Nixed Paige romance angle was "excellent" but "a miscast," WWE veteran says (Exclusive)
AEW's Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, almost became involved in a romance storyline with Shelton Benjamin in 2018. Vince Russo, WWE's former head writer, believes the angle could have worked if the creative team pursued the idea.
Benjamin wrestled for WWE between 2000 and 2010 before returning for another spell with the company between 2017 and 2023. The 49-year-old recently told Metro.co.uk he was supposed to become Paige's on-screen love interest after initially working as her bodyguard. However, the idea never made it to television.
Russo appeared on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Outlaws alongside host Dr. Chris Featherstone and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion EC3. While he doubted whether Benjamin was a good fit for the storyline, the 63-year-old applauded the creativity behind the idea:
"Well, bro, that doesn't sound like a bad idea to me at all," Russo said. "It's The Bodyguard. I mean, straight outta Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. That's what it is. That's not a bad idea. I think it's a miscast. I don't see that picture with those two, but I think that's an excellent idea." [1:16 – 1:34]
Watch the video above to hear EC3's insight into how quickly storylines can change in the wrestling business.
Vince Russo's theory on why WWE nixed the idea
While working for WWE, Vince Russo wrote weekly television shows alongside Ed Ferrara before reporting directly to Vince McMahon. He later became WCW's head writer before taking up a similar role at TNA Wrestling.
Russo added that the Paige and Shelton Benjamin idea was probably canceled due to the large number of voices in the creative team:
"I was the head writer, so if I wanted to do something, we were doing it. There was no committee to kibosh anything. We were doing it. And I think that's part of the problem now, is there are so many chefs in the kitchen that there are probably good ideas that are getting left on the table because you probably gotta pass it through 10 different people." [1:43 – 2:12]
In 2022, Paige joined AEW after leaving WWE. She also came out of retirement to wrestle again, four years after announcing the end of her in-ring career due to a neck injury.
What are your thoughts on a Paige and Shelton Benjamin romance storyline? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
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