Raw after Mania sees Paige retire as Bobby Lashley, Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy return and Brock Lesnar ‘re-signs’

British superstar forced to retire after suffering a second serious injury as the first Raw after WrestleMania sees a number of big-name returns and departures

There were emotional scenes on the first Raw after WrestleMania as British superstar Paige announced her official retirement from in-ring competition.

It marks a fraught couple of years for the former Women’s Champion, who had only returned from injury last November. The comeback lasted just a month, however, after another injury in December again left her sidelined.

In an address to the crowd, 25-year-old said: "This is one of the hardest things I will ever have to say in my career.

“Unfortunately due to neck injuries, I can no longer perform in this ring as an in-ring competitor.”

Tributes immediately began pouring in for the star, from Norwich, who sustained the ‘stinger’ injury in seemingly innocuous fashion at a live event in New York shortly before Christmas.

It’s widely expected she’ll continue some sort of role with WWE either as an on-screen talent or behind the scenes.

Elsewhere on Raw, Ronda Rousey continued to cause pain – literally – for Stephanie McMahon in the wake of Rousey’s win over her boss and Triple H at WrestleMania. Stephanie had made a less-than-sincere attempt at reconciliation with Rousey, only for the Rowdy One to deliver a takedown and an armbar to McMahon who was left needing medical attention.

Paige has been forced to retire after suffering a second serious injury (WWE)

News also broke shortly before Raw that Universal Champion Brock Lesnar had ‘re-signed’ with WWE ahead of another match with Roman Reigns in Saudi Arabia later this month. It was an announcement met with a lukewarm response from fans who were less than impressed with Lesnar’s performance at WrestleMania the night before.

Bobby Lashley made his return to the WWE after more than 10 years away (WWE)

Bobby Lashley sealed his return to WWE after more than a decade away in what proved to be the biggest in a series of debuts, returns and headlines.

A former MMA champ and holder of WWE’s United States Championship, Lashley had been staring with rival promotion Impact Wrestling up until this year but returned to the place he made his name with by interrupting Elias during the post-Wrestlemania Raw.

The 41-year-old powerhouse memorably competed in a match on behalf of President Donald Trump at WrestleMania back in 2007 – defeating the late Umaga who had wrestled for the cause of Vince McMahon as part of a brief feud between the two billionaires.

Samoa Joe returned from injury to confront Roman Reigns (WWE)

Lashley’s wasn’t the only return on the night – after spells out with injury, Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy both made comebacks to the joy of the lively New Orleans crowd.

Among those making the annual graduation from NXT to the main roster were former NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon who teamed with Nia Jax to defeat Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, and the Authors of Pain who decimated Slater and Rhyno. Another NXT favourite, No Way Jose, also made his main roster debut.