Xia Brookside Credits Paige as Her Wrestling Inspiration
Source: Wrestling Inc.. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
Xia Brookside grew up surrounded by wrestling. Her father, Robbie Brookside, was a respected figure in the industry, and it seemed only natural that she would one day step into the ring herself. But while family legacy provided a foundation, another British wrestler gave her the spark to chase her dreams on a global scale.
In a recent interview with Daily Star, Brookside opened up about the influence of Paige, the two-time WWE Divas Champion who also hails from a British wrestling family. For Brookside, Paige was more than just a role model — she was proof that a young woman from a small town in England could make it to the top of the world’s biggest wrestling promotion.
“My inspiration, and at that time my role model, was Saraya,” Brookside said. “She was from a British wrestling family, and she was the first to get out and make a name for herself, and winning world championships at such a young age on the biggest screen.”
Brookside reflected on how someone recently pointed out to her that she has now become the same kind of figure for the next generation. “Someone brought it up in an interview a couple of weeks ago, but now, I have become what she was for me. So it’s kind of crazy. You can do it. I am just the little girl from Leicester. Saraya was just the little girl from Norwich. We all can do it and we can get out, regardless of who you are or where you were born and what your life was supposed to be.”
Her journey has not been a straight line. As a child, Brookside admits that life likely never intended for her to live out her dreams in the United States. Yet in 2026, she is doing exactly that — not just as a wrestler in America, but as the reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion. She captured the title at Slammiversary, a moment that echoed Paige’s own meteoric rise a decade earlier when she won the WWE Divas Championship at a young age.
This year has been a remarkable one for both women. While Brookside holds the Knockouts gold, Paige returned to WWE at WrestleMania 42 to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships, further cementing her legacy. The parallel between their careers underscores a broader theme: the path that Paige carved out for British female wrestlers has become a blueprint for others to follow.
Brookside’s story is not simply about admiration from afar. It is about transformation. She has gone from a fan watching Paige on television to a champion standing in the same spotlight, carrying the same pride for her hometown of Leicester that Paige brought to Norwich. The connection between the two women resonates deeply within the wrestling community, especially among those who see their own dreams reflected in the success of someone who came from a similar background.
For Brookside, the message is clear: wrestling is not limited by geography, gender, or family history. It is a craft that rewards determination, and she has become a living example of that belief. As she continues to defend her title and build her own legacy, she carries with her the inspiration of a fellow British trailblazer who showed that the biggest stages are accessible to anyone willing to fight for them.
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The narrative of Xia Brookside citing Paige as her inspiration is more than a simple tribute; it reveals the cyclical nature of influence in professional wrestling. Paige, known as Saraya, was herself a trailblazer for British women in the industry. When she burst onto the WWE scene in the early 2010s, she shattered the glass ceiling for female wrestlers from the UK, proving that talent from outside the traditional wrestling hotspots could thrive on the global stage. Brookside’s acknowledgement of that debt is a reminder that even the most accomplished performers often stand on the shoulders of those who came before. What makes this particular story compelling is the symmetry between the two careers. Both women come from wrestling families — Brookside’s father Robbie was a well-known figure, while Paige’s parents ran the World Association of Wrestling in the UK. Both broke into the American market and captured championships at relatively young ages. Brookside’s observation that she has become what Paige was for her underscores a generational shift: the former student is now a teacher, whether she intends to be or not. From a broader perspective, this speaks to the evolution of women’s wrestling in the UK. The industry has seen a surge in British talent making names for themselves internationally, from the likes of Becky Lynch (Irish, but often grouped with UK scene) to the current crop of NXT UK stars. Paige’s success opened doors that had been firmly shut, and Brookside is among the first to walk through them with a clear view of the path. Objectively, the timing of Brookside’s comments is also significant. She is currently the TNA Knockouts World Champion, a position that places her in the spotlight of a major promotion. Her ability to draw direct parallels to Paige’s WWE Divas Championship run adds weight to her own achievement. It is not just a personal milestone; it is a continuation of a legacy that began in Norwich and now extends to Leicester. There is also a subtle critique embedded in Brookside’s words. When she says “life likely never intended for me to live out my dreams in the United States,” she is acknowledging the barriers that still exist for international talent. The wrestling industry, particularly in America, has historically been insular. But the success of British stars like Paige, and now Brookside, is slowly eroding those boundaries. Looking ahead, Brookside’s reign as champion will likely be watched closely by fans in the UK who see her as a symbol of possibility. Her story is not unique in the sense that many wrestlers cite inspirations, but it is rare for the narrative to be so explicit and so perfectly mirrored in real-time achievements. The wrestling world will continue to evolve, but the connection between these two British women serves as a touchstone for how far the industry has come — and how far it can still go.