Paige replaces Daniel Bryan as WWE SmackDown general manager

Though she officially retired as an active wrestler on Raw last night, Paige isn’t leaving WWE television.

Shane McMahon announced Paige as the new on-screen general manager for SmackDown during the opening segment of tonight’s post-WrestleMania episode. She replaces Daniel Bryan, with Shane saying that he “accepted Bryan’s resignation” from his GM position due to Bryan returning to the ring.

The first announcement that WWE had Paige make was a match involving Bryan. He’ll face AJ Styles later on tonight’s SmackDown.

Bryan had been SmackDown GM since the brand split returned in 2016. After Kurt Angle replaced Mick Foley on Raw last April, this is the second straight year that WWE has announced a new general manager in the fallout of WrestleMania.

Shortly after returning from neck surgery, Paige was re-injured at a house show last December. It was decided that she wouldn’t be cleared to return by WWE, but her status wasn’t addressed until she announced her retirement last night.