Returning WWE star Paige has opened up on how her dad stopped from committing suicide at her lowest moment.
The Anti-Diva, real name Saraya-Jade Bevis, made a stunning return to WWE at WrestleMania 42 and competed in her first match for the company since December 2017.
Paige was a surprise tag team partner for Brie Bella after twin sister Nikki was ruled out with an ankle injury and received a huge ovation when her entrance music hit on night two of the extravaganza at the Allegiant Stadium.
The 33-year-old then picked up the victory to become a WWE women's tag team champion with Bella after pinning Alexa Bliss following her RamPaige finishing move.
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It was an incredible and emotional moment for the former Divas champion, who contemplated suicide after private material was released nine years ago.
Fresh from the triumphant return, Paige appeared on the 'What's Your Story?' podcast with WWE Hall of Famer Stephanie McMahon and was candid about her suicidal thoughts.
But a phone conversation with her dad, veteran British wrestler Ricky Knight, saved her life as he reassured her that everything would be okay.
"When these tapes came out, I ran out of the house door and took off," Paige explained.
"I kept running and running. I saw the first one and then the second one came up. I ran outside this grocery store and I hid in this bush in San Antonio Texas.
"People are humiliating me online. It was bad and I was reading it. made mistakes in these videos and stuff...that I would never do. It was my private life. I was 19-years-old, you know.
"I call my dad and I said, 'If my dad doesn't accept me for this, I'm going to kill myself. That was it. I can't be here anymore. I went through that stage where I was completely alone.
"I felt like my dad is my life and if he can't accept the fact that these tapes are out, I don't know if... I was ready to do it. I was done."
"I called him and he was f***ing fantastic.
"He goes to me, 'It's alright princess - everyone has a sex life, yours just happens to be on the internet'.
"And he goes, 'You know what? You could be famous like Kim Kardashian!' I was like how the f**k do you know Kim Kardashian? I was so confused!
"He saved my life that day. He absolutely saved my life. I was doing everything I can just to not be here anymore. That was the lowest I've ever been in my life and I never thought I would reach the point of wanting to do harm to myself but I'd reached it and my dad saved my life."
The sex tapes and nude photos circulating online caused Paige to suffer from "stress-induced anorexia" and she also struggled with drug addiction.
Paige was forced to retire from in-ring competition in 2018 due to a neck injury and after a brief run as Smackdown general manager, she had a spell in rival promotion AEW and became women's world champion.
A year after leaving AEW, she got the all-clear medically and after successfully passing a drug test, re-signed with WWE in a multi-year deal.
Her unique story is told in the film 'Fighting My Family', which was adapted from a Channel 4 documentary on Paige and her wrestling family by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and his Seven Bucks Productions.
Starring Vince Vaughan, Stephen Merchant and Nick Frost, the film also saw Florence Pugh play Paige in one of her very first roles before becoming a major Hollywood actress.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: WWE
Josh Lawless