5 moments that shaped Paige's career in WWE

Some terrible news looks to be on our way, as Paige’s in-ring career reportedly seems to be over as per PWInsider. If it turns out to be true and is made official by WWE over the weekend, it would come as a terrible blow to the talented young performer as she seemed to be on one of her best runs with the company during her short, yet bright career.

The English performer has been a part of WWE since the age of 19, and has had an impressive share of top performances in her career that has spanned over six years. We look at the top 5 moments that shaped Paige’s WWE career.

#1 Inaugural NXT Women’s Champion

Soon after she debuted on NXT, Paige began to garner huge crowd support, developing a winning streak against fellow NXT superstars including Sasha Banks, Emma and Alicia Fox.

In June 2013, Paige entered a tournament to determine the first NXT Women’s Champion. On her way to the championship final against Emma, she defeated Tamina Snuka and Alicia Fox. She held the title for 274 days – a record beaten only by Asuka – successfully defending it at all times, and being forced to vacate only due to her elevation to the main roster.

#2 Two-time Divas Champion

Paige as Diva's Champion — Paige as Divas Champion

This definitely ranks as one of the best main roster debuts for a WWE superstar. Paige made her debut on Raw, on the night after WrestleMania XXX, and while it looked like she was just there to congratulate the then champion AJ Lee, AJ slapped Paige and provoked her to an impromptu match for the championship. Paige shocked the WWE Universe and AJ by winning the match and becoming the youngest Divas Champion in history at the age of 21.

She was then engaged in a rivalry with AJ, that involved back-and-forth title exchanges and face-heel turns over the course of 2014.

#3 Team PCB and the beginning of Women's Revolution

Team PCB had a pretty good run through 2015-16

In 2015, after weeks of being outnumbered by The Bella Twins, Stephanie McMahon proposed a women’s revolution and introduced Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Sasha Banks into the main roster with the former two as Paige’s allies forming Team PCB.

The three factions (Team PCB, Team B.A.D and Team Bella) began a rivalry and fought it out in SummerSlam 2015 where Paige’s team won the match. She later turned on her partners and got engaged in a rivalry with Charlotte after the latter won the Divas Championship, but she couldn’t gain the title for a third time.

#4 Suspension and Injuries

Paige's tweet explaining her wellness policy violation

2016 and 2017 were the low moments of Paige’s career as these two years seemed to have curtailed Paige’s career. Neck injuries started plaguing her fitness, and she got suspended twice for violating WWE’s wellness policy.

Off-ring controversies also surrounded her, with private videos and photos of her being leaked on the internet and some issues with Alberto del Rio who was released by the WWE. Some would argue that she was very close to being released from the company.

It was a real test of character and it’s a testament to her passion for wrestling that she came back strong and eventually was cleared to return to in-ring competition in September 2017.

#5 Absolution

Did you miss me?

Paige returned to WWE towards the end of 2017, quoting a line from Andrew Scott’s character Jim Moriarty from Sherlock, alongside the debuting Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Later calling themselves 'Absolution', they interrupted a Fatal 4-Way match and attacked Sasha Banks, Mickie James and Bayley.

A couple of weeks of attacks followed before Paige made her in-ring return in a win over Sasha Banks. On the new year day edition of Raw, all three members of Absolution declared their participation in the first-ever Woman’s Royal Rumble match.

It’s a real shame that Paige, one of the favourites to win the Rumble, might not even be in the match after all.

What was your favourite moment that involved Paige? Comment below.