Paige was busted open and required stitches after an attack from Nia Jax during the May 8 episode of WWE SmackDown in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Women’s Tag Team Champion took to social media after the broadcast to share photos of blood running down her face and backstage footage of WWE medical staff closing the wound.
Despite the graphic nature of the injury, she kept things light, captioning the post, “So @LinaFanene said ‘welcome back b*tch.’”
https://twitter.com/Saraya/status/2052936087966814368
How Did Paige Get Injured on SmackDown?
The injury occurred during a chaotic multi-team segment on the Backlash go-home show. Paige and Brie Bella opened the segment by addressing critics of their return before Fatal Influence interrupted. Things escalated further when the Irresistible Forces, Jax and Lash Legend, entered the mix.
Jax told Fatal Influence to “get in line” before turning her attention to the champions, striking Paige with a microphone and following up with a leg drop. Legend laid out Brie Bella with the Lash Extension.
The mic shot to Paige’s scalp caused a legitimate laceration that bled visibly during the remainder of the segment. Despite the wound, Paige stayed in the ring and finished the angle before receiving medical attention backstage. Reports indicate the cut, while bloody, was not deep enough to cause any long-term concern.
The attack served as a clear statement from Jax and Legend, who lost the Women’s Tag Team Championships to Paige and Brie Bella at WrestleMania 42 in a Fatal Four-Way. Paige made her surprise return that night after eight years away from WWE, stepping in for an injured Nikki Bella and pinning Alexa Bliss with the RamPaige to capture the titles.
What’s Next for Paige and the Women’s Tag Titles?
Jax and Legend have been aggressively pursuing a rematch since losing the titles at WrestleMania, and the Irresistible Forces fell short again in a title defense on the May 1 SmackDown. Friday’s segment made it clear they’re not done, and the legitimate injury could add real intensity to the rivalry going forward.
WWE Backlash takes place tonight at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. While the Women’s Tag Team Championship is not on the confirmed card, the physical fallout from Friday’s segment makes it clear the feud between these two teams is far from over.