The RAW after Wrestlemania is always one full of surprises, shake-ups and more and while the announcement of Paige’s retirement didn’t come as a shock to many, it certainly was a very sad moment, particularly as the women’s revolution she was such a big part of is bigger than ever. The appreciation the WWE Universe has of Paige’s involvement and career was evident with multiple chants of “Thank you Paige” and “This is your house” ringing around the arena made an already emotional moment extra special.
Saraya-Jade Bevis was always destined to become a wrestler, following in the footsteps of her mother, father and brothers, she made her WWE main roster debut aged 21 in April 2014, beating AJ Lee to become the youngest Divas champion and also the first woman to hold the NXT Womens and Divas championships simultaneously. A subsequent loss of the title saw Paige regain it back at the 2014 Summerslam before losing it again in September 2014 to AJ Lee in a triple threat match featuring Nikki Bella.
Paige was always known as an anti-diva, while the rest of the female superstars on the roster glammed up in stunning gowns, she would stand out as the princess of darkness, becoming an advocate for the message of being yourself and being comfortable with who you are. While her in-ring career at the WWE wasn’t always positive, with suspensions and a lot of personal issues combining with work, she still cemented herself as a fan favourite with her relatable personality and in-ring talent. In the latter part of her in-ring career, Paige played a vital part in the development of female superstars, bringing Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille to the main roster in the form of Absolution.
It’s not all doom and gloom though as just 24 hours after her retirement, Paige was given the role of SmackDown Live’s General Manager, a well-timed move as Daniel Bryan makes his full-time return to the roster as an in-ring competitor. With this new direction, it is a sure-fire way that Paige will continue to be able to be a part of the women’s revolution that she has been so prominent in and will also give a new lease of life to the blue brand, with Paige as general manager, there are sure to be a lot of surprises and a big push for the blue female superstars.