Saraya under the name of Paige had a memorable career in the WWE on NXT as well as on the main roster. During both runs, she saw success by uplifting championships in the respective rosters. In the process, she produced some interesting storylines with some of the top names from the WWE Women’s locker room.
During her WWE mainstay tenure, Saraya was involved in a feud with Nikki Bella that produced multiple title matches. One of those matches took place in an episode of Main Event in 2015 that was perhaps the best singles outing between the two. It could have been featured on a PPV but it ended up airing on free TV and not even on an episode of Raw and Smackdown.
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Recently WWE NXT Superstar Arianne Grace asked her followers to comment on her favorite women’s division match of all time. A Twitter user with the handle @paigesvega mentioned January 6, 2015, Main Event episode match between Saraya, then Paige going up against the then WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella in a non-title match.
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Saraya was in fear of getting trimmed off WWE TV
The fan also noted how both superstars fought extremely hard on TV for no reason. Saraya noticed the comment and commented on it, revealing that they were in the WWE Divas era back then where the fear was that if they’d ever be able to compete in a mega title match on TV in the first place,
“Actually fun fact. We decided to do that match because we were scared our match would get cut or time slashed at the ppv that was coming up! @BellaTwins remember that? twas a different time.”
Actually fun fact. We decided to do that match because we were scared our match would get cut or time slashed at the ppv that was coming up! @BellaTwins remember that? ? ‘twas a different time. https://t.co/R0RULR0dIB
— SARAYA (@Saraya) October 29, 2022
Back in that match, Saraya defeated Nikki with her Rampage maneuver with Natalya watching her back. A few weeks later, The Bella Twins sought redemption for the duo by defeating them in a tag team match at Royal Rumble PPV.
Interestingly, just a few days later, Brie Bella’s match against the then Paige appeared to be so short that the fans filed a complaint against WWE’s tradition of neglecting their female talents. This ultimately changed the course by giving birth to Women’s Evolution.
Nikki Bella ultimately became the longest-reigning WWE Divas Champion of all time while Paige retired in 2018 due to a neck injury. However, earlier this year, the latter returned to AEW Dynamite under her real name Saraya to relaunch her pro-wrestling career.
