![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30771348.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_press-saraya-vs-skye-blue_2023_08_11_aew_rampage_0002.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWrestling superstar Saraya is arguably one of the most high profile British wrestling talents in history.<\/p>\n
And just days before taking on Toni Storm, Britt Baker and Hikaru Shida in front of 85,000 people at Wembley Stadium this weekend, she tried to sum up the roller-coaster journey she's been on.<\/p>\n
For most non-wrestling fans, the 31-year-old, who was born in Norwich, is probably most known for her infamous headline-grabbing personal life \u2013 but those days are firmly behind her.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/b>Virgin Media price cut on movies and sport bundle as customers get \u00a3150 off bill<\/b><\/p>\n
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star ahead of the for the All Elite Wrestling Women's Championship, Saraya said: \u201cI've literally gone from being in a small city in England, a smaller company and doing the independent shows, and managing to finally get signed to WWE, to having a movie about my life, winning the Divas championship, winning the NXT Women's Championship, to then completely come crashing down.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNo pun intended but I completely hit rock bottom, I fell into addictions, I was with someone that wasn't good for me, I had friends around me that weren't good for me, and I dealt with really bad mental health issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had those (sex) tapes come out and just I had all these things kind of happen all at once and then I made a big comeback, and I finally come back . . . and then I'm told I'll never wrestle again.\u201d<\/p>\n
But skip forward a few years, and Saraya, who was known as Paige in WWE, is now fully healed and had just one three-word phrase to sum up the entire ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the f**k?!,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought in 2016, I would be where I am today, that's for sure \u2013 I didn't know if I would be alive, but also, I would be out of WWE.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30771349.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_press-saraya-vs-skye-blue_2023_08_11_aew_rampage_0010.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30697720.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458\/0_image.png\")
<\/figure>\n AEW star told 'don't come back to UK to use NHS' after declaring she hates being British![](\"https:\/\/s2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/@trinitymirrordigital\/chameleon-branding\/publications\/dailystar\/img\/logo-schema-dailystar.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cI was just a huge loyalist to them, but those things come to an end and I still adore them but I'm absolutely in love with AEW, and I just feel so lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saraya's full interview with the Daily Star can be seen on our YouTube page, and during the chat she also talked about her family's legacy.<\/p>\n
Her parents, Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya, are both wrestlers and run the World Association Wrestling promotion in Norwich.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30771351.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_press-saraya-vs-skye-blue_2023_08_11_aew_rampage_0006.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30691541.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458\/1_Bann.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n 'I hate being British \u2013 I'll renounce my citizenship in front of 80,000 people'<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Her brother Zak Zodiac, also a wrestler, is rumoured to be making an appearance at the AEW Wembley show called All In.<\/p>\n
Her half-brother Roy and nephew Ricky Knight Jr are also wrestlers, with the latter competing at both PROGRESS Wrestling and Rep Pro Wrestling shows over the weekend.<\/p>\n
And although they're all arguably successful in their own right, none of them compare to the in-ring career Saraya has had, as a one time NXT Women's Champion and two time WWE Divas Champion.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWe've been surrounded by wrestling our whole lives, and to have one of our own showcased at the biggest stadium in England is massive.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30771352.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_press-saraya-vs-skye-blue_2023_08_11_aew_rampage_0021.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30638100.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458\/1_Kaitlyn-wwe_banner.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n Ex-WWE star looks unrecognisable after ditching iconic look for new life as a love coach<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cMy family have been so supportive, and I remember telling them I could wrestle again \u2013 we all just cried our eyes out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWrestling is our blood, it's our lifeline \u2013 we eat, sleep, s*** wrestling and we love it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey're like wrestling royalty in the UK and to just have them again, ringside and be there for me, is such a big thing . . . not just for me, but for the whole Knight family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last time Saraya laced up her wrestling boots in front of a home town crowd was in 2016 when she was with WWE.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30771353.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_y-soho-vs-skye-blue_hikaru-shida_2023_08_18_aew_rampage_0024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30620411.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458\/1_Im-the-original-Swiftie-she-gigged-in-my-house-says-wrestling-legend.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n 'I'm the original Swiftie \u2013 Taylor Swift gigged in my house,' says wrestling legend<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
She joined forces with Alicia Fox, Eva Marie and Natalya to beat Lana, Summer Rae, Naomi and Tamina.<\/p>\n
Women's wrestling is in a very different \u2013 and arguably much better \u2013 place these days, with Saraya getting to mix it up with three of the best.<\/p>\n
But what's changed about Saraya since those WWE days?<\/p>\n
\u201cI've definitely matured, and I'm sober which is really nice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30771366.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Ex-WWE-star-Paige-makes-fing-WOW-AEW-debut-in-shock-wrestling-return.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30549262.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458\/2_GettyImages-1203964098_Banner_02.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n