Hell In Boots, the memoir of former WWE and AEW women’s champion Saraya-Jade Bevis, offers a thoughtful look at a life spent in professional wrestling under intense public scrutiny. From the opening chapters, it’s clear that wrestling is not simply a job for Saraya: the squared circle is central to her identity.
Hell In Boots openly and vulnerably confronts the many decisions, personal challenges and sacrifices that have shaped the former Paige’s life and career so far, providing insight into a story that has never been fully told.
Growing up near Norwich, I have many fond memories of the fine city and Saraya’s warm descriptions brought a smile to my face. She captures the streets, landmarks and local atmosphere in a way that grounds her story, showing how her upbringing as part of the Knight wrestling family shaped her resilience and early ambitions. These reflections provide important context for a life that would later unfold on a global stage.
Saraya’s life has been lived publicly for years, from the Fighting With My Family movie chronicling her meteoric rise, to a leaked sex tape and well-documented struggles with substance use, but until now her own perspective on how these experiences affected her mentally and emotionally had not been fully shared. Hell In Boots is at its strongest when she reflects on how these events shaped her sense of self and her relationship with the chaotic, and at times brutal, wrestling industry.
“I’d Need To Look Like Them If I Wanted To Be Accepted”
A major theme in Hell In Boots is the tension that exists for the grappler between conformity and individuality. Early in her WWE career, Saraya felt pressure to fit the image of a “WWE Diva” and writes candidly about the self-doubt this caused. Over time, she realised that her value and marketability came not from fitting in, but from embracing her unique qualities: her authenticity and individuality set her apart.
The book also provides insight into Saraya’s personal relationships with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Dustin Rhodes, Dean Malenko and AJ Lee, among others. WWE generally comes across positively as an employer, with Saraya shedding light on the opportunities and mentorship that supported her personal and professional development. At the same time, some of the recollections of Vince McMahon are more uncomfortable to read with the benefit of hindsight, given everything that has since come to light about the former chairman.
“I Could Wrestle”
Professional wrestling is clearly the central focus of Saraya’s life and passion. Her account of winning the AEW Women’s Championship at All In 2023, in front of her family and 80,000 UK fans, is particularly memorable. She conveys the entrance, the crowd reaction and the significance of that moment with heart and emotional clarity: I was there at Wembley that night and can attest to just how special a moment that was for the nation.
That said, some aspects of Saraya’s in-ring career feel rushed in the book. Her biggest WWE matches and rivalries receive limited attention and her AEW run is treated very briefly, almost as an afterthought. More detail on creative differences between Triple H and Tony Khan, working with new talent and the contrast of WWE and AEW would have enriched the memoir greatly. That said, given the book’s broader mainstream audience, it is understandable that wrestling-heavy details are kept lighter than in other wrestling autobiographies.
“Life Had Other Things In Mind”: Saraya Tells All In Hell In Boots
Adversity is a constant thread throughout Saraya’s story. She writes openly about career-impacting injuries, her diagnosis of endometriosis, broken necks and the physical and psychological demands of professional wrestling. She also confronts personal trauma head-on, including deeply saddening childhood sexual abuse, the leaked sex tape and her relationship with former WWE wrestler Brad Maddox.
These experiences are presented without sensationalism: Saraya conveys their impact on her well-being and career in a reflective, mature way, setting Hell In Boots apart from other wrestling biographies out there. One notable omission in the book is her long-term relationship with Alberto Del Rio, a huge gap that, while likely intentional, stands out in an otherwise transparent account of her life.
The book concludes in 2024, with Saraya at 32, acknowledging uncertainty about the future. Since then, she has returned to the independent wrestling scene, and another high-profile WWE run seems likely, especially with former peers like AJ Lee now back on the roster. The memoir makes clear that much of Saraya’s story, in and out of the ring, remains unwritten.
“Belief Is What Makes The Magic Happen”
Hell In Boots is a candid, reflective and very accessible memoir. It offers insight into the pressures of professional wrestling, the personal cost of fame and the ways in which Saraya has navigated setbacks, trauma and intensely harmful public scrutiny. While a deeper exploration of her AEW run and key WWE matches would have strengthened the narrative for wrestling fans, the book succeeds in presenting a multidimensional portrait of a truly unique performer and individual.
From the cobbled streets of Norwich to some of wrestling’s biggest stages, Saraya’s journey is compelling and deeply human. Hell In Boots is a grounded, thoughtful account of life, wrestling and resilience: an honest story of navigating career and personal challenges on her own terms.
—Ben Veal is the host of the Wrestling Life podcast and the co-author of Marc Mero’s autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.
