Former WWE Star Paige Speaks Out About Illegally Published Sex Tape: 'I Felt So Rock Bottom'

Paige's life is the focus of a new movie, Fighting With My Family

By
Jason Hahn
Jason Hahn PFP
Jason Hahn

Jason Hahn is a former Human Interest and Sports Reporter for PEOPLE. He started at PEOPLE's Los Angeles Bureau as a writer and reporter in 2017 and interviewed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Brady. He has a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City.

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Published on February 12, 2019 05:10PM EST
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Former WWE wrestler Paige, whose rise to stardom is the focus of a new biopic produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is opening up about the illegal publication of a sex tape that left her feeling like she had hit "rock bottom."

In 2017, Paige — whose real name is Saraya-Jade Bevis — had private intimate videos posted online by hackers, a traumatic incident that left her experiencing stress-induced anorexia and alopecia, according to the New York Post.

"To be publicly humiliated like that was terrible," the British wrestler told the news outlet. "I don't wish that for anyone."

The hacking came a year after she was suspended twice by the WWE for testing "positive for an illegal substance," and the series of events caused her to retreat from her daily activities.

"I didn't go to work; I didn't do anything," Paige told the Post, adding that she experienced depression at the time. "I felt so rock bottom."

Now, the 26-year-old is looking forward to the release of Fighting With My Family, a movie that chronicles how Paige became one of WWE's top wrestling stars after getting her start thanks to her family of wrestling enthusiasts.

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Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images

But the movie also shows the drama that happened behind the scenes, namely how Paige made it to the WWE, while her brother — another wrestler — did not.

"Success isn't measured by how many cameras you're in front of," Paige said of her brother, who now trains wrestlers. "It's a success story to be at home with a family and to have a job where you're helping people. They shouldn't measure success on how famous you are."

Fighting With My Family also features a cameo from Johnson, who serves as a producer on the film through his Seven Bucks Production company.

Dwayne Johnson Plays a Hilarious Version of Himself in Wrestling Movie Fighting with My Family

"‪In 2012 I watched a documentary about a young, unknown British female pro wrestler & her wonderfully crazy and loving wrestling family," Johnson, 46, wrote on Instagram of his inspiration to make Paige's life into a movie. "I loved it and instantly identified with her and her family — because it reminded me of MY wonderfully, loving and f------ crazy wrestling family. Many of you know my history."

While speaking to the Post, Paige said that when she felt she had reached her lowest point, she was lifted up by a young fan she ran into at a grocery store in Texas.

"Of course, she didn't have the internet and thought I was the most beautiful and most successful woman in the world," Paige said of the fan, who was about 7 years old. "It opened my eyes to so many things. I was like, 'I'm gonna let videos get in the way of things?'"

She continued to the outlet: "I thought, what am I doing? I need to be successful for her. My whole journey was supposed to be about inspiring people."

Fighting With My Family opens on March 1, 2019.