Paige's career in the ring came to an abrupt end a day after WrestleMania 34, when she announced her retirement after suffering a scary neck injury during a house show in December.
A day after Paige retired, she was introduced as the next manager of SmackDown Live by Shane McMahon, the commissioner of the blue brand. This coincided with Daniel Bryan being cleared to return to wrestling, which allowed him to vacate the GM position and give Paige a new opportunity.
Although Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that Paige's in-ring career was over not long after her the neck injury, the former Divas Champion waited three months to make the announcement.
So when did Paige learn that she would replace Bryan as the new GM of SmackDown Live? Paige appeared on Edge and Christian on E&C's Pod Of Awesomeness (h/t WrestlingInc.com), and admitted that she was caught off guard when informed about her new position.
"It's all secrecy. They didn't want it to spoil it. They didn't even tell me. They told me that I was going to SmackDown Live the next night. I had asked why, but they didn't tell me. At that point, I had been touring a lot. Did a lot for WrestleMania week, so I was exhausted physically and mentally where I just wanted to go home so I was curious as to what was going on...
It was then they told me I was going to be the SmackDown general manager, but don't tell anyone...Once I got out there the crowd was great, and received a bigger reception than my retirement speech the night previous. I was like, 'Wow, this is super cool. You still want me around.'"
So with that, Paige was just as shocked as we were and didn't have much time to prepare for her first day as SmackDown Live general manager. She has relished in the new role, and the 25-year-old continues to build upon what's been an excellent run with the WWE thus far.
Paige underwent neck surgery in late 2016, and missed over a year of action. After suffering another scary neck injury at the Dec. house show, she knew it was time to hang up the boots for good.
That being said, Paige's in-ring career may not be done forever, but the hiatus could be lengthy. On Edge and Christian's aforementioned podcast, Paige said her doctor said a return in 15 to 20 years was possible. Of course, the SmackDown GM said she probably won't feel like returning to the ring by then, when she'll be in her 40s.
But a career as GM of the blue brand will do just fine for Paige, even if it means no more competing in the ring.