Former WWE Divas Champion Saraya, known to fans as Paige during her WWE run, recently opened up in heartbreaking detail about the 2017 in-ring injury that forced her into early retirement. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Saraya described the terrifying moment she realized her wrestling career was over—just weeks after returning from neck surgery.
The injury occurred during a WWE live event in a six-woman tag team match. Saraya took a routine-looking kick to the back—reportedly delivered by Mercedes Moné (then Sasha Banks)—but the impact had devastating consequences.
“I lost all the feeling in my legs at first, and then I kind of stumbled, and I fell down,” Saraya said. “Then I lost all feeling in my arms… I just could not grab [Mercedes’] legs. Then I remember just being completely paralyzed in the middle of the ring… I was like this is it. I’m never gonna wrestle again.”
She compared the sensation to an electric shock before going completely numb, lying motionless in the ring as the match stopped.
Despite her paralysis, Saraya refused to be stretchered out.
“I wanted to walk out on my own terms,” she said. “I remember calling my mum and dad… I was crying my eyes out. That’s my whole family’s life—wrestling. I was just devastated.”
Saraya was later informed by WWE’s Dr. Joseph Maroon that her spinal condition resembled injuries sustained in high-speed car crashes. Wrestling again was out of the question.
Saraya praised WWE for immediately offering her an on-screen role and a chance to retire publicly—an uncommon opportunity for female performers at the time.
“Vince gave me the opportunity to say goodbye on TV… I cried my eyes out in the ring, and the crowd were amazing. The very next day, I was the GM [of SmackDown]. But I knew—‘That’s it. I’m done.’”
After years away from the ring and multiple medical opinions, Saraya shocked the world by returning to competition in 2022, eventually competing in AEW. She has since parted ways with the promotion and is currently a free agent.
She’s now promoting her new autobiography, which chronicles her incredible journey—from a teenage prodigy in Norwich, England, to global fame, crushing setbacks, and miraculous comebacks.
