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“I don’t think it was meant to be racist” – Paige Defends Sydney Sweeney Over American Eagle Controversy

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• “I don’t think it was meant to be racist” – Paige Defends Sydney Sweeney Over American Eagle Controversy

Earlier this year, Sydney Sweeney fronted a denim campaign for American Eagle featuring the tagline “Sydney’s got great jeans (genes).” While intended as a playful pun highlighting the clothing, it sparked outrage from a section of social media users, who called the ad out as echoing eugenic or white‑supremacist themes, especially given Sweeney’s fair‑skinned, blonde‑haired look.

The backlash picked up further momentum after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly praised the ad.

Critics argued the campaign glamorised “superior genes,” while others dismissed the outrage as exaggerated. American Eagle defended the ad, stating that it was simply about the jeans and inclusive in nature.

Sweeney eventually addressed the controversy in an interview, calling the reaction “surreal.”

On her Rulebreakers podcast, former WWE and AEW star Saraya (aka Paige) defended Sweeney and said that she doesn’t think the ad was intended to promote racism.

“She’s already controversial because she’s always in the media for something. She’s a beautiful woman and she uses that to her advantage. I don’t understand why people get mad about her using her beauty.

There’s millions of women doing OnlyFans & selling $ex. I mean whatever she’s doing, her PR team are genius. She’s constantly freaking viral for something. Take that as you want. I don’t think it was meant to be racist.”

• Top TNA Star Signs With WWE

Joe Hendry’s run with TNA Wrestling has ended sooner than expected. He joined the Nashville-based promotion in 2022, and appeared frequently on WWE programming throughout this year under the NXT–TNA partnership.

According to Fightful Select, the former TNA World Champion has officially signed with WWE. The company had wanted Hendry for a long time, with Shawn Michaels strongly pushing for him and even suggesting that WWE buy out his TNA contract. While Hendry still had months left on his TNA deal, WWE brought him over early and signed him full-time.

PWInsider reports that Hendry’s TNA deal was supposed to expire at the end of December. He is listed on WWE’s internal NXT roster after the company acquired his contract.

The 37-year-old is set to team up with Thea Hail next Tuesday at NXT Gold Rush to challenge AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champions Ethan Page and Chelsea Green.

The news of his signing comes less than 24 hours before SmackDown, where LA Knight will face a surprise opponent in the Last Time Is Now Tournament. Hendry is one of the names being speculated to face The Megastar.

• New World Champion Crowned After 7 NXT Wrestlers Invade TNA

Just a month after he won the TNA World Championship from Trick Williams, Mike Santana lost the title tonight on ‘iMPACT!’.

His match with Ryan Nemeth ended in a disqualification after NXT wrestlers Lexis King, Charlie Dempsey, Robert Stone, Tyson DuPont, Tyriek Igwe, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Brooks Jensen invaded TNA.

Several TNA wrestlers ran out to try to even the odds, but the invaders stood tall, leaving Santana completely laid out.

This created a huge chance for Frankie Kazarian, who came out and cashed in his Call Your Shot opportunity. He then rolled up Santana to become the new TNA World Champion.

This invasion comes just days before NXT, TNA and AAA stars are under the same building for Gold Rush.

RELATED: Reason Behind WWE Not Allowing AJ Styles To Wrestle In TNA

• Nikki Bella Reacts To Fans Chanting “Cena Left You” At Her On RAW

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella’s alliance with Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer was short-lived, as she turned heel on this week’s episode of RAW in Boston, attacking La Primera following her successful title defense against Raquel Rodriguez. When Nikki was heading backstage, fans chanted “Cena left you” at her.

Speaking on the latest edition of The Nikki and Brie Show, Nikki discussed the online hate she receives and reflected on the fans’ chants in John Cena’s hometown.

“I feel like more people who have credibility are really starting to speak up for me because I know for so long people were like, ‘I don’t want the trolls to come at me online.’ So people just never really did. But I think people now are kind of like, ‘The hate’s so gross.’ Even some of the chants that I got last night on RAW in Boston.

It’s nice for these people with credibility that are speaking up because I think at the end of the day, they all know how much I love this business, how much passion I have for wrestling. They know the work that I put in. I truly love this business and I want to give it my all.”

Nikki Bella broke up with John Cena in 2018 due to their differing views on starting a family. She wanted kids, while Cena didn’t.

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