Saraya Recalls Being Insecure In Early Days Of WWE Run, Pressure Of Being Youngest Champion

Saraya found success in WWE at an early age as Paige, and she recalled how insecure she was in that era of her career. Saraya captured the Divas Championship in her first match on the main roster in April of 2014. That made her the youngest Divas Champion in history at the age of 21.

Saraya would go on to win the title one more time in her career before exiting the company in 2022 after her retirement due to a neck injury. She spoke about the early days in an interview with Poker Scout, and you can see highlights below:

On The Pressure Of Being the Youngest Female Champion In WWE History:

“I was so honoured and stressed out that I was getting that opportunity straight out the gate. Obviously they trusted me with it, but at the same time I am really young. With the championship comes a lot of pressure and a lot of things that you have to get done. As soon as I was out of the ring, they’re like, go take pictures, go talk to the media, go do this, go do that. And I’m like, this is my first day on the job, you know? So it was very intense. But I loved it and I’m so proud that I made history that day. One of the first double champs, may I say, NXT and Diva’s Champion. Never lost it. But I loved it. I don’t think it hindered me in any way. The only thing that hindered me was myself, with the drinking and stuff like that. I wish I was a lot smarter when it comes to things like that. I’m seven years sober now. I would never be drinking and be in a mess ever again in that way. I’m sure I’ll be a mess in other ways though. We were just so busy. It was a lot of fun. I was enjoying my life for sure. I just made some silly decisions.

On Her Greatest Fear At In Her Early Career:

“There was no holding back. I was still very insecure because again, back then I did look very different to everybody else. The only one that was kind of similar to me was AJ. I was definitely insecure, I was young. I wanted to make everyone proud; I felt the pressure. It was an intense time of my life, but there wasn’t anything that I was severely worried about…

“I had to grow up very quickly, that’s for sure. I got signed at 18, came over here at 19, I was in a very big country with a very different culture and different food and different ways of living and stuff like that. So it was very intense to adapt. But I did myself proud.”

On Which Of Her Divas Title Reigns Was More Significant Personally:

“I think the first one because it made such an impact. I loved the second one; I won it on my birthday at Summer Slam and it was incredible. But I think the first one was my favorite because it was just such a big moment for me. And obviously it didn’t hold it for too long. Because it was a couple months before AJ came back and won it the way I won it, which I thought was cool. But I think that one. It was just such a memorable time.