WWE: 10 Things You Need To Know About New Divas Champion Paige

6. She Was Once Described As The "Female C.M. Punk"

Paige's career in WWE's developmental territories FCW and, later, NXT took a while to get off its feet. Having debuted in FCW during the first week of 2012, Paige struggled for relevancy in her first few months, being flipped between odd storylines, before coming out on the losing end of a feud with Audrey Marie. Pivotal to the turning point in Paige's career to date was the rebranding to NXT and the permanent move to Full Sail University in Orange Country, Florida. Once at Full Sail, Paige quickly attracted a following with the hardcore wrestling faithful, leading to her receiving large pops and raucous cheers, over the likes of much more established names, such as Alicia Fox and Kaitlyn- specifically on the one episode of NXT, in October of 2012, during which then-WWE Champion CM Punk paid a special visit to the event. Her victory at that event kick-started an undefeated streak within NXT during which Paige would not lose a bout for 5 months. Her success a direct result of her superb popularity with the Full Sail faithful, which, in of itself was credited towards her outstanding ring-work and in spite of her unconventional looks led to one commentator branding her the female CM Punk, in reference to that same show which Punk attended. Whilst I personally think it's a bit of a convenient stretch, it's certainly a testament to her in-ring skills. Whilst her undefeated streak was ended in late January, the year 2013 would go on to be a breakthrough for Paige, as she won a tournament to crown the first ever NXT Women's Champion, even having her hand raised by Triple H. She won the championship on June 20th 2013, a mere 4 days after the WWE Divas Title was won by a certain AJ Lee. She still holds the NXT Women's Championship to this date.