Paige, the WWE ‘Smackdown LIVE’ general manager has revealed the upcoming eighth series of the E! reality show will see her open up about a difficult time in her personal life, which included a long spell out for injury, a suspension for violating the company’s wellness policy and X-rated photos and videos being shared online by hackers without her consent.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Paige said: “I do talk about the drug test, I talk about my neck and I talk about the leaks that I had, and I talk about how it affected me.
“Some parts are really sad because you’ll see that just because we’re in the public eye, we still don’t deserve what happens to us like that.
Everyone kinda does it, but unfortunately we’re in the public eye so it makes it a lot worse.
“I share with the world how I’m feeling, how low I got, stuff that I was thinking, and then how I came out of it and got stronger and more motivated to show the people that this is going to make me stronger than ever.
I can help so many more people. You aren’t alone in this, I’ve done it.”
Paige, 26, was initially “a bit sceptical” about doing a reality show revealing the inner workings of the sports entertainment business, but once the idea was sold to her she thinks it offers a unique insight into the wrestlers lives inside and outside the ring.
She added: “All we want to do is entertain the fans, and we go out there – inside we might be having personal trouble or we may be hurt, but we don’t stop.”
In November 2017, Paige returned to WWE after 16 months away including a suspension and neck injury, but suffered a career-ending injury just weeks later.
She made her retirement speech in April, and was announced as the new ‘Smackdown LIVE’ general manager the next night – and it has made her more motivated than ever.
She revealed: “I’m excited every week… It’s sparked this new fire, a new passion. It’s just something so different and I love it.”
The British grappler is regarded as one of the pioneers of the current women’s revolution on WWE TV, which will continue with the ‘Evolution’ show next month – but she wants to put praise on her contemporaries and fellow reality stars Nikki and Brie Bella.
She said: “I would like to thank the Bella Twins, because they came from an era when it was Divas, you know? And they wanted to spark a revolution more than anyone. I feel like they don’t get as much recognition as they deserve.”
You can watch how your favourite WWE female Superstars juggle their hectic lives every Sunday at 6pm on E! for Season 8 of ‘Total Divas’!