MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

The pain of being Paige: How injuries to addiction drove WWE icon to the brink

WWE icon Saraya Bevis aka Paige, was initially suspended from the organization in 2016 due to her substance abuse issues

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former WWE star Saraya Bevis aka Paige, who has been dating Ronnie Radke since 2018, recently opened up about her remarkable journey of overcoming a harsh drug addiction, a career-ending injury, and the stress of a leaked sex tape that even pushed her to the edge of suicide.

Despite the challenges, she managed to make a triumphant return to the sport she once believed she had lost forever, with her boyfriend Radke playing a crucial role in inspiring her to overcome her struggles and achieve sobriety, as per Daily Mail.

Who is Ronnie Radke?

Ronald Joseph Radke is a singer, songwriter, rapper, musician, and record producer born in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is widely recognized as the present frontman of the rock band 'Falling in Reverse' and was previously the lead singer of 'Escape the Fate'.

His musical journey started with learning to play the piano and guitar as a member of his initial bands. Radke's early guitar efforts centered on playing songs by Blink-182, with 'Dammit' being the first track he mastered.

He's also known for being the boyfriend of the former WWE star Paige. 

Highs and lows of former WWE star Paige 

Saraya Bevis aka Paige, 31, began her wrestling career at the young age of 13. Currently associated with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as part of The Outcasts, she is best known for her time in WWE, which she joined in 2011.

Paige, originally from the UK, went on to win numerous competitions, shattered records, and emerged as one of the most renowned wrestling figures worldwide.

In 2016, she faced tough times due to substance abuse issues, leading to her suspension from the WWE. Things took a darker turn in early 2017 when Paige's sex tape was leaked, causing her to fall into a deep depression and develop issues like anorexia and alopecia, as per Daily Mail. 

She made her WWE comeback in September 2017, but unfortunately, just three months later, Paige experienced a devastating neck injury that left many doubting if she could ever return to the ring.

After a five-year break, Paige surprised everyone by revealing that she had joined AEW, returning to the ring in November 2022, and has been unstoppable ever since.

Former WWE star Paige celebrates five years of sobriety 

Paige recently opened up about being sober for five years, reflecting on her rollercoaster journey. The fighter credits her boyfriend, Ronnie Radke, for inspiring her to make a positive change in her life after they began dating in 2018.

Although she had already quit using drugs before they met, Paige admitted to consuming alcohol heavily at the time. "My boyfriend, he has such great willpower, like really, really great willpower," said the fighter to Daily Mail.

Paige added, "He went through drug addiction [but stopped] 10 years ago. He was [still] drinking though, when we first met. After I first returned to the WWE, I stopped doing drugs completely, but I was still having drinks [too] and it's a problem for me to drink."

"But [my boyfriend] had the idea of, 'We should just cut this completely out,' because we were waking up at 12 or 2 in the afternoon, and kind of wasting our days and nights and just feeling like s**t constantly. Our health wasn't the best," expressed the former WWE star about their relentless struggle. 

She revealed how she decided to quit alcohol and vaping "cold turkey" after that, making a complete and abrupt change in her habits, saying, "He was like, 'This is the best way to do it.' And so, we did. We just stopped one day and then never looked back."

Paige said she and Radke never put themselves in "situations" where they'll be tempted to go back to their old ways. "I want people to know that once you stop, I promise you there is a point in it where you're just like, 'I don't need this anymore'," asserted the AEW fighter.  

She continued, "You stop needing it and you get more comfortable, you start learning to develop this confidence," and mentioned that after getting clean, she has become a "homebody." When Paige is not working, she enjoys spending time with her pets.

Former WWE star Paige's answer to her criticizers

Despite feeling like many were against her during the difficult times, she remained "determined" to prove her haters wrong, according to Daily Mail. 

"Everyone thought I was a mess and that I couldn't come out of my addictions and all that kind of stuff. And I did," she said, adding, "You don't have to be perfect to be a role model. The thing that makes you a role model is your imperfections."

Paige explained, "The fact that I went through everything, I'm so thankful that I went through it and not somebody else because I came out extremely strong and someone else might not have been able to get through that."

"I don't regret my decisions at all because now, I can use it as a tool to help so many people, and I hope I continue to do that even seven, eight years from now," asserted the fighter. 

Paige feels that she's "100 percent" in both her mind and body and firmly believes that she's currently at her "best self" as the star prepares to compete at AEW's All In event at London's Wembley Stadium on Sunday, August 27.