New WWE SmackDown General Manager

For the past two years, Nick Aldis has served as WWE SmackDown’s General Manager, adding poise and stoicism to the role.

Bringing his own particular flair to the position, Aldis has offered a new take on the old authority figure trope, which has seen him excel in the GM role.

Considering his pro wrestling background and wanting to step back being an active in-ring competitor, Aldis could give up his position as GM and make it available to a plethora of other names currently part of WWE down the line.

Here are nine potential new WWE SmackDown General Managers.

9. Kevin Owens

Ahead of WWE WrestleMania 41, Kevin Owens announced that he would be taking a hiatus due a serious neck injury and requiring surgery.

Back in 2004, Kurt Angle was sidelined from in-ring competition due to his own serious neck injury, but WWE allowed him to continue appearing on television as SmackDown General Manager.

Having Owens return on WWE TV would be huge for the company and continue to prominently feature him in a major way.

With his tremendous microphone skills and ability to entertain the fans, KO would offer some amusing and humorous exchanges with the top WWE stars on the roster as SmackDown GM in Nick Aldis’ place.

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8. Adam Pearce

For the past five years, Adam Pearce has served as a WWE authority figure where he has worked on both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

In 2023, Pearce officially took the position of Raw General Manager and has brought his own take on the role, trying to control the chaos every Monday.

If WWE decides to have Aldis transition to in-ring competition, the easiest choice for the company might be to give Pearce a chance to run both main roster shows.

Controlling both Raw and SmackDown, Pearce could once again become the most powerful figure in the entire company.

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7. Ava

While Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are in power on Raw and SmackDown, WWE has chosen the youngest authority figure in company history with Ava having the General Manager role on NXT.

The Rock’s daughter has taken to the position with ease and brings a youthful exuberance to the role unlike many who have performed in the company in the past.

After two years running the NXT brand, WWE could think that it might be time for Ava to get her next promotion.

Ava moving up to the main roster would give SmackDown a new landscape where her interactions with all of the talent will be fresh instantly.

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6. Wade Barrett

Over on Friday Night SmackDown, Wade Barrett has worked as the color commentator for the company throughout the past few years.

Barrett has quickly become one of the best announcers in the entire company, having shown his exceptional talking ability.

The former five-time Intercontinental Champion has the credibility and knowledge that makes fans pay attention to what he is saying and listen.

While he has been fantastic at the commentary table, WWE could move Barrett from announcing to an authority figure role where he can potentially add an air of reverence to the SmackDown GM role that is comparable to that of William Regal.

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5. Pat McAfee

Another standout color commentator in WWE over the past few years has been Pat McAfee.

At WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025, McAfee made his return to the company for the first time since June to reunite with Michael Cole and Wade Barrett at the commentary table.

However, the former NFL punter has not appeared on WWE television since then.

With his current hiatus, McAfee could return once more to bring his engaging speaking skills to the authority figure position as SmackDown General Manager, replacing Nick Aldis.

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4. Corey Graves

On the September 19 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Brock Lesnar viciously attacked commentator Corey Graves with two F-5s.

Since then, Graves has been replaced at the WWE SmackDown commentary table by Booker T over the past few weeks.

Graves has always been one of the better talkers at the commentary table and might be due for a new role where he could showcase that ability.

Going from announcing to authority figure, Graves offers something unique to the SmackDown GM role that could create some interesting stories and directions to go.

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3. Michael Cole

Michael Cole has been firmly established as the lead commentator in all of WWE with his tenure closely approaching 30 years.

Across three decades, Cole has been the soundtrack of some of the biggest moments in WWE history.

Back in 2010, WWE teased Cole being an authority figure position when he became the voice for the Anonymous Raw General Manager, but never quite went all the way.

Cole becoming SmackDown GM would be intriguing after everything he has said in his position as play-by-play commentator in WWE, so having him interact with the talent could be entertaining to watch unfold.

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2. Paige

In March 2025, Saraya announced her departure from All Elite Wrestling after a three year stint with the promotion.

In several interviews since her exit, Saraya has made it clear that she is very open to making a return to WWE sometime in the future.

Saraya becoming Paige once again would be a wonderful addition due to her history in the company and legacy in the WWE women’s division.

Having been SmackDown General Manager back in 2018, Paige could reclaim the role in 2025 and bring another female as an authority figure, showcasing a little diversity in this position.

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1. The Undertaker

2025 has seen The Undertaker return to the company in several different roles across the company.

Since WWE’s acquisition of Lucha Libre AAA in April, “The Deadman” has taken on a more crucial backstage role, helping the transition of the promotion.

The Undertaker has even been seen on television as a legendary coach on WWE LFG and several appearances on NXT, so a transition to a SmackDown General Manager role would make some sense.

While he has helped with the young talent in the Performance Center and on NXT, Taker could move to the WWE main roster where his star power would draw older fans back to the product with the legend becoming General Manager for the show he was synonymous with.

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