7 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's SmackDown (Apr 10)

6.Turn The Paige

Shane McMahon Paige
WWE.com

Well, this was a pleasant surprise.

24 hours removed from her tearful retirement announcement, Paige was installed as SmackDown's new GM. It was a heartening moment. Given how miserable her past two years have been, she deserves a break, and if she's never going to wrestle again, this is about the best compromise WWE could offer.

Absolution may have succeeded had Paige been able to continue as an in-ring performer, but it hasn't worked out, and Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose would be better off heading in a new direction. Still, completely removing Paige from television would've been incredibly harsh. It's great that WWE were able to find her a new weekly role, and given her astronomical sympathy levels, crowds will almost certainly give her an easy ride as she adjusts to this unfamiliar position.

Paige made a strong start, thanking Shane for the opportunity, then booking a colossal Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles main event. A genuine dream match on your first night on the job? Not bad, not bad at all.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.