Friday 15 December 2017 12:13, UK
Paige has spoken out about the importance of Stephanie McMahon and the "WWE family" in helping her return to wrestling.
In a long interview with Lilian Garcia's Chasing Glory podcast, the British former women's champion talked at length about her difficult year and how her return to WWE was facilitated.
Paige returned to WWE last month as the leader of the Absolution faction, which also includes Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, after a year on the sidelines with a neck injury and a string of personal issues.
Her return has been hugely popular with fans and she says the belief showed in her by Stephanie McMahon, Stephanie's father Vince and Stephanie's husband Triple H has inspired her to have an even better run than her first one.
"WWE is like a big family and you don't realise that until you step away from it and come back," she said. "As soon as I came back I got to speak to Hunter, Vince and Stephanie and they were all like 'we believe in you' and they told me to show people what I can do.
"They were just happy I was healthy and back home. I was psyching myself up so much before I made my debut and Stephanie whispered in my ear 'you are going to be fine. You are home. This is your house.'
"She is such an inspiring woman and I really look up to her. She talked about me recreating and rebuilding myself and how I could be an even bigger success than before.
"She's definitely a hero. I want to be like her one day. She's an empowering woman. The WWE got my confidence back, 100 per cent.
"I walked into the building and I was shaking and I was so panicky. I almost had an anxiety attack before I went in. But once I started seeing everyone and seeing they weren't judging me, I felt so comfortable."
Paige also took time out to praise fellow Raw superstar Alicia Fox, whom she says remained a loyal friend throughout her dark time.
"You really realise who your real friends are Foxy is one of them - she was texting me every day," she said. "When I saw her she welcomed me back with open arms.
"She's a beautiful person. A couple of my friends gave up on me and walked out of my life but she never changed towards me."
