Paige has recalled a former WWE coach demanding she “be more like a Diva” much to the annoyance of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
Saraya, known as Paige in WWE, signed with the company in 2011 after impressing during her second try-out. Upon joining the sports entertainment giant, Paige joined up with Florida Championship Wrestling which would later become NXT.
Before moving to the main in 2014, the star worked with coaches Bill Demott, Dusty Rhodes and Dr Tom Prichard who were in charge of moulding the next generation of WWE performers.
Speaking at Starrcast V in a special panel with Brian Zane, Paige reflected on her days in WWE’s developmental. The British star was full of praise for Tom Prichard and Dusty Rhodes but didn’t have the same fond memories of working with DeMott.
Paige explained that the former WCW star didn’t want the women focussing on wrestling, and instead being like a “Diva,” which was very much the ideal on the main roster.
“Dr Tom Prichard was awesome. And then all that changed when Bill Demott came [Paige rolled her eyes]
Dr Tom was like ‘If you can do it safely, you can do it.’ Absolutely. He gave us a chance down there. Then Bill Demott came in and [Bill Demott impression] ‘You need to wear colour.’ Shut the f*ck up. I don’t need to do sh*t for you alright?”
He was just constantly like ‘You need to wear colour, and you need to be more like a Diva.’ I’m just like that’s not why I’m signed. I’m signed because of the way I look right?”
Paige went on to recall one incident where they attended Monday Night Raw and she was told to “dress live a Diva.”
“I remember one day he was like ‘We’re all going to be at Raw today, so everybody make sure you dress accordingly. Paige, dress like a Diva.’
So I bought this blue dress, just looked awful on me, just awful. But I feel like a Diva. I feel like a Diva today. So I put this blue dress on and he was constantly like ‘You need to be more like Summer Rae, this is what Diva is. This is what they want.’ I was just like ‘alright…’ As much as I love Summer, she just wasn’t me.
So we were there at the show, and I’d made an effort, I’m a Diva and whatever. We get back the next day and he was like ‘I just want to give a special mention to someone who really showed up and dressed like a Diva.’ I was waiting for my name to be announced and he said ‘Summer Rae good Job!’ [Throws arms in the air] I was so disappointed.
Why am I trying to be like her? Why are you trying to get me to be like her? That was the last time I tried to put on a colourful dress. The only time I put on colour was when Vince said ‘I want you in purple.’ But that changed pretty quickly too.”
Paige continued, explaining that Dusty Rhodes was also less than impressed with Demott, often telling her “You f*ck that motherf*cker, you be yourself.”
Bill Demott worked as a trainer with WWE from 2011 until he resigned in 2015. The former Hugh Morrus, left his position amid accusations of bullying, using racist and homophobic slurs, and physically assaulting trainees.
During the conversation, Paige also broke down how she sustained the serious neck injury that ended her career, revealing that she was initially paralysed after the accident.
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