Saraya’s Hell In Boots: Raised in Wrestling, Tested by Fame

Few modern wrestling careers have unfolded under such intense public scrutiny as that of Saraya-Jade Bevis.

In Hell In Boots, the former WWE and AEW women’s champion reflects on a life shaped by early fame, personal trauma and an unbreakable connection to professional wrestling. The strikingly open memoir focuses on what it means to grow up, fall apart and rebuild in an industry that rarely allows room for vulnerability.

From her beginnings in Norwich to performing on wrestling's grandest stages, Saraya presents wrestling not merely as a profession but as a defining force in her life. Hell In Boots is less concerned with titles and win-loss records than it is with identity, resilience and reclaiming control of a story long told by others.

Hell In Boots offers a reflective and often disarming examination of a life spent under wrestling’s harsh and often unforgiving spotlight. From the opening chapters, it is clear that the squared circle has always been central to Saraya’s sense of self. Wrestling is not framed as something she does but rather as something she is: the wrestling ring serving as a constant presence for her through triumph, injury and personal upheaval.

Throughout the book, Saraya openly confronts the decisions, sacrifices and emotional challenges that have shaped her journey so far. In doing so, she provides insight into experiences that, despite years of media attention, have rarely been explored fully in her own words. The result is a memoir that feels both intimate and well-considered: one that balances honesty with personal reflection.

Having grown up near Norwich myself, Saraya’s affectionate portrayal of the city resonated strongly. She brings its streets, landmarks and local character vividly to life, grounding her story in a tangible sense of place. Her upbringing within the Knight wrestling family is depicted as fundamental to her resilience and ambition, offering valuable context for a career that would later unfold on a global stage.

Saraya’s life has played out publicly for over a decade, from the Fighting With My Family film chronicling her meteoric rise to superstardom to a leaked sex tape and well-documented struggles with substance abuse. Until now, however, her perspective on how these experiences affected her mental and emotional wellbeing had rarely been given space. Hell In Boots is at its strongest when she reflects on how these moments shaped her identity and her complex relationship with an industry that can be both empowering and deeply unforgiving.

Saraya: “I’d need to look like them if I wanted to be accepted”

One of the book’s central themes is the tension between conformity and individuality. Early in her WWE career, Saraya felt pressure to fit the established image of a “WWE Diva” and she writes candidly about the insecurity and self-doubt this created: there are strong similarities here with fellow ex-Diva's Champ Nattie Neidhart's experiences as recounted in The Last Hart Beating. Over time, Saraya came to recognise that her greatest value to WWE did not lie in fitting in but in standing apart: her authenticity and individuality became the qualities that defined her appeal to fans worldwide.

The memoir also offers insight into Saraya’s professional relationships with figures such as Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Dustin Rhodes, Dean Malenko and AJ Lee. WWE is largely portrayed as a supportive environment and employer during turbulent times, with Saraya acknowledging the mentorship and opportunities that aided her personal and professional development. Some recollections involving Vince McMahon, however, are more uncomfortable to read in hindsight, given what has since emerged about the former chairman.

“I could wrestle”

Unsurprisingly, professional wrestling remains the emotional core of Saraya’s story. Her account of winning the AEW Women’s Championship at All In 2023, in front of her family and a Wembley crowd of more than 80,000 UK fans, stands out as one of the book’s most vivid moments. She captures the atmosphere, crowd reaction and emotional weight of the occasion with warmth and clarity, and having been there myself, I can attest to just how significant that night felt for British wrestling fans.

That said, parts of her in-ring career feel somewhat rushed and could have done with more time to breathe. Major WWE matches and rivalries receive pretty limited attention given their significance to her career, while her AEW run is covered only briefly with the exception of All In. A deeper exploration of creative differences between Triple H and Tony Khan, working with emerging talent and the contrasts between WWE and AEW would have added further depth and been fascinating to read about. Still, given Saraya’s broad mainstream audience, it is understandable that detailed wrestling analysis takes a back seat to personal storytelling.

“Life had other things in mind”

Adversity runs throughout Saraya’s very personal narrative. She writes openly about serious injuries, including broken necks, her diagnosis of endometriosis and the physical and psychological toll of life in the ring. She also confronts deeply personal trauma, including childhood sexual abuse, the leaked sex tape and her relationship with former WWE wrestler Brad Maddox.

These subjects are handled without sensationalism. Saraya presents their impact on her health and career with maturity and restraint, setting Hell In Boots apart from many wrestling autobiographies. One notable omission is any mention of her long-term turbulent relationship with Alberto Del Rio, a conspicuous absence that, while likely deliberate, stands out in an otherwise forthright account.

The memoir concludes in 2024, with Saraya, at 32, openly acknowledging uncertainty about what lies ahead. Since then, she has returned to the independent wrestling scene, and with AJ Lee now back in the WWE fold, a return to the promotion that made her a global superstar seems inevitable in the near future. The book makes clear that much of Saraya’s story both inside and outside the ring remains unfinished.

"I'm not sure what comes next"

That sense of incompletion ultimately suits Hell In Boots. It is not a farewell or a victory lap, but a snapshot of a performer still processing the weight of her past experiences while looking forward. Wrestling fans may wish for more detailed coverage of key matches and historic moments, but the memoir’s strength lies in its emotional honesty rather than technical depth.

From the cobbled streets of Norwich to WrestleMania, Saraya’s journey has been compelling, complex and deeply human. Hell In Boots stands out as a grounded exploration of identity, resilience and belief: an account of navigating fame, trauma and ambition while learning to define success on her own terms.

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Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.

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