Sonya Deville: ‘I Thought We Were Finalizing My New WWE Contract, Not Ending It’

After a decade with WWE, Sonya Deville (real name Daria Rae) was blindsided by the company’s decision not to renew her contract. Speaking candidly for the first time on her YouTube channel, Deville detailed the emotional rollercoaster of receiving the news and why she ultimately sees it as a blessing in disguise.

Deville revealed that she was in the middle of contract negotiations with WWE when she received the unexpected phone call.

“I was in Washington, D.C., for a cheer tournament with our little one, running on the treadmill, when I got the call,” she shared. “We were in the middle of negotiations, so I thought it was going to be the middle ground we met on. Instead, they said, ‘We are not renewing your contract.’”

The news came as a complete shock to Deville, who had spent ten years building her career within the company. She had developed strong relationships backstage and was deeply invested in her role.

“I had a great relationship with almost everybody—from backstage to talent. It felt like family,” she explained. “You work somewhere for 10 years, you don’t expect that kind of call.”

Despite the initial shock, Deville quickly found peace with the decision. She believes fate had a bigger plan for her—one that aligns with her lifelong dream of acting.

“You can’t fight fate,” she said. “That chapter was meant to close, and all these new beautiful blessings were meant to come. The irony of it all is that the same week they didn’t renew my contract, I booked my first big film project.”

Deville admitted that while wrestling became an unexpected passion, acting had always been her first love.

“The way people turn to music for comfort is how I turned to television and film. Acting was my dream since I was 12,” she shared. “I fell in love with wrestling along the way, but this is what I always wanted.”

Unlike some former WWE stars who leave the company with resentment, Deville holds no ill will. She remains grateful for the opportunities WWE gave her and sees her release as a new beginning.

“I see people leave and talk bad about the company, but I cannot relate,” she stated. “I loved every minute of it. I loved everybody there. I loved everything I got to do. But that was a chapter, and now it’s time for the next.”

With a major acting role already lined up and a positive mindset about the future, Deville is ready to embrace what comes next.

“I have no choice but to listen to the universe. That was good, but here’s what’s next,” she said. “And I’m excited.”