Why is Paige Still in WWE?

Continuing what we hope will one day become a hit television show or podcast series, we ask why is Paige still technically employed by WWE?

WWE employs several men and women who seem to be little more than time fillers for the weekly RAW and SmackDown marathons. If the company wants to cut costs and tighten up their programming, perhaps it should look into sending some of these wrestlers out to pasture. This week, we take a look at Paige, AKA Saraya-Jade Bevis.

The rise and fall of Paige is something anyone who has gone through puberty can relate to, especially if you’re old enough to have teenagers of your own. Teenagers tend to do reckless and rebellious things and as a parent, your job is to be there even after they’ve realized how idiotic they have acted. Sometimes this moment of clarity happens on their own and sometimes it takes a few mistakes but the hope is that they become better people after these experiences and realize growing up is inevitable. They don’t have to like it, but sooner or later it will happen, even if it means using tough love to get them there. Based on her recent public altercations with Alberto del Rio, Paige still isn’t there yet.

Paige started wrestling in 2005 at the age of 13 on the European independent circuit and just 6 years later she was signed to the WWE. Her story seemed to be everything that professional wrestling dreams were made of but perhaps the amount of success she enjoyed so soon after her debut on the main roster is what ultimately led to her downfall. She became the youngest Divas Champion at the age of 21 (the night after WrestleMania 30) and was ranked the best singles female wrestler by Pro Wrestling Illustrated the next year. Her antics on Total Divas quickly labeled her as immature and several veterans expressed concern that she may not be able to handle the responsibility that comes with success. Being a WWE superstar is undoubtedly a fun job but it’s still a job.

In the wake of suspensions, neck surgery and her highly publicized and contentious relationship with former WWE champion Alberto del Rio, Paige recently spoke to Busted Open Radio about her possible return to WWE:

"“I just had my CT scan today and I do my last checkup on Monday with my good friend and doctor, Dr. Uribe, in Arizona. Hopefully I’ll be back sooner rather than later but I don’t know at this point, I don’t know where it is. But I can’t wait to get back to work. It’s been since Oct. 19 that I had my surgery, so it’s been a while. So I’m like ‘just get me back, I want to be wrestling again.’ It feels so weird not to be wrestling for so long. I got to travel a little bit with Alberto but it’s not the same when you’re not in the ring yourself. I’m excited to get back to WWE.”"

Since Paige has been gone, the post-draft women’s division has established themselves on both RAW and Smackdown with their own unique belts and new match types including Hell in a Cell and Money in the Bank. Her absence proves that no matter how talented, no single wrestler will make or break the company. At this point, pining for Paige to come back is an effort in futility because she simply isn’t needed. Bayley has filled the void of the young upstart once held by Paige and Bayley doesn’t come with nearly as much baggage. Bayley provides a positive image for the company in and out of the ring, something that Paige will continue to struggle with so long as she’s associated with Alberto del Rio.

Paige hasn’t set foot inside the WWE in over a year. Some of this is her own doing based on past mistakes, but I can’t help but think that her engagement to del Rio has lengthened her absence. It’s no secret that del Rio and the WWE departed on negative terms and he continues to bad-mouth his former employer when he’s near a microphone. Some of his negativity has undoubtedly seeped into Paige’s perception of the WWE, regardless of how excited she seems to return. He will continue to be the devil on her shoulder, giving her bad advice and steering her career in a direction more favorable to himself and his views of the company. Like good parents, the WWE is hoping Paige can grow up, but they shouldn’t allow her back into the family until she does.

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