Paige is officially on the SmackDown roster. The move settles her brand assignment, which had been unresolved since her WWE return at WrestleMania 42.
WWE updated its official website to remove Paige’s free-agent designation. Her storyline was playing out on SmackDown, but as of last week, she was still listed as the lone female free agent.
The designation served a greater purpose early in her return, allowing Paige and Brie Bella to appear on both brands as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Paige was added to the free-agent section on May 8, during their reign. The pair appeared on Raw, and a June 22 title defense was Paige’s most recent match on that show.
Their July 18 title loss to Fatal Influence changed that arrangement. Paige’s subsequent run on SmackDown has included the Bella Twins turning on her at SummerSlam and a Women’s United States Championship match against Jacy Jayne. More recently, she faced Nikki Bella on September 11.
The roster update also formalizes what Paige had indicated much earlier. She said SmackDown was her home on April 24, during her first appearance on the show since returning.
Paige’s history with SmackDown also includes her time following her first retirement. She announced her retirement from the ring in April 2018 and was named the show’s general manager the next day. Her association with the brand continued after she left that role.
She now officially returns to the SmackDown roster as an active wrestler.