WWE legend Paige reveals surprising text she received from Florence Pugh

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video To say WWE legend Paige has lived an incredible life is putting it mildly. At 34 years old, the Norwich-born star became one of the biggest names in pro wrestling, a decorated champion, and even had Florence Pugh play her in the 2019 biopic Fighting With My Family. Paige, who returns to the UK for WWE’s Road to Royal Rumble tour in January, exclusively told Metro how the Oscar-nominated actress was quick to text for advice during filming. ‘Her first ever scene was in L.A., and it was the mine and AJ Lee’s match that she had to recreate with Zelina Vega,’ she recalled. ‘She was texting me, being like, “How do I do this? This is crazy.”’ Paige advised her to imagine none of the fans was there, despite filming in front of tens of thousands at the Staples Center. ‘I was like, “I don’t know how else to explain it to you”,’ she admitted. ‘This is just a completely different world for her. And she killed it.’ Florence played Paige in the film Fighting With My Family (Picture George Pimentel/Getty Images) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Florence still gets in touch ‘maybe once a year now’, as Paige joked, ‘that girl is so busy’ mixing it up with Harry Styles and Cillian Murphy in blockbusters like Black Widow and Oppenheimer. ‘She’s still so humble and so sweet,’ she smiled. ‘It’ll be a while, but she will always get back to me.’ Paige is making waves in WWE after returning at WrestleMania 42 earlier this year, but when we asked if she’d like to join Florence in a Marvel film, she was instantly on board. ‘You’re going the right direction,’ she said excitedly. ‘Because I really want to get into acting more. I really do. It’s something that I’ve always loved.’She’s already had auditions for some exciting projects, and while she’s intrigued by the idea of a presenting gig, she ‘can’t really talk too much’ about what’s on the cards. Paige will return to the UK for WWE’s Road to Royal Rumble tour in January (Picture: Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) ‘I do want to host some stuff, and there is something in the works, and hopefully it does come to be,’ she teased. ‘I’m really excited about that.’Paige isn’t ruling out reality TV either, with shows like I’m A Celebrity and The Traitors top of her list. ‘I wanna do The Traitors so bad,’ she said, before turning her attention to the jungle. ‘That is my thing. I would be all about it.’ There’s also the small matter of Fighting With My Family being turned into a West End musical from Baby Reindeer director Jon Brittain and songwriting duo Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler, who have worked with the likes of Sugababes, Girls Aloud and more. Fighting With My Family is being made into a West End musical (Picture: Robert Viglasky) Paige has already heard a song from the musical’s creative team, who have been in regular contact, and she can’t wait for the finished show. ‘The song is really good,’ she said. ‘I can’t talk about it, and I wish I could, but oh my God, I sobbed! I was like, “I cannot believe this is my life”, dude.’ Paige has had a remarkable turnaround, showing great strength in dealing with hardships, ranging from toxic relationships and a sex tape leak to career-threatening neck injuries, one of which looked like it would keep her out of the ring for good. She’s been open about her struggles with addiction, and how meeting a young fan who saw her as a role model even at her lowest was a turning point, and now she’s back to her best. Paige says she’s the happiest she’s ever been right now (Picture: Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) ‘Right now in my life, I am the happiest I have ever been, even with everything that I’ve gone through,’ she beamed. ‘Those bad times don’t last forever, and you can find happiness.’ She’s also back to enjoying wrestling (‘it saved my life’), after returning to the ring for AEW in 2023 before making the jump back to WWE. It’s no surprise Paige joined the family business. She loves retelling the story of how her mother, whose ring name is Sweet Saraya Knight, unknowingly wrestled while seven months pregnant, but at one point she totally ‘rebelled’ against the idea. ‘When I was 12, I was like, “No, I’m gonna be a vet,”’ she chuckled, while remembering how ‘scared’ she was of the physical side of the business. Paige once rebelled against wrestling (Picture: Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images) ‘My mum got blinded for six months. It was mostly my mum who got hurt, to be honest with you,’ she laughed. ‘She had a broken bone, broken nose, or whatever the case may be. So, it always scared me.’ In the end, her family’s wishes and her own love for wrestling won. Now, she’s a far cry from the pub car parks and beloved holiday camps where she plied her trade before catching WWE’s eye. However, the fire still remains. Paige is dreaming big(Picture: Scott McDermott/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) ‘I do appreciate every single second that I get to be on TV and in that ring. And the fact that I managed to return after eight years, I am so grateful for that,’ she said. ‘But that doesn’t mean I won’t put my foot down when it comes to TV time.’ That means calling out if her entrance gets cut or match times get trimmed, and she wants the best opportunities for the whole women’s roster. ‘The more, the merrier with them on TV. They work their ass off. The men work their ass off too, but you know how it is,’ she added. ‘I am vocal, and this time around I’m always gonna be that person. I think WWE knows that already. And I feel like they love me for it. At the same time, it might be a pain in the ass to deal with me sometimes!’ WWE returns to the UK for the Road to Royal Rumble tour in January 2026, including SmackDown at Manchester’s AO Arena. Tickets available now at wwe.com/events Arrow MORE: WWE Crown Jewel 2026 gets special UK start time for Saudi Arabia event Arrow MORE: ‘I look like a thumb in my Rivals sex scene – I orgasm with my chin’ Arrow MORE: Dame Joanna Lumley admits she ‘can’t work something out’ about Celebrity Traitors Switched On Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.