WWE SmackDown General Manager After SummerSlam 2026

WWE

At WWE SummerSlam 2026, one of the highest profile matches on the card will be GUNTHER facing Nick Aldis in a grudge match.

When signing the contract for this bout, Aldis agreed to relinquish his executive powers as SmackDown General Manager to get this match.

This could lead to someone else replacing Aldis as an authority figure on Friday nights following ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer.’

Here are seven potential WWE SmackDown General Managers after SummerSlam 2026.

7. Adam Pearce

In place of Nick Aldis, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce has stepped in as the new Acting SmackDown GM.

Pearce is one of the longest tenured authority figures in the company’s history and someone with a ton of experience over the past several years.

If Aldis decides he wants to continue to compete in the ring, WWE can not find anyone better suited to step in his role than Pearce.

Considering he once ran both shows in the first place, the company could go back to the status quo by having Pearce replace Aldis as the SmackDown General Manager after WWE SummerSlam 2026.

6. Robert Stone

After Ava stepped down as NXT General Manager, Robert Stone went from assistant to the main authority figure role on the show.

Since then, Stone has showcased great poise and foresight as the NXT GM, leading to a new era for the brand kicking off.

Wanting to bring the same energy to the main roster, Stone can get his promotion to Friday Night SmackDown in Aldis’ place.

Stone becoming the SmackDown GM would serve as the biggest opportunity of his career and see him bring his presence to Friday nights.

5. Rey Mysterio

The newest authority figure in WWE is Rey Mysterio, who was recently named the new Lucha Libre AAA General Manager.

The WWE Hall of Famer is one of the most decorated and experienced stars on the roster today.

While he is still an in-ring competitor, Mysterio has shown a level of professionalism and class as the new AAA GM over the past couple of months.

Mysterio becoming SmackDown GM would truly be a full circle moment for the legend to be in charge of the show that his WWE career started on.

4. The Miz

For years, fans have stated that The Miz feels like one of the WWE stars most likely to become a General Manager.

‘The A-Lister’ is one of the best talkers on the WWE roster and can bring his experience to the role to be completely unique from any other GM in the company.

As of late, The Miz has been featured in a comedic role alongside Danhausen and Kit Wilson in a prominent storyline on SmackDown.

Breaking out of his vegetative state, The Miz could become the SmackDown General Manager and bring his flair to the role in a way different than Nick Aldis ever did.

3. Robert Roode

In the past few years, WWE has added several different former stars in behind-the-scenes roles in the company.

In 2022, Robert Roode was told by doctors that he could not continue wrestling, so he made the transition to a backstage producer’s role.

During his in-ring career, Roode always proved to be a confident talker on the microphone who could get himself and others over in a major way.

After making his mark as a producer over the past few years, WWE could use Roode in a new role as SmackDown General Manager in the near future.

2. Wade Barrett

In 2020, Wade Barrett returned to WWE and became one of the company’s top color commentators.

Now one of the voices on Friday Night SmackDown, Barrett has seen everything going on the blue brand first hand.

Barrett is a decorated star who is a five-time Intercontinental Champion and has even been in the ring with several names on the WWE roster.

Looking to utilize him in a new way, Barrett may make for an amazing authority figure considering his timing and character work.

1. William Regal

William Regal is still recognized as the longest tenured authority figure in WWE history.

From his time as Commissioner in the 2000s to running things on NXT in the 2010s into the 2020s, there have been several decades where Regal has been in different authority figure roles.

While he returned to the promotion in 2023, Regal has only served in a backstage management role over the past few years.

Regal being named as the SmackDown General Manager would be a pleasant sight that the fans will enjoy and want to see him interact with the current talent on the blue brand right now.

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• wwe
• SummerSlam
• Smackdown
• nick aldis

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