WWE.com has published a new interview with Divas Champion Paige, providing an in-depth look at her wrestling roots, facing rejection from the WWE, getting advice from The Rock and more.
Being uninterested in wrestling as a child: “I couldn’t really get a grasp on wrestling at a young age. I knew it was what my parents did, and they fought people. It scared the crap out of me, so I thought, ‘No, I can’t do that, I’ll get beaten up!'”
Falling in love with wrestling: “When I got a little older, like, 10 or 11, my dad would run a training school every month, teaching people how to become wrestlers. I would get in the ring now and again and mess around with one of my brothers, and he’d teach me some stuff. I did that for a couple of years, until I was 13. My dad was running a show and one of the girls didn’t turn up. He said, “There will be eight other girls in the match, could you fill in just for today?” I was so scared, but as soon as I walked through the curtain I got this huge adrenaline rush and I got hooked straight away. And then my dad couldn’t keep me away. I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Moving out from her family’s shadow: “After sending out the resumes, more and more companies were taking the bait. So then I was traveling by myself by the time I was 14. I went to Belgium, France, Germany, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark. I did all of that by myself. And just doing that, just being able to travel and do the stuff that I love — even though I wasn’t getting paid that much— it was all so great because it was what I wanted to do. I’d be doing stuff like setting up rings, building the sets, going out there with the leaflets and putting the posters up, and I’d be doing that for hours and hours a day. And then I’d also be training!”
Her first WWE tryout: “I tried my best to be what I thought they wanted me to be. I went and I tanned, I dyed my hair, I took out all of my piercings, I wore color — I think it was a blue dress — I just wasn’t being me. And then I got there, and I’m looking at people that I’ve been watching on TV my whole life, like, ‘Oh my God, I’m surrounded by all of these amazing people and now I have to wrestle in front of them!?’ I got a little scared on my tryout, and basically they told me that it wasn’t the right time and that I just wasn’t being me. They could see right through it. I wasn’t being myself, so I wasn’t comfortable. They just said that to be more confident, you need to be this, that and the other. So I said, ‘Okay, cool. I’ll do it.'”
Her second WWE tryout: “I was pale, I wore all black, I kept all of my piercings in and my hair was black again. I was the only girl trying out and there were 15 guys — one of them being my brother. Dustin Rhodes [Goldust] and Jamie Noble were holding a training camp, and it was like a two-hour session. I was in there for literally half the time. Me and my brother were just beating the crap out of each other, and they loved it! I got tagged out and Jamie goes to me, ‘Tag yourself in.’ I was like, ‘Really?’ It was rude of me to do it because other guys were trying out, but … who cares? This was my time. I was the only girl there, I needed to stand up for myself. This big, muscly guy gets backed into the corner and I just tagged myself in. The look he gave me …ugh! Oh, well. I just got back in the ring and we went from there. I stayed in the ring afterward and Goldust taught me some stuff, and it was really cool to get a one-on-one, even if it was just 10 minutes. We got back into the locker room and the guy goes, ‘You, you and you are signed.’ And he pointed to me! I was so speechless. I cried.”
Leaving her family and moving to Florida: “It was New Year’s Eve [2011] when I had to go to the airport, and everyone stayed up with me all night until I had to leave at five in the morning. Everyone came with me, and we just sat there for a while and I was like, ‘God, I’m leaving!’ I’m used to being so independent, but this was different. I was going to be thousands of miles away from my family. This was mind-blowing. But at the same time, I knew it was going to be worth it. To be chasing my dream and doing it at this age? That’s incredible. I was 19 when I flew that day.”
Inspiration for the scorpion crosslock: ” I grew up watching Bull Nakano, and she was amazing. She and Lita were girls I really looked up to. And seeing that submission, I thought, “I need to do this.” It was so badass, so I gave it a try. Me and Emma knew each other so well, so I had to whip out something new. It fit perfectly. So I can thank Bull Nakano for it.”
Her biggest Diva inspirations: “Mickie James. I’m also a big fan of Kharma. I’d love to go face to face with her. Also, Stephanie McMahon. If Stephanie wants to go toe-to-toe, I’m ready.[Laughs]”
Advice from she got from The Rock: “I actually got some good advice from The Rock, who took me aside the day of WrestleMania 30, right before my Raw debut. He knew the connection that my family had and how hard I worked, and he said, “I just want you to stay humble and hungry.” Those words have literally been stuck in my head for the last month. Never be satisfied, but always be hungry.”
You can read the full interview on WWE.com.
