Paige's WWE career was a brief but bright tenure that saw the Diva of Tomorrow spearhead a revolution in the women's division. The Anti-Diva was a trailblazer in NXT, becoming the brand's inaugural Women's Champion and holding the belt for an impressive 308 days. Paige captured the Divas Title from AJ Lee in her debut match and went on to pave the way for other competitors during the Women's Evolution.
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The Diva of Tomorrow shattered glass ceilings during her in-ring career, though she was involved in some problematic segments that already haven't aged well. Paige remains an instrumental figure in the Women's Evolution and a future Hall of Fame candidate, but here are 10 things from her career that wouldn't fly today.
10 Licking Natalya's Face
Paige had an explosive debut, but her character soon simmered as she found her footing on the main roster. The Anti-Diva turned heel after a lackluster babyface title reign. Paige became more provocative as a villain, giving her character an edge that proved controversial in the PG era.
During a match against Natalya on Main Event, the Anti-Diva licked the Queen of Harts face in a suggestive gesture. This bizarre moment was a misstep for Paige that didn't fly with management.
9 Copying AJ's Crazy Gimmick
Paige defeated AJ Lee for the Divas Championship in her debut match. The Black Widow went on hiatus before returning to recapture the title. Following that, Paige and AJ feuded for the butterfly belt, with the Anti-Diva turning heel and targeting her "frenemy."
Paige's feud with AJ was an anticipated affair that never lived up to its expectations. The Anti-Diva was given a similar crazy gimmick to AJ and Alicia Fox that depicted her as another mentally unstable female competitor.
8 Shorter Matches On The Main Roster
Paige flourished in NXT, spearheading the Women's Evolution by putting on stellar matches with Emma for the NXT Women's Championship. Fans were hoping to see her revive the women's division on the main roster, but the Anti-Diva was given the same short match times as her peers.
Paige's title reigns were hurt by her limited time in the ring. Fans were dismayed to see her regress from developmental and overjoyed to later see her lead the Women's Evolution.
7 Involving Charlotte's Brother In A Promo
The Divas Revolution hit many hiccups during its early days. Paige's feud with Charlotte Flair, though given more time and attention from Creative, failed to live up to expectations and included some of the company's most controversial storytelling.
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During a segment involving the former PCB members, a heel Paige made an insensitive remark about the real-life death of Charlotte's brother. The moment was edited out of promos afterward as the company hurried to put it behind them.
6 Losing Continuously To Nikki Bella
The Anti-Diva held the butterfly belt twice during her career, though unsuccessfully challenged for the title on countless occasions. Paige fought Nikki Bella in a series of matches, losing to the Fearless One at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, Money in the Bank, and multiple matches on Raw.
Paige and Nikki's rivalry outstayed its welcome and damaged Paige's credibility. WWE was obviously stalling time for Nikki to surpass AJ Lee as the longest-reigning Divas Champion.
5 Forgettable Title Reigns
Paige's initial momentum on the main roster floundered due to a forgettable first reign with the title. The Anti-Diva faced competitors such as Naomi, Tamina Snuka, and Alicia Fox in a series of underwhelming matches that did little to showcase her skills.
WWE was criticized by fans for not properly developing Paige's title run after her momentous debut on Monday Night Raw. The Anti-Diva's second reign with the title was another short affair that was ended by AJ Lee.
4 Lack Of Character Development
The Diva of Tomorrow was the most popular performer in the women's division during her tenure with the company. Despite this, WWE never really developed her character, especially during her reigns with the Divas Championship.
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Even as a heel, Paige's character felt like a hollow shell that failed to capture her essence from NXT. The Anti-Diva underwent another transformation after returning from neck surgery to form Absolution, though unfortunately, her injuries forced her to retire from in-ring action soon after.
3 Stealing The Spotlight
For a time, it appeared as though Paige was the only female Superstar WWE planned to invest in. The Anti-Diva occupied the spotlight in the women's division in 2015 after saving Natalya from a post-match assault by Nikki Bella.
Paige's popularity resulted in a push that came at the expense of other wrestlers. The Diva of Tomorrow was the primary challenger for the Divas Title until the debuts of Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch.
2 Kane Interrupts Her First Title Defense
Paige's first title defense was a lackluster event that saw the Anti-Diva's match interrupted by Kane. Paige was set to face Brie Bella for the butterfly belt but was forced to flee the ring when the Big Red Machine targeted his former tag-team partner's wife.
This was another example of the Bella Twins' storylines eclipsing Paige's championship reigns. Instead of capitalizing on her momentum, Paige was overshadowed by Daniel Bryan and Kane's rivalry in her first title defense.
1 Bullied For Being Pale
Throughout her 2015 feud with the Bellas, Paige was depicted as a sympathetic babyface rebelling against mean girls Brie and Nikki. The devious Divas Champion and her twin sister targeted Paige, teasing her about her pale skin and unique look.
The Bellas earned heat for their actions, though they were often written as catty cliches instead of credible heels. During one problematic segment, Alicia Fox held Paige back as Brie and Nikki sprayed her with fake tan. This was another hiccup in the Divas Revolution that wouldn't fly with many of today's viewers.
