t know if they’re planning on having any more kids, but I’m sorry, Renee. Sorry.”
The remark was delivered humorously, but it also captured the unpredictable physicality of stepping into the ring at that level. Steel was not simply making an appearance; she was immediately involved in a competitive televised match with established AEW names.
What the Quick Move Means for Steel’s Next Stage
Steel’s route to AEW and ROH is a reminder that career momentum in wrestling does not always follow a straight line. Her WWE ID deal ended, she elected not to renew, and she was preparing for a break. Five days later, an AEW opportunity changed the plan. By January, she was officially part of the AEW/ROH roster. By late March, she had made her Dynamite debut opposite a wrestler she had admired for years.
The early structure of her AEW run has also given her exposure across different settings. Matches on Collision, work on ROH television and the high-profile Dynamite appearance have each been part of her introduction. That combination places Steel in a position to continue building familiarity with AEW viewers while adding to her experience in increasingly visible situations.
For now, Steel’s own account is centered less on a grand prediction and more on taking advantage of the chance that arrived. Her plans changed quickly, but she embraced the opening when it came. From considering a break and a trip to Japan to joining AEW/ROH days later, Steel’s 2026 transition has already been defined by sudden opportunity, a willingness to adapt and a debut she is unlikely to forget.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.