Medicine, alcohol, leaked images and intercourse tapes, poisonous relationships, an nearly career-ending neck damage. Saraya-Jade Bevis might have simply been simply one other a kind of superstar cautionary tales, however as an alternative someway the WWE alum often called Paige made it to the opposite aspect. She shares her harrowing story within the memoir “Hell in Boots: Clawing My Manner Via 9 Lives.”
The e-book’s launch in March got here on the finish of her chapter with All Elite Wrestling. A spot the place the Norwich, England native gained the Girls’s Championship in 2023 earlier than a record-breaking crowd of London mates, household and followers at Al In inside Wembley Stadium. It’s been fairly the profession for the trailblazer who grew to become the first-ever NXT Girls’s Champion and youngest WWE title holder at age 21 profitable the Divas gold.
Saraya’s journey from a teen studying the ropes beneath her mother and father Knight wrestling promotion to WWE had already been captured by a doc after which a 2019 movie Combating with My Household. A undertaking pushed by by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with an rising star Florence Pugh enjoying her.
A lot has occurred since then together with some laborious moments for the Complete Divas star together with having images and pictures of the wrestling star participating in intercourse acts along with her ex-boyfriend Brad Maddox and colleague Xavier Woods hit the web in 2017 with out her consent. Nevertheless, Saraya fought by these a number of darkish durations to emerge stronger in consequence. She hopes to encourage others whereas additionally discovering her true self by scripting this deeply private autobiography.
We sat down with the favored performer on reliving the trauma, tragedy and triumphs.
AEW
You look to have actually discovered your self, particularly in the previous few years. Did scripting this e-book assist with that?
Saraya-Jade Bevis: For certain. It was undoubtedly therapeutic in a manner. Getting pen to paper was undoubtedly tedious and exhausting. On the identical time, it did assist me as a result of there have been quite a lot of issues that I’m not a really open individual about. I don’t like to speak about my emotions lots and what’s occurred to me prior to now. I actually don’t beat that drum. For me to do that, I believed to place this in a e-book. It was undoubtedly intense, susceptible as heck. I’m used to being in susceptible positions, but it surely was very unusual to just about have my diary on the web. It’s simply weird in a beautiful manner. It has been obtained actually nice, too. Individuals appear to love it.
You’ve gotten an awesome response out of your colleagues within the business together with those that had been influential in your profession like AJ Lee [Mendez]. What does it imply to have her help?
I’m very grateful and fortunate I’ve such a bond with all the ladies who I’ve labored with through the years, particularly with AJ. I speak about her within the e-book. She is totally fantastic. She is my fairy godmother. I really feel actually very pleased to know I had such an awesome gaggle of girls that need to freakin’ see me succeed. It’s very good.
Normally, when a professional wrestler e-book comes out it will possibly assist to have a giant firm behind it and use their platform on tv for promotion.. Nevertheless, this e-book got here out across the identical time as you confirmed your exit from AEW. Inform me about having all this information hit without delay.
It sort of fell into the lap at the exact same time. I even have a podcast that began. All of these items getting introduced on the identical time is a lot for folks to soak in. It was undoubtedly lots. It was overwhelming for me as properly as a result of folks had been texting me about all of it. The exit from AEW was mutual. I need to put that on the market. Tony [Khan] was nice, however there actually wasn’t something left for me to do. There was Mercedes [Mone], however she already had her schtick occurring. There are these storylines all deliberate out that I’m conscious of. She has her factor. Perhaps in the future we’ll get within the ring collectively, however for now, there was no room for me there. I wished to concentrate on issues outdoors of wrestling and never take anybody’s spot or be in the best way. Hopefully, down the road one thing comes up, and I might like to partake in it. For now, I actually simply need to get my ft moist outdoors of the wrestling enterprise a little bit bit.
You may have mentioned prior to now your all-time low was proper across the time the intercourse tape received leaked. Your id had been outlined by that for thus lengthy. Clawing your manner out of this abyss was one thing you’ve been very open about. How laborious was it so that you can relive all of the trauma you endured?
One of many essential causes I wished to write down the e-book was to inform my aspect of the story, which isn’t my aspect actually. It’s simply my story, however everybody has this notion of me or thought of who I’m and all that stuff, which is none of my enterprise what folks consider me. I’m not right here to vary anybody’s thoughts both. That’s not what I got down to do. I simply wished to take management of my life a little bit bit. That has been the objective for me for the final six months or no matter. It’s to take management of my life and be as pleased as attainable. This e-book was a catalyst for that.
WWE
It’s loopy it has been nearly a decade if you went by all that.
That’s loopy, and the very fact folks nonetheless speak about it blows my thoughts. On the identical time, it doesn’t harm my emotions anymore. No matter, I used to be a child. In the event you get off on that sort of sh*t the place you’re making an attempt to ridicule the girl, advantageous, no matter. You as an individual need to work on your self at that time. On the time, I used to be extraordinarily freakin’ depressed. Reliving it actually, is therapeutic to get it out once more. I don’t suppose it’s ever going to go away. I don’t suppose folks will ever overlook concerning the tape. It was such a giant deal, particularly at a time the place we weren’t getting leaked as a lot as they’re now. It occurred, and there may be nothing I can do about it. I’ve this motto I stay by in the case of these sorts of conditions the place if I can’t change it, why am I stressing? I don’t care. If that’s what you need to know me as, that’s completely advantageous. I simply need to work inside myself to just accept that.
The main focus in these conditions has often been on the girl. You actually confronted the brunt of it.
I did. I don’t know if it was as a result of I’m a girl. I undoubtedly received quite a lot of crap for it, and nonetheless do to this present day. I decided once I was 19 years outdated. It was a foolish determination, however do I remorse it? No. I don’t remorse something in my life, even the terrible issues as a result of it has molded me to be who I’m right now. I’m grateful one thing like that occurred to me as a result of I used to be robust sufficient to get by it, however I do know the ache of it. If somebody had been to undergo that, they may not be round to see the opposite aspect of it. I sort of need to take this e-book, and with a number of components of my life together with this one, to point out there may be one other aspect. It’s one thing you will get over. You may come out of the opposite aspect and be pleased. There may be one other aspect. That’s all I care about.
Did you’ve got any aha moments as you had been writing that you simply didn’t take into consideration till you began writing the e-book?
By the tip of the e-book, I used to be simply actually happy with myself. I haven’t been tremendous happy with myself for a very long time, however placing pen to paper and studying again my story, it was like holy crap. I’m stronger than I understand. I’m so proud. You must give your self a pat on the again each every so often.
It is best to! Trying again on Complete Divas, how do you look again at the moment? I suppose on reflection it won’t have been one of the best level in your life to have it documented on a actuality present, given what we now know you had been going by. On the identical time, the present did lots for ladies’s wrestling.
The present was enormous for ladies’s wrestling. It was large. At one level the scores would prime Uncooked or wherever it was. The scores had been superb. We had been getting this complete new model of people that had been all tuning into WWE now due to Complete Divas. Once more, I don’t remorse something about Complete Divas. Did it come on the proper time? It most likely wasn’t the neatest to place this child in a way on the present the place you’re pumping in alcohol continuously. You need to be preferred. That’s the way it was, however I wouldn’t have modified something. It’s loopy to have your life on the web, TV and all of it at such an early age. Once more, I’m happy with getting by it. I didn’t take pleasure in my time on Complete Divas. If I went again, possibly I might redo just a few issues. On the identical time you’ll be able to’t change it.
What are your ideas on the state of girls’s wrestling right now and the potential of WWE doing one other all-women’s PLE occasion Evolution? In fact, these sorts of occasions followers would need to see somebody like your self take part.
Actually, I’m happy with the ladies right now. They get to do matches I wasn’t capable of do in my time. This revolution began round my time. Now they get to do these stipulation matches the blokes get to do. It’s bittersweet for me as a result of I take into consideration how I want I may very well be extra concerned in that, however on the identical time, I’m proud of all of them. They grabbed the brass ring and ran with it. They’re doing superb issues. The ladies in all firms are completely killing it. I’m speaking about WWE, AEW, Impression, New Japan, throughout the board. I’m so happy with them. It’s simply going to get greater. The Evolution pay-per-view, I don’t know why we haven’t finished one other one sooner. I really feel like the primary one was successful and other people cherished it and got here and watched it. It was all particular. I suppose it makes it extra particular to have it spaced out. On the identical time, I really feel like the women might have their model of WrestleMania in the event that they wished to. The women are so highly effective today. They might do no matter they set their minds to.
You’ve finished a lot in your profession. If or if you do come again, what do you hope to cross off your checklist from the final runs?
I wish to get again within the ring this 12 months and actually prepare and discover myself once more. I really feel like I didn’t try this the previous couple of years. I need to do the coaching aspect of issues. I need to go to Nattie’s coaching. College and get within the ring along with her. That’s my focus this 12 months. I didn’t get to do a Royal Rumble or an Elimination Chamber or something I didn’t get to do. Perhaps down the road I’ll get to do them, who is aware of?
Paige arrives for WWE RAW at 02 Brooklyn Bowl on April 18, 2016 in London, England.
It’s superb to have these aspirations contemplating your profession nearly ended attributable to a damaged neck. I like that.
I do know! The chances.
You may have your new podcast “Rulebreakers” and just lately had Kail Lowry from 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mother 2. Who do you need to have sooner or later?
We’re really bringing in Stephen Service provider. It’s not essentially wrestling centered as we’ll speak about something. Then they’ll get tortured in these segments and get more and more worse. It’s going to be just like the Jackass of podcasts. It’s actually enjoyable. I don’t know who’s guest-wise. Anybody is welcome. I’m open to anybody who needs to return on. It has been much more tough than I believed it will be. Interviewing and all this stuff, I like it. It makes me excited and really feel challenged. I like challenges.
Talking of Stephen Service provider, are we calling Florence Pugh once more to play you in a sequel to Combating with My Household? I really feel we’d like a follow-up now.
I might like to. There are issues flying round, so we’ll see what occurs.
We talked concerning the panorama of girls’s wrestling, however what do you consider the backstage aspect of that. I take into consideration Gail Kim’s exit from TNA. It actually shines a light-weight on the significance of getting ladies in inventive and as producers.
Yeah, with Gail, what the hell was that about? It will be enjoyable to be a part of inventive or produce someplace down the road if folks need my enter. I’ve been on this enterprise for a very long time. I can assist some youngsters if wanted. I wouldn’t put myself in that place if I’m not wished. Gail, I believed she was such a giant voice. Individuals all cherished her. I simply don’t perceive that call if I’m being trustworthy. I don’t know the complete story of it. Perhaps one thing has modified, however wasn’t she fired?
Mainly.
What? That blows my thoughts. Anyone good will scoop her as much as do what she was doing at Impression. She is superb. She is aware of what she is doing. She is a good vitality to have round. She is an effective individual. I don’t perceive the logic. It’s not my enterprise. I simply know we’d like extra ladies like her backstage and doing this stuff. She must be scooped up by anyone.
Now that the e-book is out, how does it really feel?
I’m a little bit insecure. I believe everybody hates me. So, to have a very constructive response and response was superb. It has been actually nice. I’m actually grateful and grateful for everybody getting the e-book and studying it and posting about it. It has been superb.