5 Shocking Ways The Paige WWE Sex Tape Leak Changed Saraya-Jade Bevis's Life Forever (Latest Update 2025)
The unauthorized leak of private, intimate videos involving former WWE Superstar Paige in 2017 remains one of the most traumatic and widely publicized privacy invasions in professional wrestling history. The incident, which saw the star's personal life brutally exposed to the world, threatened to derail a historic career and triggered a severe mental health crisis. As of December 22, 2025, the story of Saraya-Jade Bevis (Paige's real name) is no longer one of victimhood, but of incredible resilience, a journey she continues to share openly to help others navigate similar trauma and mental health struggles.
This article dives deep into the context of the 2017 hacking scandal, the profound consequences it had on Paige's life—from her professional standing in WWE to her personal battle with depression and anorexia—and how she ultimately transformed that public humiliation into a powerful platform for advocacy, culminating in her successful run in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as Saraya.
Saraya-Jade Bevis: Complete Professional Biography and Profile
Saraya-Jade Bevis, known globally by her WWE ring name Paige and currently as Saraya in AEW, is a British professional wrestler from a renowned wrestling family.
- Full Name: Saraya-Jade Bevis
- Ring Names: Paige (WWE), Saraya (AEW), Britani Knight (Independent Circuit)
- Date of Birth: August 17, 1992
- Hometown: Norwich, England, UK
- Wrestling Family: Part of the legendary Knight Family. Her mother (Saraya Knight), father (Ricky Knight), and brothers (Zak Zodiac and Roy Bevis) are all professional wrestlers.
- Career Debut: 2005 (at age 13)
- Major Career Highlights & Championships (Entities):
- Inaugural NXT Women's Champion (First ever)
- 2-time WWE Divas Champion (Won the title on her main roster debut, the night after WrestleMania 30, at age 21)
- AEW Women's World Champion (Won at All In 2023)
- First woman to simultaneously hold both the NXT Women's Championship and the WWE Divas Championship.
- Retirement/Return: Forced to retire from in-ring competition in 2018 due to a neck injury, she returned to the ring in 2022 after signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
The 2017 Hacking Scandal: Context and Immediate Impact
The unauthorized release of Paige’s private photos and videos in March 2017 was not a consensual leak but a devastating act of hacking and cyber-harassment. This incident occurred during a particularly vulnerable period in her life and career, compounding existing issues.
A Career in Crisis
At the time of the leak, Paige was already sidelined from in-ring competition due to a neck injury and was facing a 60-day suspension from WWE for her second violation of the company's Wellness Policy. The hacking incident added a layer of public scrutiny and humiliation that she later described as unbearable.
The Trauma of Public Humiliation
The videos were shared widely across social media and file-sharing sites, subjecting her to intense public shaming and online abuse. She felt "publicly humiliated" and confessed that the experience left her feeling "rock bottom." The emotional toll was immediate and severe, pushing her to the brink.
5 Shocking Ways The Leak Affected Paige’s Life and Legacy
The consequences of the 2017 leak were far-reaching, impacting not just her career but her psychological well-being for years to come. Her journey from this low point to becoming a mental health advocate is a testament to her strength.
1. Battle with Severe Mental Health Issues (Anorexia and Depression)
The public exposure led to a profound mental health crisis. Paige revealed that the trauma caused her to develop severe depression, anxiety, and anorexia. The shame was so overwhelming that she admitted to having suicidal thoughts and wanting to physically harm herself. The constant fear of judgment and the feeling of being completely exposed shattered her sense of self-worth.
2. The Threat of Career Derailment
The combination of her injury, the Wellness Policy suspensions, and the sex tape scandal created a perfect storm that many believed would end her WWE career prematurely. She feared being fired by WWE, and the pressure to maintain her professional image while dealing with personal devastation was immense. The company, however, stood by her, a fact she often credits for helping her through the darkest times.
3. The Inspiration for a Hollywood Biopic
Ironically, the controversy and her unique, inspiring life story—from a working-class wrestling family to WWE success—led to the creation of the 2019 film Fighting with My Family. Produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the movie brought her story to a global audience, though it only touched upon the trauma of the leak. This exposure helped shift the public narrative from a scandal to a story of overcoming adversity.
4. A Shift in Persona and Identity (Paige to Saraya)
Her move to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2022 marked a significant turning point, symbolized by her decision to wrestle under her real name, Saraya. This change represented a shedding of the "Paige" persona, which was heavily tied to her WWE career and the associated scandals, allowing her to embrace a more authentic identity and narrative of survival. She is now known as "The Anti-Diva" and is one of the most popular and resilient talents in the industry today.
5. Becoming a Vocal Mental Health Advocate (Latest Update 2025)
In the years following the leak, especially in her current run in AEW, Saraya has become a fierce and open advocate for mental health. Her recent interviews, including appearances on podcasts like 'The Mental Game' in 2024/2025, focus on her sobriety, her struggles with anxiety, and the steps she took to recover from the trauma. This candid approach provides a crucial, updated context to the 2017 event, showing that while the trauma was real, long-term recovery and success are possible. Her willingness to discuss her suicidal thoughts and therapy journey solidifies her legacy as a survivor and an inspiration to others facing cyber-harassment.
The Long Road to Recovery and Resilience
Saraya's story serves as a powerful case study on the devastating effects of non-consensual pornography and cyber-harassment on public figures. Her ability to return to the ring after a career-ending injury and to thrive in a new environment (AEW) while openly discussing her darkest moments is a testament to her resilience.
She has consistently emphasized that the support of her family, her fans, and therapy were key to her recovery. The wrestling community, including her colleagues and the WWE fanbase, rallied around her, which she has stated helped her overcome the ordeal and bounce back from the humiliation. The ongoing conversation around the 2017 leak is now firmly centered on her strength, her advocacy, and her continued success as a pioneer of women's wrestling.
Today, Saraya-Jade Bevis is not defined by the actions of hackers but by her achievements: a two-time WWE Divas Champion, the inaugural NXT Women's Champion, an AEW Women's World Champion, and, most importantly, a global voice for mental health and a symbol of survival.
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