WWE: ‘Paige tested positive for an illegal substance’

WWE is attempting to set the record straight on Paige’s suspension.

In a statement to the New York Post, WWE publicly pushed back against claims Paige and her family had made that she failed a wellness test for prescription painkillers.

“Saraya-Jade Bevis tested positive for an illegal substance, not a prescription drug,” WWE said in a statement to The Post. “In addition, WWE is providing world-class medical care for her in-ring injury.”

Almost immediately after her suspension was announced on Monday, Paige spoke out on Twitter. “Same sh*t different day. Kids..Please don’t get prescriptions or doctors notes. Not acceptable.” Paige tweeted. “Rules apply depending on your status.”

Her comments were then followed up on by her family, with her father posting on Facebook that Paige has had a long-term neck injury that he didn’t feel was being dealt with. He claimed that she had been prescribed painkillers that were apparently against the wellness program.

That assertion was backed up Paige’s brother, Zak Bevis, in a post on his Facebook page.

The suspension was the second time in recent months that Paige had been suspended for violating the wellness policy. She was originally suspended for 30 days in August for her first violation.

Paige suspended 60 days for a second WWE wellness policy violation

Paige has once again been suspended by WWE for violating the company’s wellness policy.

WWE’s statement: WWE has suspended Saraya-Jade Bevis (Paige) for 60 days effective immediately, for her second violation of the company’s talent wellness policy.

The suspension is standard for a second violation of the policy. No indication was given as to what caused it.

Paige addressed the suspension over the course of two tweets shortly after the news broke: “Same sh*t different day. Kids. Please don’t get prescriptions or doctors notes. Not acceptable. Rules apply depending on your status.”

The suspension comes nearly two months after Paige’s first violation of the policy. She was originally suspended on August 17th, the same day as her boyfriend Alberto Del Rio was also suspended for violating the policy. Del Rio has since left the company after being granted a mutual release.

Del Rio echoed Paige’s words when speaking about her suspension to ESPN: “It’s just like she said in her statement this afternoon,” Del Rio said. “It’s just the same sh*t, different day my friend.”

He also addressed rumors that WWE was trying to break the couple up in the WWE Draft: “To be honest, I don’t care what they say or what they try to do,” Del Rio said. “We are together and we are happy. I know a lot of people are not happy but regardless of whatever people say, we can be happy. We can be together. And we are going to stay together because we are happy.”

“If someone is not comfortable or happy about it, we just don’t care. We are going to continue our life. Our families are happy and we’re happy. That’s all that matters.”

Shortly before the original suspension was set to expire, Paige took to Twitter to offer an explanation for the violation and claimed that she was suspended due to a procedural issue after not being home when the test was to be administered.

Paige also claimed that she would return to the ring when her health allowed. She recently tweeted that she would be undergoing neck surgery and had two surgery options she had to decide between.

Eva Marie’s wellness policy violation reportedly caused by Adderall

According to a report by TMZ on Friday night, Eva Marie’s wellness policy violation that was announced earlier this week was triggered after failing a test for Adderall.

WWE announced on Thursday that Marie had been suspended for 30 days after violating the policy but, as is custom, did not provide any further details.

TMZ also reported that Marie has a prescription for the medication and will be appealing her suspension, but a WWE source told them that she didn’t properly disclose the prescription as all talent are required to do.

Marie’s husband Jonathan Coyle tweeted and subsequently deleted a message on Thursday calling the suspension unjust and claiming that facts would be provided soon.

“I am disappointed that this suspension has occurred, yet understand and respect that WWE upholds their wellness policy to the letter and won’t compromise on its integrity.” Marie told TMZ. “I violated (the) policy by not turning in portions of required paperwork in the time frame WWE medical deemed timely. I look forward to my return!”

Before the suspension was announced, Marie had been scheduled to wrestle this Sunday at SummerSlam.

Now that she is ineligible to compete, the six-woman tag she was originally supposed to participate in is currently listed as a three-on-two handicap match pitting Becky Lynch, Naomi, and Carmella against Natalya and Alexa Bliss. But WWE.com is teasing that the heels may be able to find a replacement partner in time to even the odds.

Paige suspended by WWE for wellness policy violation

Following Alberto Del Rio’s wellness policy suspension earlier this afternoon, Paige was also suspended by WWE for violating the policy.

The company’s statement: “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.”

Like with Del Rio, the 30-day suspension is standard for a first violation. WWE has not further commented publicly on either Del Rio or Paige’s suspensions, and it isn’t known what caused either violation.

Both suspensions were announced on Paige’s birthday.

The timing of their violations is curious given that Del Rio and Paige have been dating, but it isn’t clear if their suspensions are connected. Paige has been out of action recently with injuries that have been covered extensively by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Del Rio and Paige had been sent to different brands in the WWE Draft, and time will tell whether their suspensions will have further affect on their positions within the company.