Norwich has seen its fair share of sporting heroes over the years. From Jeremy Goss’s wonder strike against Bayern Munich, to Anthony Ogogo’s heroic bronze medal at London 2012, sport has been as synonymous with the city as Alan Partridge.

For years, the nearest Norwich had to a fighting female was Delia Smith’s memorable halftime outburst at Carrow Road in 2005, but now there is a new icon in town.



The same year that the celebrity cook yelled out “where are you!” to tens of thousands of people, a 13-year-old girl made her debut as a professional wrestler in front of hundreds. Saraya-Jade Bevis, known as Paige in the WWE, was born in 1992, and yet is remarkably entering her ninth year as a professional grappler.

On Monday night, she became the first WWE Superstar - male or female - born in the nineties to win a Championship, becoming the youngest WWE Divas Champion of all time when she defeated long-term title holder AJ Lee on Raw. As if that wasn’t startling enough, it was also her first ever appearance on WWE’s flagship weekly show.

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Speaking to The Independent on the phone from America, not even 24 hours after her triumph, the Diva was unsurprisingly on cloud nine, especially when asked about her feelings on becoming champion.

“Oh my gosh, you have no idea. I lost my mind. Firstly just being in the ring with AJ who I’ve always looked up to, she’s an incredible talent and a woman to be around, and then being on Raw is just insane.

“I’ve been working my whole career to get to this point, it’s been nearly nine years now, and it was just incredible. I couldn’t stop crying, I haven’t stopped talking to my family about it, it’s overwhelming especially getting so much support from the fans and backstage. It’s been magical.”

Paige’s beginning in the wrestling business is approaching mythical status, and was showcased superbly in the Channel 4 documentary ‘Fighting with My Family’, which attracted millions of viewers back in July 2012. The Diva was born into a wrestling family, with both her parents, and her two older brothers making a living as professional wrestlers.

Although officially making her debut as a teenager, she could make a case for being the youngest wrestler of all time.

“My whole family are wrestlers; I was brought up in the business. I was wrestling as a foetus believe it or not, because my mum (Sweet Saraya) was pregnant with me and didn’t realise while she was wrestling.”



During her teen years, she began to make a name for herself in the ring, competing all over the world. Despite coming from one of the most famous wrestling families in Britain, it was Paige’s hard work and dedication that got her to the top, a fact she remembers well.

“I started traveling around the world by myself by the time I got to 14, I worked really hard because I knew what my goal was, which was to be in WWE.

“I did everything I could, I made CVs and sent them to promoters all over the world, and managed to get myself out there.”

WWE is the pinnacle of professional wrestling, and as such is a difficult place to achieve employment. Paige had her first try-out with the company, aged 17. For the teenage Diva-in-waiting, it did not quite go as planned.

“I didn’t get signed the first time I had a try-out. I tried to be like what I thought they wanted, I wanted to be tanned, and have light hair and no piercings. I tried to be girly, but it didn’t work out too well.

“I worked really hard, and so I went to the second try-out dressed as myself: pale, black hair, piercings. They loved it, asked me to come over, and I’ve been here for two and a half years now.”

Shape Created with Sketch. WWE Wrestlemania 30 - The best pictures from New Orleans Show all 33 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. WWE Wrestlemania 30 - The best pictures from New Orleans 1/33 Wrestlemania 30 In front of of over 72,000 fans, Wrestlemania 30 gets underway! WWE 2/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan Triple H sure knows how to make a Wrestlemania entrance... WWE 3/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan As he prepares himself to return to the ring and take on Daniel Bryan for a place in the WWE World Heavyweight title Triple Threat, taking place later in the night WWE 4/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan The pair square up against one-another, with The Game looking rather confident WWE 5/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan HHH nails Bryan with an early spinebuster WWE 6/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan But Bryan battled through to triumph and book his place in the main event WWE 7/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan Much to Stephanie McMahon's anger, as 'Daddy's Little Girl' jumped in the ring and began an assault that Triple H would finish WWE 8/33 The Shield v Kane & The New Age Outlaws The Shield were doing 'what's best for business' as they took on Kane, Road Dogg and Billy Gunn WWE 9/33 The Shield v Kane & The New Age Outlaws The match went back and forth between the six men WWE 10/33 The Shield v Kane & The New Age Outlaws But The Hounds of Justice prevailed after Roman Reigns delivered a double-three-man-powerbomb WWE 11/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Big Show was looking to emulate Andre The Giant in the Battle Royal named after the Hall of Famer WWE 12/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal But Antonio Cesaro lifted the 400-pound giant up on his shoulders before eliminating him to win the coveted trophy WWE 13/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal After eliminating the Big Show to win the Battle Royal, Antonio Cesaro shakes hands with his rival in a show of respect... WWE 14/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Before lifting his trophy aloft for all to see WWE 15/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Will the Swiss fighter capitalise on his Wrestlemania moment? WWE 16/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena The deranged Bray Wyatt played all kind of mind-games with John Cena WWE 17/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena And looked to be on the up when he delivered the Sister Abigail WWE 18/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena Cena had to deal with the other two members of the Wyatt family at ringside, but found the aerial route to be the simplest WWE 19/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena Wyatt then begged Cena to hit him... WWE 20/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena But Cena chose to stick with what he knows best... WWE 21/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena ...and delivered the Attitude Adjustment to pick up the win WWE 22/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker The Undertaker made his spooky entrance to defend his 21-0 streak against Brock Lesnar WWE 23/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker Fans looked on the The Phenom entered the ring WWE 24/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker The two stared down each other before all hell broke lose WWE 25/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker The undertaker used all the tricks in his very large book to take down Lesnar WWE 26/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker With countless leg-drops to the body of the his opponent WWE 27/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker He nailed Lesnar with his coveted chokeslam WWE 28/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker But Lesnar fought back and spectacularly landed the F-5 on The Deadman WWE 29/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker Shocking the world, Lesnar pinned The Undertaker, and became the man who did what names such as Batista, Shawn Michaels and Triple H couldn't do WWE 30/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker Paul Heyman couldn't believe his eyes even though he raised Lesnar's hand in victory WWE 31/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker But the fans were left even more stunned at what they saw WWE 32/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker And it was left to Lesnar to celebrate ending the streak, leaving The Undertaker 21-1 WWE 33/33 Randy Orton v Batista v Daniel Bryan It was left to Bryan to close the night by finally winning the WWE World Heavyweight title, and soaking up the adulation of the adoring fans WWE 1/33 Wrestlemania 30 In front of of over 72,000 fans, Wrestlemania 30 gets underway! WWE 2/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan Triple H sure knows how to make a Wrestlemania entrance... WWE 3/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan As he prepares himself to return to the ring and take on Daniel Bryan for a place in the WWE World Heavyweight title Triple Threat, taking place later in the night WWE 4/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan The pair square up against one-another, with The Game looking rather confident WWE 5/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan HHH nails Bryan with an early spinebuster WWE 6/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan But Bryan battled through to triumph and book his place in the main event WWE 7/33 Triple H v Daniel Bryan Much to Stephanie McMahon's anger, as 'Daddy's Little Girl' jumped in the ring and began an assault that Triple H would finish WWE 8/33 The Shield v Kane & The New Age Outlaws The Shield were doing 'what's best for business' as they took on Kane, Road Dogg and Billy Gunn WWE 9/33 The Shield v Kane & The New Age Outlaws The match went back and forth between the six men WWE 10/33 The Shield v Kane & The New Age Outlaws But The Hounds of Justice prevailed after Roman Reigns delivered a double-three-man-powerbomb WWE 11/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Big Show was looking to emulate Andre The Giant in the Battle Royal named after the Hall of Famer WWE 12/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal But Antonio Cesaro lifted the 400-pound giant up on his shoulders before eliminating him to win the coveted trophy WWE 13/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal After eliminating the Big Show to win the Battle Royal, Antonio Cesaro shakes hands with his rival in a show of respect... WWE 14/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Before lifting his trophy aloft for all to see WWE 15/33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Will the Swiss fighter capitalise on his Wrestlemania moment? WWE 16/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena The deranged Bray Wyatt played all kind of mind-games with John Cena WWE 17/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena And looked to be on the up when he delivered the Sister Abigail WWE 18/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena Cena had to deal with the other two members of the Wyatt family at ringside, but found the aerial route to be the simplest WWE 19/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena Wyatt then begged Cena to hit him... WWE 20/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena But Cena chose to stick with what he knows best... WWE 21/33 Bray Wyatt v John Cena ...and delivered the Attitude Adjustment to pick up the win WWE 22/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker The Undertaker made his spooky entrance to defend his 21-0 streak against Brock Lesnar WWE 23/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker Fans looked on the The Phenom entered the ring WWE 24/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker The two stared down each other before all hell broke lose WWE 25/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker The undertaker used all the tricks in his very large book to take down Lesnar WWE 26/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker With countless leg-drops to the body of the his opponent WWE 27/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker He nailed Lesnar with his coveted chokeslam WWE 28/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker But Lesnar fought back and spectacularly landed the F-5 on The Deadman WWE 29/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker Shocking the world, Lesnar pinned The Undertaker, and became the man who did what names such as Batista, Shawn Michaels and Triple H couldn't do WWE 30/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker Paul Heyman couldn't believe his eyes even though he raised Lesnar's hand in victory WWE 31/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker But the fans were left even more stunned at what they saw WWE 32/33 Brock Lesnar v The Undertaker And it was left to Lesnar to celebrate ending the streak, leaving The Undertaker 21-1 WWE 33/33 Randy Orton v Batista v Daniel Bryan It was left to Bryan to close the night by finally winning the WWE World Heavyweight title, and soaking up the adulation of the adoring fans WWE

As well as being the new Divas champion, Paige also holds the NXT Women’s Championship, an accolade she earned during her tenure on NXT, WWE’s developmental branch, based in Orlando, Florida. As a double champion, she is keen on defending both titles as best she can.

“The longer I can keep both Championships the better, I’m not just going to give up the NXT Women’s Championship, I worked my booty off to get that in the first place.

“I’m going to try and keep the WWE Divas Championship, I want to try and have a longer streak than AJ Lee’s. I’m going to be defending them both, and retain them constantly.”

Beating AJ on Raw was extra special to Paige due to the unusually large number of Brits in the crowd. WrestleMania traditionally brings fans from all over the world to its events, and the Raw after the big event has attracted a legendary status over the last few years. The hundreds, maybe thousands, of Brits in the crowd instantly cheered and chanted for Paige as soon as her music hit, and the Norwich native was delighted.

“It was incredible with all the British flags in the crowd. What better way to do it than in front of people from your home country. It was fantastic and they were so supportive.

“I didn’t expect them to be as loud as they were, I didn’t know that a lot of people knew me, it was overwhelming, they were so loud and crazy.

“My heart was pounding, I got backstage and I started crying, I was like ‘what is this life!’."

Aged just 21, Paige’s book is only just beginning. Her short term goals however, are simple. Every year, just after WrestleMania, WWE comes over to Europe for live events, including dates in Britain. Appearing on those shows – the WrestleMania Revenge Tour - is an ambition for the Divas Champion.

“It’s a goal to get on the tour because it’s not guaranteed, but fingers crossed that I get on there. If I do it’ll be the best experience in my life.

“I just want to say thank you for all the support, I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am without all my fans. I’m really happy so keep on supporting me I’ll try and make everyone proud.”