Paige suspension: WWE hands British diva 30-day ban on her birthday

WWE superstar Paige has been handed a 30-day Wellness Policy suspension on her birthday. The female wrestler was slapped with the month-long ban on the same day her real-life partner, Alberto del Rio, was also given suspension for the same amount of time.

Paige, real name Saraya-Jade Bevis, has worked for the WWE since joining their former developmental programme Florida Championship Wrestling in 2011. She joined the main WWE roster in 2014 and has gone on to win the WWE Divas Championship two times. Her most recent match on TV took place on Monday Night Raw on 27 June, where she teamed with Sasha Banks to defeat Charlotte and Dana Brooke.

In a statement posted to the WWE website, the company said: "WWE has suspended Saraya-Jade Bevis (Paige) for 30 days effective tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 18, for her first violation of the company's talent wellness policy". No further information was given and Paige has issued no public statement on the matter as of press time.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that the suspensions of Paige and Del Rio are "curious" on account of them being a couple, but could not say if they tested positive for the same substance or indeed if the suspensions were related. Paige has been out of action in recent weeks with an injury.

Paige comes from one of British wrestling's premier families, with her father, mother and brother all making a living from sports entertainment. In 2005 her father, Patrick Frary (who wrestles under the name Ricky Knight), and brother Roy Bevis (aka The Zebra Kid), were arrested on charges of falsely imprisoning her mother, Sweet Saraya (real name Julia Hamar). The charges are believed to have been later dropped.