Saraya Bevis, better known to wrestling fans as Saraya in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), didn’t just stumble into the world of professional wrestling.
She was born into it. Her parents, Julia Hamer-Bevis (aka Sweet Saraya) and Patrick Bevis (aka Ricky Knight), are not only her biggest influences but also legends in their own right within the British wrestling scene.
Saraya’s Mother Has A Story That Is Both Heartbreaking And Inspiring
Julia Hamer-Bevis, Also Known As Sweet Saraya, was Born in Penzance, Cornwall.
Julia’s early life was complicated. She survived abuse from her stepfather, a trauma that led her to run away from home at just 15.
Alone and vulnerable, she found herself living on the streets, where life only got more challenging.
She was raped and fell into drug addiction, a spiral that hit rock bottom when, at 18, she overdosed on pills.
Doctors had to pump her stomach to save her life, an experience that became her wake-up call. Determined to turn things around, Julia got clean and started rebuilding her life.
Her first step toward stability came with a job as a chef at Pontins, a British holiday camp. It was there that fate intervened.
She met Patrick Bevis, a charismatic bouncer-turned-wrestler who would soon become her husband.
Their connection was instant. Within six weeks of meeting, Patrick proposed, and Julia said yes.
The couple moved to Norwich, England, where their shared passion for wrestling would define their future and children.
Julia didn’t just marry into the wrestling world; she became an important part of it. Adopting the ring name Sweet Saraya, she stepped into the role of Patrick’s manager and, eventually, a wrestler.
Together, they ran the World Association of Wrestling (WAW), a promotion Patrick founded in 1994.
Sweet Saraya wasn’t just a supporting act; she made her mark in the ring.
In 2011, she debuted for Shimmer Women Athletes, an all-female promotion in Berwyn, Illinois.
She teamed up with her daughter Saraya (then known as Britani Knight) in a memorable tag match.
Sweet Saraya continues actively participating in wrestling, showcasing her strength and passion for the sport.
Patrick Bevis, Better Known As Ricky Knight, Is The Other Half Of This Wrestling Power Couple
Born on December 24, 1953, Patrick began his journey to the ring in an unlikely place: as a bouncer.
There, he met Jimmy Ocean, a professional wrestler who saw potential in him.
Ocean took Patrick under his wing, training him and eventually forming a tag team called The Superflys.
Throughout the 1990s, the duo dominated the British wrestling circuit, with Sweet Saraya managing them and adding her flair to their performances.
In 1994, Patrick, Julia, and Jimmy Ocean founded WAW in Norwich.
Though Ocean left a year later, Patrick and Julia kept the promotion alive, turning it into a family business.
Ricky Knight earned his stripes as a wrestler, holding the WAW World Heavyweight Championship once and the WAW Tag Team Championship alongside Ocean.
But his life wasn’t all glory.
Patrick spent eight years in prison, primarily for violent offenses, a chapter that tested his family’s strength.
Despite these challenges, he became a committed father and promoter, dedicated to creating a legacy for his children.
Saraya grew up surrounded by wrestling royalty.
Alongside her parents, her siblings Zak, Roy, and stepsister Nikki became professional wrestlers, making the Bevis family a true dynasty in Norwich.
From a young age, Saraya and her siblings tagged with their parents to shows, watching from the sidelines as Sweet Saraya and Ricky Knight battled in the ring.
Wrestling Was Not Just A Job For The Bevis Family; It Was A Way Of Life
But the path to the ring wasn’t straight for Saraya. As a child, she was terrified of wrestling.
Seeing her parents and siblings covered in bruises and injuries made her dream of a different life.
She wanted to be a veterinarian. That dream lasted until she was 13, when fate changed everything.
One night, Patrick was short a female wrestler for a tag match. With no one else available, he turned to his hesitant daughter and convinced her to enter the ring.
Saraya was nervous, her heart pounding as she faced the crowd, but she nailed it. That first match lit a spark in her, and from there, she embraced the family business with open arms.
Saraya’s bond with her parents and siblings, especially her brother Zak, has driven her career.
Growing up, she saw firsthand the sacrifices her parents made for Julia to overcome her past and for Patrick to push through his own struggles to give their family a better life.
Their love and continuous support gave Saraya the confidence to chase her dreams, first in the UK, then in WWE (where she performed as Paige), and now in AEW.
Today, Saraya is a standout star in All Elite Wrestling, carrying forward the legacy her parents built. Sweet Saraya and Ricky Knight aren’t just her roots; they’re her inspiration.
From the streets of Cornwall to the rings of Norwich and beyond, their journey is a powerful reminder that strength, family, and passion can turn even the toughest beginnings into something extraordinary.
Saraya’s success represents a family triumph that unfolds globally.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Saraya’s older brother Zak, older half-brother Roy, and nephew Ricky are also wrestlers.
- In 2012, Channel 4’s documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family was adapted into the 2019 film starring Florence Pugh as Bevis.
- Saraya addresses the possibility of returning to WWE, in which she worked from 2011 until 2022.
