In the chaotic world of professional wrestling, storylines usually end when the cameras stop rolling. But in March 2017, a real-life situation involving Xavier Woods, Brad Maddox, and Paige exploded across the internet, blurring the lines between private lives and public personas in a way that neither the fans nor the performers were ready for.
It wasn't a scripted heel turn. It wasn't a promotional stunt.
It was a massive, non-consensual violation of privacy that fundamentally altered three careers and sparked a global conversation about "revenge porn" and the double standards women face in the spotlight. Honestly, looking back at it now, the way the wrestling community reacted—and the way the victims survived it—is a masterclass in resilience and the messy reality of the digital age.
The Day the Internet Broke for the WWE
You've probably heard the basics. A cache of private photos and videos was stolen and dumped online. This wasn't some minor gossip item. It was a full-scale digital assault. The materials featured Saraya-Jade Bevis (known then as Paige), Austin Watson (Xavier Woods), and Tyler Kluttz (Brad Maddox).
The footage was old—years old, actually. Some of it dated back to 2013 or 2014, a time when Paige was still a rising star in NXT and Maddox was acting as an on-screen authority figure. But in the eyes of the internet, it was brand new.
The backlash was swift and, frankly, pretty gross. While Xavier Woods and Brad Maddox were certainly part of the conversation, the lion's share of the vitriol was aimed squarely at Paige. She was 24 at the time, already dealing with a serious neck injury and a suspension for violating the WWE Wellness Policy. Suddenly, she was the face of a scandal she never asked to be a part of.
Why the Reaction Was So Different for Each Person
It's kinda wild to see how the fallout hit each of them.
📖 Related: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
Xavier Woods was, and still is, a cornerstone of The New Day. When the news broke, fans were terrified he’d be fired. Instead, the WWE took a surprising path. They basically ignored it. Woods kept his job, kept his "UpUpDownDown" YouTube channel, and continued to be a top-tier performer. Why? Because he was a victim of a crime, and firing him would have been a PR nightmare. Plus, his charisma and value to the company were too high to toss away over a private matter that had been made public against his will.
Then you have Brad Maddox. He’d already been released by WWE in 2015 for calling a live crowd "cocky pricks" during a dark match. By 2017, he was mostly out of the wrestling loop. The leak didn't "ruin" his wrestling career because it was already effectively over, but it certainly didn't help his public image. He eventually pivoted toward acting and disappeared from the wrestling world almost entirely.
But Paige? She bore the brunt of it.
The "slut-shaming" was relentless. She later opened up about how the incident led to "stress-induced anorexia" and even thoughts of self-harm. She was in a dark place, worsened by the fact that her relationship at the time with Alberto Del Rio was already under heavy public scrutiny.
The NXT Women’s Championship Controversy
One detail that still gets brought up in every "what really happened" thread is the involvement of the NXT Women’s Championship belt in some of the leaked photos. For many traditionalists and "old school" fans, this was the ultimate sin. They felt it "disrespected the business."
That’s a pretty heavy burden to place on a young woman whose private life was stolen.
👉 See also: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
It’s worth noting that the belt is a prop, but in wrestling, it’s a symbol of excellence. The fact that it appeared in such a personal context became a focal point for critics who wanted a reason to be angry at her. But looking at it through a 2026 lens, it’s easier to see it for what it was: a private moment between consenting adults that happened to involve their workplace "tools."
The Power of the New Day Support System
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s how Xavier Woods’ teammates reacted. Big E and Kofi Kingston didn't distance themselves. They didn't make jokes. They stood by their friend.
The WWE’s decision not to punish Woods was a turning point in how the company handled personal scandals. It signaled a shift away from the "morality clauses" of the past and toward a more modern understanding of digital privacy. If you were a fan back then, you remember the tension. Every time The New Day walked out on Raw, everyone held their breath. But the fans, for the most part, cheered. They chose to support the performer rather than judge the person.
Moving On: Where Are They Now?
Life moves fast. Today, the landscape for these three is completely different.
Saraya (Paige) eventually left WWE and made a massive comeback in AEW. She’s been incredibly vocal about her mental health struggles and the trauma of the leak. She’s a survivor, plain and simple. She took a situation that would have broken most people and turned it into a platform for advocacy against cyberbullying.
Xavier Woods remains a WWE legend. He finally won the King of the Ring tournament in 2021, a lifelong dream, and continues to be one of the most influential voices in gaming and wrestling. His career didn't just survive; it thrived.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Perfect Donny Osmond Birthday Card: What Fans Often Get Wrong
Brad Maddox has largely stayed out of the spotlight. He’s done some indie work and pursued acting, but he’s essentially a ghost in the wrestling industry.
The Legal Reality of Hacking
What often gets lost in the gossip is that this was a crime.
The "Fappening 2.0," as it was dubbed, targeted dozens of celebrities, including Emma Watson and Amanda Seyfried. These weren't "leaks" in the sense that someone accidentally hit "send." These were targeted hacks of private cloud storage.
If you're ever in a situation where your privacy is compromised, remember:
- Document everything. Screenshots, URLs, and timestamps are vital for legal action.
- Report to the platforms. Most social media companies now have specific tools to remove non-consensual explicit imagery (NCII).
- Seek support. The mental toll is real. Organizations like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative offer resources for victims.
The story of Xavier Woods, Brad Maddox, and Paige is more than just a tabloid headline. It’s a reminder that even the people we see as "superheroes" on TV are human, and their right to privacy doesn't end just because they're famous. The wrestling world is better off for having moved past the judgment of 2017 and toward a more empathetic understanding of its stars.
If you’re interested in how the industry has changed since then, look at how WWE and AEW handle their talent’s social media and private lives today. The guardrails are tighter, but the support systems are—thankfully—a lot stronger.
To stay informed on digital safety and your rights online, you should regularly check the updated guidelines on The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative website. Knowing the difference between a "scandal" and a "privacy violation" is the first step in changing the culture for the better.