Triple H Thought Ex-WWE Champion Was Going To Die

An ex-WWE star recounted some of their most worrisome days while speaking on a podcast recently.

Saraya, fka Paige, has been vocal about her past use of alcohol and drugs.

Her issue escalated between 2016 and 2018, during which she was dealing with serious neck issues as well as personal traumas, including the leak of private videos and photos in 2017.

During this downward spiral, she admitted to having suicidal thoughts. Saraya even failed multiple drug tests, which are mandatory while performing as a wrestler in WWE.

While speaking to Hollywood star Freddie Prinze Jr. on his Wrestling with Freddie podcast, the 33-year-old revealed that her situation had gotten so bad that it affected people like Triple H and Vince McMahon, who thought she was going to die.

I had that year and a half where I was just an absolute mess when it came to drinking, drugs. I was popping drug tests. I was, like, there was leaks happened to me, you know, all these crazy thing happened, and I hit complete rock bottom.

I was in a really bad place, and everyone did think I was gonna die. I remember when I came back on the first day, and like Vince gave me a hug, Stephanie, Hunter, and they were like, “We thought we weren’t ever gonna see you again. We thought you were gonna die.” 4:50 onwards

Saraya Opens Up On Missing WWE Royal Rumble

A few days before the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble, Saraya’s video showing her sparring in a wrestling ring with independent wrestler Vipress surfaced online.

It created tremendous hype, with many speculating about her participation in the Women’s Rumble match. However, it did not come to be.

She reflected on stepping into the ring and how she was ready to receive a phone call from WWE that never came.

A lot of people were mad that I wasn’t in the (Royal) Rumble, and a lot of people thought I was gonna be number 30 too… I’ve had that much support before but, I thought I had lost all that support, because of all my controversy. But it was just absolutely bonkers.

There was thousands of videos across all platforms on just a couple of training videos. It was at 13 million a couple of days ago and now it’s like 18 million. It is just absolutely insane. I cried one day because of it, because I’m just like, ‘I can’t believe people still love me. This is crazy.’

I wish I could be in the Rumble and there was a viral video circulating of the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble, and it was the same year I got told I couldn’t wrestle again and no one knew it at the time, and then fast-forward, I do my retirement speech day after WrestleMania but, no one knew at the time so I wasn’t part of it and I was backstage in Gorilla and I’m really emotional. They have images of me backstage just crying, just being like, ‘This is what I’ve always dreamed of. This is what I wanna be a part of. I hope one day I can be a part of it again…’

Also read: Paige (Saraya) Tipped To Make WWE Return In New Role