Former in-ring WWE female competitor Paige recently became the general manager of SmackDown Live. Prior to that she was the leader of a faction called Absolution, and prior to that was one of WWE's most talented female wrestlers and a former Divas Champion. Unfortunately, a series of injuries derailed her career and would ultimately end her ability to wrestle for WWE. For Paige, that injury and the thought of being finished was a scary moment.
She shared the experience of what it felt like on the night the career-ending injury happened when she spoke with Edge and Christian on the E&C's Pod of Awesomeness. At around the 30-minute mark of the show, Paige describes what was going through her mind the moment she couldn't feel anything and everyone knew she was in big trouble.
She said, "When it actually happened and the accident happened in the ring, I lost all feeling in my legs and my arms. It was literally the most terrifying experience in my life and I would never wish that upon anyone. It was so scary. I literally was like "Oh my gosh, I'm done, I'm going to be in a wheelchair now, this is it, I've pushed myself too much."
Related: Paige Announced As New SmackDown Live General Manager
Prior to being hurt, Paige had been out of WWE action for some time, rehabbing an injury that kept her away from the company for months. When she finally returned, she was extremely eager to get back in the ring and clearly willing to push her body past the point that was healthy. When Sasha Banks kicked her in a match and the spot went wrong, in her head, she knew maybe she'd gone too far and the reality that her in-ring career was over was devastating.
She explained, "I refused to believe I was hurt, I remember doing this. Coming back to Orlando to go get my MRIs and stuff and I felt good, I could get back in the ring again even though I just experienced temporary paralysis. I was like "No I'm good, I can do this, please don't make me be out." And I was like begging them, "Please I don't want to be out anymore, please don't let me be out." I was just crying to the doctors and stuff. So then Dr. Maroon was like "I'm sorry you cannot get back in the ring again." It was horrible, it really breaks your heart....it really does."
Related: Paige Tearfully Announces Her Retirement [Video]
Like other wrestlers who had trouble dealing with what might be the end of all they've ever known, Paige didn't want to believe the reality of what was really happening. She said, "I remember being in the match too and experiencing that and like "maybe it's just my arms right?" So I'm like "no I'm going to keep going." And I remember trying to grab Sasha's legs and my arms felt like there was just no bones in them you know."
The idea that she would try to keep going after that feeling might baffle some but to a regular WWE performer, this kind of willingness to push through was not abnormal. For Paige, a performer who had often hidden her injuries and ailments from WWE, this was nothing new. She described herself as trying to stand up and keep going to which Sasha knew something wasn't right. Banks refused to let her continue, saying, "noooo, absolutely not." Paige described trying to stand up and looking like she was intoxicated, stumbled backward and it was then she realized how much the rest of the women in the match were scared for her safety.
Today, Paige might have a better understanding that health is more important than being able to wrestle but that likely won't stop her from trying to eventually get back in the ring if she can ever get her health in a position to do so. Until then, she'll act as SmackDown Live's general manager and likely stay an important part of WWE programming.
