What’s the story?
It was announced on social media over WrestleMania weekend that WWE superstar Paige was expecting her first child. While the news was taken with a pinch of salt by many, a large number of wrestling fans believed the story and began to talk about the future family of Paige and Alberto Del Rio. The cynics have since been proved correct, however, as the former WWE Divas Champion has taken to social media to diffuse the rumours and confirm that the news was, in fact, an April Fool’s prank on behalf of her husband-to-be.
April fools guys.. I blame @VivaDelRio
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) April 2, 2017
In case you didn’t know...
It has been a difficult 18 months both professionally and personally for Paige. While her relationship with the former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion has gone from strength to strength, a number of injuries and suspensions have halted her in-ring career. The issues around her career were ramped up recently when numerous private videos and photographs of the 24-year-old star were leaked on the internet.
Also read: Paige says she’s feeling healthy and happy
As of right now, Paige is absent from WWE TV because of neck surgery.
The heart of the matter
On April 1, Paige posted a cryptic tweet hinting at her possibly carrying Del Rio’s child. The claim was taken with a pinch of salt by many, and it came as no surprise that she shut the news down the following day. Del Rio and Paige are poised to enjoy their wedding at any moment, and while a family isn’t out of the question, it is unlikely that such an announcement would be made in this fashion.
Fans have responded to the joke in a number of ways. While Paige’s supporters have backed up the light-hearted aspect of the April Fool’s prank, many have taken to Twitter to express their disgust and anger at the nature of Paige’s joke. It is a common theme with pregnancy-related April Fool’s Day jokes for many to bring up the millions of women worldwide who are unable to have children, and while Paige almost certainly didn’t intend any harm with the prank, it could also be seen as being insensitive. To each their own of course.
Impact
The ramifications of this tweet and subsequent denial are non-existent, to say the least. Paige is still on the injured reserve list following her surgery in late 2016; and while many speculate that she may well be leaving the company sooner rather than later, it is unlikely that WWE will release her in the immediate aftermath of the violation of her privacy.
As for a miniature Paige El Patron, time will tell.
Author’s take
While this writer generally considers April Fool’s Day to be something enjoyed only by children, the polarising response to Paige’s latest controversy shows that many people do genuinely care about the humorous tradition. Paige has had a difficult time, to say the least recently, the last thing she requires is for hordes of internet warriors to give her grief over something that was clearly light-hearted in nature.
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