23-year-old Saraya-Jade Bevis is the longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champion in history. (WWE.com)
UPDATE: On Twitter this afternoon, Paige said that the rumors of her leaving the WWE are false. She also said that she was suspended not due to a drug violation but because she did not have a test completed before a certain deadline. She says she hopes to return to action “at some point.” Here is her full statement via Twitter:
First, I’d like to thank all my fans for their love and support the last few weeks. Let me begin by saying that the rumors that I’m leaving the WWE are completely false! I certainly look forward to returning back to action at some point, once my injury is treated and on a healthy return. Although I was disappointed by my suspension, I respect the WWE’s Wellness Policy. However, let me be clear that I was not suspended for failing a drug test, it was merely due to a procedural issue. I took the test, I passed it. I arranged said test to happen after I wasn’t at my home when aegis contacted me. So I drove 200 miles to do it. Unfortunately I didn’t do it in time, according to Aegis. Once again, thank you for all the love and support!
After weeks of rumors that Paige would be leaving World Wrestling Entertainment, it looks like she may be making a return after all.
Pro Wrestling Insider is reporting that Paige and the WWE have been communicating over the past several days, and she is currently booked for next week’s Monday Night Raw taping in Memphis, Tennessee. She is also scheduled to appear at several upcoming Raw-branded live shows.
Paige recently received a 30 day suspension for violating the WWE’s wellness policy. That suspension officially ends on Saturday, September 17th.
This comes as a surprise considering all the rumors that Paige had quit the WWE and was speaking with legal representation in an attempt to get out of her multi-year contract. Reportedly, the company had tried to end the relationship between Paige and her boyfriend, fellow superstar Alberto Del Rio. And last week, Del Rio was released by the WWE, though this was apparently on good terms and at his request. Del Rio recently held a press conference, and although Paige was in attendance, she avoided cameras and did not speak to reporters.
Paige recently received a large “Alberto” tattoo, which many took as an act of defiance against the WWE after the way Del Rio was treated over the past year. This photo was later deleted from her Instagram account after being flooded with negative comments.
It has been about three months since we last saw Paige on television, with her most recent appearance being when she teamed up with Sasha Banks in a tag team match against Charlotte and Dana Brooke towards the end of June. She mysteriously disappeared after that, and her mother later clarified on Twitter that Paige was suffering from an injury. This is supposedly related to her back and neck, as the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported.
More about the drama between Paige and Alberto Del Rio will evidently been seen on the upcoming season of Total Divas, as the couple has filmed some material for that show.