5 Shocking Ways The Paige Sex Tape Scandal Still Haunts Saraya's Career In 2025

The 2017 leak of Paige's private, intimate videos remains one of the most traumatic and widely publicized events in modern professional wrestling history, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of non-consensual sharing of intimate images (NCII). As of today, December 13, 2025, the woman now known as Saraya continues to navigate her career, personal life, and mental health in the shadow of that violation, with recent decisions in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) proving the long-term emotional toll is far from over.

The scandal, which involved the former WWE Divas Champion and two other wrestlers, Xavier Woods and the now-retired Brad Maddox, was a catastrophic invasion of privacy that nearly destroyed her life. While the initial shock has faded, the long-term effects continue to shape her professional choices and her public identity as Saraya-Jade Bevis, a survivor who has fought her way back to the ring.

Saraya-Jade Bevis: A Biography of Resilience

Saraya-Jade Bevis, known professionally as Paige in WWE and now simply Saraya in AEW, has a life story of extraordinary highs and devastating lows. Her journey, which began in a wrestling family in Norwich, England, is a testament to natural talent and incredible fortitude.

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• Full Name: Saraya-Jade Bevis
• Born: August 17, 1992 (Age 33 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Norwich, Norfolk, England
• Ring Names: Paige (WWE), Saraya (AEW), Britani Knight (Independent Circuit)
• Family: Part of the Knight wrestling family; her parents, Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya, are also professional wrestlers.
• Career Highlights: First-ever NXT Women's Champion, two-time WWE Divas Champion. She is the youngest Divas Champion in history.
• Major Setbacks: Career-ending neck injury in 2017 (temporarily retired), the 2017 sex tape leak, and subsequent battles with depression and anorexia.
• Biopic: Her life was the subject of the 2019 film *Fighting with My Family*, produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
• Current Status (2025): Active wrestler and personality in All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

The Catastrophic 2017 Leak and Immediate Fallout

The "Paige sex tape" incident exploded onto the internet in March 2017. It was a brutal act of cybercrime, stemming from a phone hack that saw private photos and intimate videos of the then-WWE star stolen and distributed globally without her consent. The immediate aftermath was characterized by profound emotional distress and public scrutiny.

A Violation of Privacy and Trust

The leaked content included footage of Paige, her then-boyfriend Brad Maddox, and fellow WWE superstar Xavier Woods. The fact that the videos were shared non-consensually turned a private act into a public spectacle, a form of image-based abuse that is legally and morally reprehensible. The wrestling world was thrown into chaos, and the WWE faced a difficult public relations situation with three of its contracted talents involved.

The Toll on Mental Health

Paige, who was already dealing with a serious neck injury that would soon force her temporary retirement, described the experience as hitting "rock bottom." The trauma was so severe that she has openly discussed battling severe depression, anxiety, and anorexia, and even contemplating suicide. This period of her life highlights the often-ignored mental health crisis that victims of NCII face, especially those under intense public pressure.

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She received a wave of support from fans and fellow wrestlers, but the damage was done. The incident became an indelible part of her public narrative, overshadowing her historic achievements in the ring, such as being the youngest Divas Champion in WWE history.

5 Ways The Scandal Still Shapes Saraya’s Career Decisions in 2025

Years later, as Saraya (Paige) thrives in AEW, the 2017 violation continues to influence her professional and personal boundaries. Her recent actions in 2025 demonstrate a conscious effort to protect her mental health and control her narrative.

1. Rejecting Romantic Storylines in AEW (May 2025)

In one of the most significant recent updates, Saraya revealed in May 2025 that she turned down a proposed romantic angle in AEW with "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard. On her *Rulebreakers* podcast, she explained that despite the storyline being relatively tame—reportedly only involving a kiss—she was uncomfortable with the idea. This decision is a clear, long-term consequence of the leak, showing her reluctance to engage in on-screen relationships or intimate angles that could potentially trigger past trauma or invite further public scrutiny of her private life.

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2. The Permanent Shift to the 'Saraya' Identity

While she was known as Paige for over a decade in WWE, her move to AEW saw her revert to her real name, Saraya. This name change is more than a simple branding decision; it represents a psychological break from the most tumultuous period of her life. The 'Paige' persona is intrinsically linked to the career-ending injury, the *Total Divas* drama, and, most prominently, the 2017 scandal. Embracing 'Saraya' is a way to reclaim her identity and build a new, stronger legacy free from the baggage of her past controversies.

3. Open Advocacy and Mental Health Transparency

The greatest long-term impact is her transformation into a vocal advocate for mental health and a survivor of image-based abuse. Saraya consistently uses her platform to discuss her experiences with depression, anorexia, and suicidal ideation following the leak. This transparency, which was also a central theme in *Fighting with My Family*, is a deliberate choice to turn her trauma into a tool for helping others, ensuring the conversation is about the violation, not the victim.

4. The Career Divergence of the Involved Parties

The scandal created a lasting professional and public divergence for the three individuals involved. While Saraya has rebuilt her career in AEW, and Xavier Woods (Austin Creed) has continued to be a highly successful and respected tag team wrestler in WWE, the situation permanently altered the trajectory of Brad Maddox’s career. Maddox, who was released from WWE in 2015 before the leak, later spoke about how his personal issues, including adult film addiction, contributed to his professional downfall. The leak remains a footnote on his public profile, cementing the incident's long-lasting effects on all parties.

5. The Biopic's Role in Controlling the Narrative

The 2019 film *Fighting with My Family* (produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) was crucial in shaping the public's perception of the incident. By including the leak and its mental health fallout in the film, Saraya and her family were able to present the event as a crime against her, not a scandal of her making. This move was a powerful, proactive step in controlling the narrative, ensuring that her story of resilience, rather than the leaked content itself, became the dominant public memory.

Moving Beyond the Trauma: Saraya's Future

Saraya's journey from a wrestling prodigy to a global star, and then to a survivor who rebuilt her life, is a powerful story. Her current work in AEW, where she is wrestling again after a career-threatening neck injury and making conscious decisions to protect her emotional well-being—like turning down a simple romance angle—demonstrates a profound level of self-awareness and healing. The "Paige sex tape" may have been a devastating chapter, but Saraya-Jade Bevis continues to write a compelling new one defined by strength, advocacy, and a hard-won sense of control over her own life and career.