The Raw After WrestleMania was a packed show and there were enough highlights to fill up an entire newsfeed. Bobby Lashley returned to WWE while Ember Moon, Authors Of Pain, and No Way Jose saw their jump to the main roster. Only time will tell what WWE has in store for us on SmackDown from New Orleans but as we look back at the exciting nature of the post-Mania Raw one event that could have been overshadowed was Paige’s retirement.
For one thing, people pretty much knew this was happening already. Paige suffered an injury in an accident months back and since then she couldn’t be in the Women’s Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, or WrestleMania Battle Royal.
Paige led Absolution as their mother and mentor all the way back to their Tough Enough days where Paige was a judge on their season when they were contestants. But Paige now had a big red flag on her that said “do not touch under any circumstances.”
Since she was injured and unable to wrestle again, WWE gave Paige a chance to retire in the same city where she debuted on the main roster just four years ago. On that night she popped up from NXT still with the NXT Women’s Title and defeated AJ Lee when nobody else could to become WWE Diva’s Champion on her first night.
It’s especially sad because she’s so young but Paige also gave a lot of credit to Daniel Bryan for giving her hope that she might wrestle again and she also credited Edge because he went on after an early retirement in the ring and had a great career in acting, podcasting, and fatherhood.
Four years ago in New Orleans, @RealPaigeWWE debuted and won the #DivasChampionship.
Tonight in New Orleans, she retires from the ring. #RAW #ThankYouPaige pic.twitter.com/IiCa2olid5
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018
It’s kind of like the classic Semisonic song “Closing Time” because Paige doesn’t have to go home but she can’t stay in the ring. But as she ventures out and discovers the next chapter in her life, hopefully, Paige will keep in touch because she’s been part of the next season of Total Divas since they started filming again.
Besides, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville might need her to stick around as their manager for a little bit. But who knows what’s really next for Paige because she often does what she wants with her rebellious attitude.
There were no shortage of WWE Superstars and fans alike who all wanted to say #ThankYouPaige and for good reason because even though she might not have had the longest WWE main roster career in the ring she accomplished a lot and influenced many more to the point where her lasting impact on the pro wrestling business will live on for a very long time.
https://twitter.com/beckylynchwwe/status/983518120555016193?s=21https://twitter.com/niajaxwwe/status/983545910935334912?s=21https://twitter.com/itsbayleywwe/status/983696612185821184?s=21https://twitter.com/thebethphoenix/status/983528239288279040?s=21https://twitter.com/realellsworth/status/983519208796540929?s=21
She is a star & I can’t wait to see what she does next. Love you so much!! @RealPaigeWWE #ThankYouPaige
— Lina Fanene (@LinaFanene) April 10, 2018
#ThankYouPaige – Too many memories to share but I will always be grateful for you. pic.twitter.com/mYzRfwvLA5
— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) April 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/billiekaywwe/status/983548248987234304?s=21
Your health and future will bring incredible things. #ThankYouPaige
— THE GLAMAZON (@TheBethPhoenix) April 10, 2018
@RealPaigeWWE is awesome!
Wishing her much success #ThankYouPaige #RAW pic.twitter.com/V9VLO8MxYa
— James Ellsworth (@realellsworth) April 10, 2018