Saraya Jade Bevis, born August 17, 1992, is an English retired professional wrestler. She was previously signed to World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) under her ring name Paige. She is the first NXT Women’s Champion in WWE’s developmental division, NXT. She is the only person who has held both titles concurrently. Her 308-day tenure as NXT Women’s champion is the longest in title history.
Bevis, then 13, made her debut in 2005’s World Association of Wrestling. This promotion was run by her family under the ring name Britani Knight. She won several European championships. She signed a contract to WWE in 2011 and began wrestling within the company’s developmental systems. In April 2014, she made her debut on WWE’s main roster. She won the Divas Championship in her first match on the main roster and became the youngest champion in the history of the title at 21.
Early life
Bevis is part a professional wrestling family. Her father and mother, Sweet Saraya and Ricky Knight, respectively, are professional wrestlers. Bevis’ older brothers, Roy, and Zak, are also professional wrestlers. The promotion of the World Association of Wrestling is run by the Knight family. Channel 4 made a documentary on the Knights in July 2012 entitled The Wrestlers – Fighting with My Family.
Profession in wrestling
World Association of Wrestling (2006)-2011
Singles competition (2006-2011)
Klondyke Kate and Jason Cross, Bevis’s family, trained her at the WAW Academy. In 2006, she made her debut for World Association Of Wrestling. She teamed up with Sweet Saraya, her mother, and lost to Destiny. Kharisma, Pixie, and The Pink Lady were also involved. She would often team up with other members of her family and take on them during her time at WAW. Knight participated in a tournament that saw the winner become the first WAWW British Champion. She made it to the final, but was defeated by Jetta. Knight also lost a four-way match in the championship, which saw Jetta, Sweet Saraya, and Melodi, her former tag team partner. Knight lost a three way match to Jetta in August 2008. The winner would be the number one contender for the RQW Women’s Championship. Sweet Saraya Knight, Knight’s mother, was defeated in a best of three match on August 31, 2009. She became the WAWW British Champion. The result of the rematch was the same: two pinfalls for Knight, one for Saraya. She won the one-night ladies tournament by beating Sweet Saraya in 2010. She faced Saraya again, but this time it was to win the HEW Women’s Championship. Saraya won. Knight became the first WAWW Hardcore Champion when she won an elimination match on November 11. Her joy was short-lived as she lost the WAWW British Championship to Liberty a few days later.
The Norfolk Dolls (2006)-2008
Britani Knight would be Bevis’s name and she would soon team up with Melodi in the formation of the Norfolk Dolls. They lost their June match to Nikki Best & The Pink Lady. If you exclude handicapped matches, the Norfolk Dolls would have a long winning streak and remain undefeated in the tag team competition until 2007. They would also compete for Premier Promotions and other companies during this period. The first WAWW Tag Team Champions was the Norfolk Dolls, who defeated the Legion of Womb at World Association Of Women’s Wrestling. They held the title for approximately a year until it was vacated. Their last match as a tag team was in France’s International Catch Wrestling Alliance, where they lost to Bulla Punk & Sweet Saraya.
Pro-Wrestling: EVE (2010)-2011
Britani Knight was Bevis’ debut as a European all-female champion. She wore the ring name Britani knight along with Saraya Knight. The promotion did not go well for her. She was in the main event of the first taping but lost to Blue Nikita, a Greek wrestler. In what was allegedly her opponent’s final tour of wrestling, she also lost to Jetta. She won her first match against Shanna on October 16, 2010. She was crowned the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Champion in a tournament that lasted two nights. She won the Last Chance Battle Royal and defeated Jenny Sjodin in quarterfinals. She defeated Jetta in her semi-final match the next day and defeated Nikki Storm in the finals to win the Pro Wrestling EVE Championship. Sjodin won the Pro Wrestling EVE Championship on June 4, 2011, at the XWA War On The Shore 7.
Shimmer Women Athletes (2011)
Bevis, billed again as Britani Knight, made her United States wrestling debut on March 26, 2011 at the tapings Volume 37. She was accompanied by her mother Saraya Knight and her tag team partner Saraya Knight. Rebecca Knox, who was the original manager of Bevis and her mother (billed the Knight Dynasty), opened the challenge to Ariel and Nikki Roxx. After Saraya attempted to hit Ariel with her brass knuckles, the Knight Dynasty won. Ariel then grabbed Ariel’s knuckles, and was caught hitting Saraya with them. The Knight Dynasty was unsuccessful in challenging the Seven Star Sisters (Hiroyo Oatsumoto and Misaki Ohta) to the Shimmer Tag Team Championship at Volume 38. Knight participated in the final Shimmer tapings, October 1 and 2, 2011, before reporting to Florida Championship Wrestling. Saraya beat Knight after several losses that saw the Knight Dynasty fail to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship. Knight and her mother got into a fight, before she challenged Knight to a match. Volume 44 saw Knight defeat Saraya in her final Shimmer match.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2011-2018).
NXT Women’s Champion (2012)-2014 and Developmental Territories
Bevis was invited to try out for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and another one in April 2011. It was reported in September 2011 that Bevis had signed a contract to WWE and would report into their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling.
Bevis, who was then known as Saraya, made her debut on FCW’s house show January 5, 2012. Bevis was given the ring name Paige when she made her TV debut on February 26, 2012, in a backstage appearance. Paige and Sofia Cortez formed an alliance in March 2012, dubbed the Anti-Diva Army. Paige made her TV debut in the ring on March 19, 2012, when she competed in a tag-team match with Cortez. The duo lost to Audrey Marie, Kaitlyn, and Kaitlyn. Paige and Cortez formed a short association with APOC. Paige defeated Raquel Diaz, FCW Divas Champion, in a non-title triple danger match that also featured Audrey Marie. Paige was awarded a title shot against Diaz in the May 27 FCW TV episode. However, Diaz’s chicanery resulted in Paige being disqualified. Diaz retained her title. Paige and Audrey Marie began to fight in the Anti-Diva Army. Paige lost to Marie on June 10, FCW TV, after Cortez intervened against her. This signaled the end to the alliance. Paige was disqualified in a match against Marie on the July 1st episode of FCW TV. Marie and Paige ended their feud on the July 15th episode of FCW TV. Marie won in a match without disqualification.
Bevis, who was billed as Paige, made her debut on the third episode, which was taped at Full Sail University. Sofia Cortez lost the match. Paige began a winning streak of singles in September 2012. She defeated Sasha Banks and Emma, as well as Aksana, Emma, and Alicia Fox, former WWE Divas Champion. Paige was attacked on NXT’s January 30 episode by Summer Rae, the ring announcer. This was due to Rae being jealous of Paige’s success and popularity. Paige started feuding with Summer Rae after being attacked. Paige was defeated on the episode of NXT’s February 13th by Summer Rae. Paige sustained an injury and was out of action for a whole month. Paige was able to return on the NXT episode 13 of March after an injury sustained during a match between Emma and Summer. Paige joined forces with Sasha Banks to defeat Summer Rae and Audrey Marie on the April 3 episode. Paige defeated Summer Rae on the May 1 episode. Paige defeated Tamina Skuka in round one of the NXT Women’s Championship tournament on the episode of NXT. Paige beat Alicia Fox in round two of NXT’s July 3rd episode to reach the finals. Paige defeated Emma in the second round to become the NXT Women’s Champion.
Paige defeated Summer Rae to win her first title defense. Paige and Emma teamed up to fight Summer Rae, Sasha Banks over the next months. Paige won the battle against Natalya on NXT’s December 4th episode. Paige beat Emma by submission at NXT Arrival, February 27th.
NXT’s April 24th episode began with JBL, General Manager, stripping Paige from her Women’s Championship. He said it was unfair to NXT that one of their champions be traveling the globe while also defending a WWE Championship. Paige initially refused, but she eventually agreed and vacated the title without being pinned to lose. Her reign was over in 308 days.
Divas Champion; Heel Turn (2014)
Paige made her debut on the main roster of Raw on April 7, 2014. This episode was the night following Wrestlemania XXXX. Paige congratulated WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee for her successful defense of the title at the pay-per view event. Paige was slapped by AJ and she challenged her to a match with the championship at stake. Paige defeated AJ quickly to win her first Divas Championship. This ended AJ’s 295 day reign. Paige became the youngest WWE Divas Champion at 21 years old. Paige won her first title defense on Raw’s April 28 episode. She faced Brie Bella in an impromptu bout. Kane interfered and it was a no-contest match. In her first successful title defense on pay-per-view, Paige defeated Tamina Snuka at Extreme Rules.
On the May 19 episode of Raw, she was defeated by Alicia Fox in a non title match. She was able to defend and retain her title against Fox at Payback because of this result. Paige fought with Cameron in June and beat her in two non-title matches. Paige was defeated by Naomi, Cameron’s tag-team partner. Naomi won a title match at Money in the Bank. The WWE was criticised for not developing Paige’s character, despite being able do so for Paige’s opponents, as well as for portraying Paige, who was trying to prove herself, as a vulnerable champion.
Paige lost to AJ Lee in a title match on Raw’s post-Money in the Bank Episode. Paige initially resisted the challenge but eventually agreed to the match at the request of the live audience. Paige acted like she was best friends with AJ in tag matches where they teamed up. Paige lost a rematch to AJ at Battleground for the Divas Championship. Paige and AJ won a match on Raw’s post-Battleground episode on July 21st. Paige then launched a post-match attack on AJ. This furthered the feud and made Paige the heel. Paige was able to rematch AJ for the title at SummerSlam, where she defeated AJ’s Black Widow and won with the Ram-Paige. This allowed Paige to win her second Divas Championship. Paige lost the title to AJ in a triple-threat match at Night of Champions one month later. She failed to regain it at Hell in a Cell the next month. Paige attacked Fox on Raw the next night to end their alliance. Paige was eliminated from her team by Naomi in a 4-on-4 elimination tag-team match at Survivor Series.
Team PCB (2015-2016).
Paige saved Natalya from a post-match attack by Nikki Bella, the Divas Champion, on Raw’s January 5, 2015. She turned her babyface. Paige was able to win the non-title match against Nikki onMain Event the next night. After weeks of being tortured by the Bella Twins for weeks, Paige lost to Nikki in a non-title match atMain Event. The rematch took place on March 2, episode of Raw. Paige was saved by AJ Lee, her former rival. Paige and AJ teamed up again to take on the Bella Twins. They were defeated in a tag match at Wrestlemania 31, which was Paige’s Wrestlemania debut. Paige was the #1 Contender to Nikki’s Divas Championship. Naomi was eliminated last time out. Paige gave a post-match interview, but was attacked by Naomi who became a villainess. Paige was able to save Nikki Bella and Tamina from an attack on May 18, before attacking Nikki. Paige was offered a Divas Champion opportunity in a triple-threat match at Elimination Chamber, but she lost to Naomi.
Paige was offered a singles chance at the Divas Championship on the June 1 episode. However, she lost when the Bellas used Twin Magic and made the Bellas villains again. Following the same result at Money In The Bank and Alicia Fox’s alignment with the Bellas in the final match, Stephanie McMahon called a “Divas Revolution,” which saw NXT Divas Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Paige form the “Submission Sorority,” later changed to PCB. Team PCB defeated Team BAD, Naomi Tamina and Sasha Banks, and Team Bella (Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox) during a three-team elimination match held at SummerSlam. Lynch pinned Brie. The next night, PCB took part in the Divas Beat the Clock challenge to determine the #1 Contender to the Divas Championship. Paige fought Sasha Banks to the time limit draw. Charlotte was named #1 Contender. Paige and Banks have been in a fierce rivalry since then. However, Paige lost back-to-back singles matches during the September 7th and 14th episodes of Raw.
Night of Champions saw Charlotte win the Divas Championship. Paige and Becky were also there. Paige, who was a heel at Charlotte’s championship celebrations, turned against her PCB partners. She then blasted the Divas Division in a promo for a work shoot. Paige claimed that Charlotte got to where she is because of her father. Paige defended her actions on Smackdown three nights later and claimed she had started the Divas Revolution. She later slapped Natalya when she confronted him again. Paige was awarded title shots against Charlotte at Survivor Series, and TLC. Both of them lost.
Hiatus (2016-2017).
Paige was selected to Raw as part of the 2016 WWE Draft, which took place July 19th. Her mother posted on Twitter on August 3rd that Paige was currently on a medical leave. Paige was fired for violating the company’s wellness policy. Paige was suspended from work for 30 days on August 17. Paige later clarified that she hadn’t failed a drug screen, but that she was being suspended because of a procedural problem. Paige announced in September 2016 that she would be having neck surgery and that she wouldn’t be wrestling for an unknown amount of time. Paige was again suspended for violating the wellness policy on October 10th, this time for 60-days. Bevis tweeted that Paige was suspended again for violating the wellness policy. Kids… Do not ask for prescriptions or doctor notes. This is unacceptable. Her father issued a statement stating that she was prescribed medication for her neck injury. WWE released a statement saying she had tested positive for illegal substances, and not prescription drugs. On October 19, she underwent successful neck surgery.
Paige was allowed to compete in the in-ring contest again in September 2017.
Absolution (2017-2018).
Paige returned to Raw on the November 20, 2017 episode of Raw alongside Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and attacked Bayley, Mickie James, Sasha Banks and Mickie James as well as Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Blaiss. She quickly established herself as a heel. The trio was renamed Absolution a week later. Paige defeated Sasha Banks in her first match since her medical clearance on December 4, 2017. After destroying Banks’ teammates Mickie James, Bayley and Bayley outside of the ring Ring, Absolution members Rose & Deville attacked the defeated Banks following the match. Absolution took on Mickie James and Bayley in their first ever tag team match during Raw’s December 18, 2017, episode. Absolution was disqualified from the match after they attacked Sasha Banks and ignored warnings by the referee. Nia Jax, who was fighting Absolution, came to the ring and delivered a double Samoan Drop for Paige. Shortly thereafter, Absolution was engaged in a brawl. Stephanie McMahon joined the fray to announce the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble match at the 2018 Royal Rumble.
Paige was injured in the neck and had to retire from Monday Night Raw on April 9, 2018. Paige was announced as the new SmackDown General manager by Shane McMahon on Monday Night Raw. He had been injured in his neck and decided to return to the ring.
SmackDown General Manager (2018)
Paige announces both Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles on May 1. Styles retaliated by hitting Nakamura with a low blow, while Styles hit him in the announce table during their match at The Greatest Royal Rumble. She also made a stipulation match with them in Backlash in an No Disqualification Match. She later welcomes her former Absolution teammates, Mandy Rose (now Sonya Deville) and Rose (now Mandy Rose). Rose is informed by Paige that Becky Lynch will be her opponent the next night. She also informs them that both had not received any special treatment. Paige gave Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair a break by making them tea.
Paige was present at the June 5 contract signing between Shinsuke and Shinsuke Nakamura in their Last Standing Match @ The Money in the Bank. Paige was furious when Styles punched Nakamura in his face, knowing all of his dirty tricks. She watched as he signed the contract and was disappointed. Paige hosted the Women’s Money in the Bank Summit on June 12th after the SmackDown Divas were in the brawl. Later she hosted a 10-Woman Tag Team Match and Asuka joined Lana, Naomi Flair, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch. She happily accepted. She meets The Miz, who is practicing his acting for the audition. He is thrilled when she offers him the role of special guest referee in tonight’s battle between Samoa Joe & Rusev.
Paige announces the Gauntlet match on SmackDown Live’s June 19, 2013 episode. This will determine who will face AJ Styles in the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules. The Gauntlet Match will feature five competitors: Big E, Samoa Joe and Rusev, as well as Daniel Bryan. Paige meets James Ellsworth the next night and challenges Asuka to a fight. Ellsworth is informed by Paige that Carmella will be defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. Paige offers Ellsworth a match against Asuka next Wednesday, but he declines the date. After Ellsworth’s match against her ended in a double-count out last week, and she was defeated in a Lumberjill Match, Paige sprays her with pepper spray on her eyes. This is SmackDown’s July 10. Paige fired Ellsworth after he insulted her on SmackDown’s July 24, episode. He was then taken by security and kicked out of the arena.
SmackDown’s December 18, 2018 episode featured Paige announcing that she would be leaving her position as General Manager to take on a new one.
Personal life
Bevis is part a professional wrestling family. Julia Hamer-Bevis, her parents, and Ian Bevis (her older brothers), are professional wrestlers. The World Association of Wrestling promotion is run by the Bevis family in Norwich. Bellatrix Female Warriors is a women’s-only wrestling promotion that her mother also owns and runs. Jake “The Snake”, a WWE Hall of Famer, lived for a while with the Roberts family. Bevis mentions Bull Nakano and Alundra Blayze as her favourite wrestlers.
Bevis has scoliosis. Bevis was unaware she had the condition, until a trainer saw her back after signing with WWE.
Paige admitted to having been with another woman on the WWE reality TV show Total Divas. Total Divas featured Paige in a relationship with Emarosa singer Bradley Walden. From May 2015 to February 2016, she dated Kevin Skaff, guitarist at A Day to Remember.
Bevis and Jose Rodriguez, a fellow professional wrestler, made their relationship public in May 2016. They were engaged to each other in October 2016. After Paige returned to WWE in 2017, they ended their relationship.
Filmography
Television
YearTitleRolesNotes2012The Wrestlers: Fighting With My FamilyHerselfDocumentary2015-2017Total DivasHerselfSeason 3Film
In wrestling
* Final moves * As Paige
* As Britani Knight
* Signature moves * As Britani Knight
As Paige * Superkick
* Nicknames * “Norfolk Doll”
* “The Anti-Diva”
* “The Enchanting/Mysterious Raven-Haired Lady.”
* “The Diva Of Tomorrow.”
* “Porcelain princess” (mainly by Dusty Rhodes).
Championships and other achievements
* Herts & Essex Wrestling * HEW Women’s Championship (2 Times)
