WWE legend Paige hopes ‘nice guy’ CM Punk returns at Royal Rumble to spark dramatic comeback for wife AJ Lee
WWE legend Paige hopes CM Punk's rumoured return at the Royal Rumble could serve as the catalyst for his wife AJ Lee to also make a comeback.
The Norwich-born star, who was forced out of the ring herself with serious neck injuries, has become close friends with the wrestling royalty.
The 27-year-old famously made her debut on RAW to defeat AJ Lee for the Divas Championship back in 2014, and the two later formed the Freaks and Geeks tag-team together.
While Paige - real name Saraya-Jade Bevis - has since become close to the 32-year-old's husband CM Punk as part of their work on Fox Sports' punditry team for WWE Backstage.
And both retired stars teased appearances at the Royal Rumble on Twitter by sharing a famous internet meme of two Spiderman's looking at each other, hinting that they will both make their in-ring return.
But in an exclusive interview with SunSport, Paige admitted that while that exchange was a joke with fans she still remains hopeful that Punk could make a sensational comeback.
We know we're messing with people you know? He’s a really freaking nice guy but he has a very similar personality to me which is hilarious
Paige on CM Punk
She said: "I really got along with AJ and didn't know Punk very well, I only met him a handful of times and it was very short.
"But since he returned to WWE backstage, I've had this friendship with him now and he’s a really freaking nice guy, really cool, but he has a very similar personality to me which is hilarious.
"I don't contact him outside of very publicly posting on Twitter, I don't have his number or anything.
"So it's just spur of the moment sending memes to each other because we know we're messing with people you know?
"I feel like people think he's gonna come back into the (Royal) Rumble and that people are gonna think I'm going to come back to the Rumble and me and him will tweet at each other.
"But I'm hoping that AJ comes back too, can you imagine us three as a triple threat together, it would be amazing."
Punk - real name Phil Brooks - was a six-time WWE world champion but he hasn't wrestled for Vince McMahon's company since leaving in 2014.
But after an unsuccessful venture into the UFC, the 41-year-old has sparked rumours of a comeback after joining WWE backstage in November.
While wife AJ - real name April Jeanette Mendez -won the Divas Championship three times before she retired in 2015 to become a best-selling author.
WWE COO Triple H confirmed the two fan-favourites could "absolutely" return to the company in the future after wife Stephanie McMahon stated that she would also love the duo to return.
And Paige added: "With AJ, I haven't spoken to her in a hot minute, but she's just doing so well and I really hope that her and Punk come back, that'd be so great.
“I don't think she wants to (return). I think she even said that publicly. That wrestling isn’t something that she wants to do anymore?
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"But hopefully one day you just never know, maybe if Punk comes back, she’ll come back."
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