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Paige was once considered to be the future of WWE's women's division. But a combination of injuries and personal issues have derailed the star's career and forced the former Divas Champion to retire from in-ring competition.
Over the past few years, Paige has had to watch the Women's Evolution from the sidelines, and she been used in on-screen authority roles instead.
It has recently been speculated that, following Edge's WWE return, Paige could be next on the list to come back despite her career-ending neck injury. Edge, Christian Cage and Daniel Bryan all returned to the ring years after they were forced to retire, so it's fair to wonder if Paige could follow in their footsteps.
Though Paige and WWE are yet to confirm that the former Champion will be able to make her return, here are five ways that the English star could return to the ring.
#5. Paige could return to feud with Sonya Deville on WWE SmackDown
Paige was once the General Manager of SmackDown before she was removed from her role by Shane McMahon.
She has since been relegated to one-off cameo appearances, as the company has been looking for something to do with the former champion following her in-ring retirement.
The inaugural NXT Women's Champion's contract is up next year, so time might be running out for her return. If the company wants to do something with Paige on TV in the coming months, a feud with Sonya Deville would be the easiest story.
Deville has seemingly taken over Paige's role as an authority figure on SmackDown. An on-screen return for Paige could easily set up a match with Deville at a pay-per-view event, and it would also pave the way for Deville's return to the ring.
Paige has been resting and recovering for more than a year, so she should be in good shape. But it might take the former champion some time to reach her peak in-ring conditioning level once again.
Deville hasn't wrestled since SummerSlam in 2020 when she lost her "Loser Leaves WWE" match against Mandy Rose. The former Tough Enough star then made her return to WWE a few months later when she was handed an authority figure role. This position has allowed her to appear on both RAW and SmackDown.
It's also worth noting that Paige was the one who brought Deville up to the main roster alongside Mandy Rose when the two women were part of Absolution. Clearly, there's plenty of history WWE can tap into here.
#4. Paige could form a tag team with Blair Davenport and challenge for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships
After WWE Superstars have suffered long-term injuries, it's often much easier to book their returns in tag team matches or feuds.
This direction then allows their partner to take most of the heat in the match so the returning star can be protected from taking too much damage. Tag team matches also allow wrestlers who are stepping back into the ring to slowly get back up to speed.
With this pattern in mind, Paige could make her return to WWE to form a tag team with fellow British star Blair Davenport, who recently made her debut as a member of NXT UK.
While she wrestled under the name Bea Priestley on the independent scene, the current WWE star was able to create quite a following.
Davenport is still a newcomer to WWE, but if this storyline is built up correctly, Paige could work as the star's manager for a few months before she returns to the ring when she is ready.
This idea would allow Paige to take her rightful place in the Women's Evolution and potentially capture another piece of WWE gold.
#3. Paige's return could launch her into a feud with Sasha Banks on WWE TV
Paige underwent neck surgery towards the end of her WWE career; this procedure was thought to have helped prolong her time in the ring.
During a match at a live event, she received a kick to the back from Sasha Banks, and the blow went on to signal the end of her active career as a wrestler. While it has been well-documented that there is no malice between the two women, this real history could make for an interesting story on WWE programming.
Banks is currently on the sidelines, so she might find it difficult to insert herself back into the Women's Championship picture when she makes her return. Becky Lynch is currently feuding with Bianca Belair for the title, so The Boss might be the odd woman out.
As a result, putting Banks into a high-profile feud with Paige could be a great way to put the former champion back into the spotlight. A rivalry between Banks and Paige would make for entertaining viewing and allow both women some deserved TV time to tell their story.
#2. Paige could return on WWE SmackDown to challenge Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch made her long-awaited return to WWE at SummerSlam, where she won the SmackDown Women's Champion in a shockingly brief match.
Lynch has slowly established herself as a heel in recent weeks. After she became one of the company's most popular stars ahead of her hiatus, The Man is doing quite well following this surprising turn.
That being said, bringing someone like Paige back to get destroyed by Lynch as part of a storyline could help give the champion the heat she needs as a heel.
Paige may not be ready to make her full return just yet, but she could be in a position where she could step in the ring with Lynch for a few minutes. If so, she could be completely dominated by The Man to get some genuine sympathy from the fans.
If it turns out that Paige won't be fully cleared to make her return, then this direction could be the best option for the former WWE Divas Champion.
#1. Paige could request one more match at WrestleMania against her biggest WWE rival
Paige's WWE contract expires next year, which means that WrestleMania 38 would be the perfect setting for the former Divas Champion's retirement match.
Paige has had a number of interesting feuds throughout her career, but it's possible she'd want to face her biggest rival, AJ Lee in her final match.
Lee and Paige had a show-stealing feud that allowed them to later become friends and tag team partners. AJ Lee's last WrestleMania match allowed her to team with Paige. At WrestleMania 31, Paige and Lee defeated the Bella Twins before the latter retired just a few days later. It would be fitting if Lee was able to return and wrestle her long-time friend in Paige's last match.
AJ Lee wasn't able to be handed an official retirement match at the end of her career either, so this bout would allow both women to bow out in style on the grandest stage of them all. Giving the two stars one last run in the spotlight would allow WWE and its fans honor their legendary careers.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
