Paige was written out of SmackDown Live this week as she was removed from the General Manager position. The McMahons are running things now as part of this New Era.
We had an idea it was happening, but it still really stung when Shane McMahon nonchalantly referenced Paige as the “former SmackDown General Manager.” She did a great job by most accounts and WWE needs to keep using her in the best way possible. Unfortunately, some agree that the best way to use Paige was as GM of the blue brand.
Mike Johnson noted on PW Insider Elite audio that at 26-years-old, Paige is not getting back in the ring. She suffered the same type of injury as Edge that ended his career far too soon as well. Spinal stenosis can result in life-threatening results if not taken seriously.
WWE needs to keep Paige around if only for the fact that a film about her life produced by Seven Bucks Productions and WWE Studios is coming out next year. They will need to keep her around to help promote Fighting With My Family.
There are several ways that WWE could use Paige and Johnson listed six plausible new roles for the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion.
1) General Manager Of 205 Live
Drake Maverick is being used too much and it’s starting to conflict with his heat as AOP’s manager. He is also the GM of 205 Live and those two roles don’t mix.
It’s almost like he’s playing a cut to the chase authority figure on 205 Live and then he’s peeing on Bobby Roode’s robe on Raw. This doesn’t compute and hasn’t made sense to fans for a while.
Since 205 Live is apparently not being affected by this New Era apart from losing Mustafa Ali, they need a General Manager.
Putting Paige on 205 Live would not only keep her on television (at least the WWE Network) but it would also draw a heck of a lot more eyes to the show just because of the people who would tune in because they love Paige. It might also be fun to see Paige interacting with Maria Kanellis who at this point is the only female on 205 Live.
2) Lars Sullivan’s Manager
Paige can talk on the microphone and hype a Superstar like nobody’s business. Before she had to announce her retirement, she was essentially acting as a manager while she led Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose to the ring as Absolution.
WWE also doesn’t have any other strong female managers except for Maria Kanellis. You could say that Lana is a manager as well, but she’s really branched out into Superstar status recently. For that matter, Kanellis can work in the ring as well so she’s technically a Superstar too, but you know what we’re saying.
Johnson pitched the idea that WWE could go with a “Beauty and the Beast” scenario for Paige where they place her as Lars Sullivan’s manager.
Then again, Sullivan doesn’t really need a mouthpiece because he has plenty to say on his own. However, that might be exactly why he would need someone like Paige around.
3) SmackDown Broadcast Team Member
WWE likes balance when it comes to the broadcast teams. Renee Young on Raw could mean Paige gets a spot on SmackDown Live.
Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, and Paige could be a pretty fun team, especially seeing how Graves and Paige already tease Saxton backstage. We’ve seen the Instagram stories to prove it.
Paige has in-ring experience and has been a part of the pro wrestling world since before she was born. Not only could she talk about matches with a world of experience under her belt, but her English accent would make her really distinguishable as well. Nobody would sound like Paige because she’s the only one that sounds like her in WWE.
WWE could also join the kickoff show team. Although this might not be as good of a role, sometimes it’s about starting small and letting that role grow as it has with Renee Young and Charly Caruso among others.
4) WWE Performance Center Coach
This role could have been plausible for Paige regardless of whether she had to retire at 25-years-old. She knows wrestling and has a passion for it. This business still sustains her family to this day in England and they’ve become famous for their knowledge (and their mouths).
The WWE Performance Center could strongly benefit from having someone like Paige around. Not only could she relate to the UK talent in a special way, but she can also help younger Superstars find their characters in the ring.
She knows what WWE wants from their Superstars and she’s made the mistakes where she can teach some real-life lessons in the process. She might be young, but she’s seen more in the pro wrestling business and life in general than some do in their entire career.
WWE is looking to expand their NXT system and they need more coaches. So you never know if Paige could find a great role with WWE, but she just won’t be on camera anymore.
5) WWE Hall Of Famer
WWE has a lot of options of who they can induct into the WWE Hall Of Fame every year and they decided to induct Edge right after he retired. As previously noted, both Paige and Edge were forced to retire due to the same condition, therefore it could just be another similarity between the two if WWE inducts Paige into the Hall Of Fame.
As the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion, Paige has that achievement as well to help build an argument for a Hall Of Fame induction. Paige was the first big female Superstar to come out of the WWE Performance Center as well and spearheaded the Women’s Revolution in a big way when she brought her skills to the main roster and kicked things up a notch by simply being there.
She was a top-tier talent for WWE and is still insanely popular with the WWE Universe. Her name could be a big one to draw in the crowds and numbers on the WWE Network to watch the HOF ceremony live or at home.
Johnson also noted that the timing of Fighting With My Family and the WWE Hall Of Fame might make sense as well. WWE is very good at cross-promoting and this could be an excellent opportunity for that.
WWE typically inducts one woman into the Hall Of Fame every year and Paige could very well fill that role and then go on to represent the company as a WWE Legend. Paige’s legendary status would have happened anyway, but it could happen even sooner given these circumstances.
6) Reality TV Star
Paige is one of the original members of Total Divas. Apart from being gone for a couple of seasons while she dated Alberto El Patron and went through some hellish personal situations, she’s been a focal point on Total Divas.
Her uniquenesses could be utilized in a big way as the star of her own reality television show. Whether her show was on E!, USA Network, or the “award-winning” WWE Network people would watch it.
She has some pretty cool friends, her own business, and she’s never shy around a party even though she’s living a much more responsible life than just a few years ago.
Just because she has her own show wouldn’t have to mean an end to her participation on Total Divas either. So the fights with Lana can certainly continue.
There are plenty of ways WWE can use someone like Paige. The important part is that they give it the time and effort someone with her abilities deserves. In the meantime, #ThankYouPaige
