Top 10 Greatest WWE SmackDown General Managers of All Time

Stephanie McMahon and Nick Aldis

10- Booker T

Booker T’s run as SmackDown General Manager is often forgotten due to its relatively short length and lack of significant storylines. He played a consistent face character, often working alongside Eve Torres and Teddy Long in shared authority roles. His time in charge didn’t introduce major changes, for better or worse, and he was frequently absent from episodes, leaving Eve and Long with the primary authoritative power. Ultimately, Booker T found greater long-term success and a better fit for his personality when he later transitioned into a broadcasting and commentary role.

9- Shane McMahon

Shane McMahon initially served as the Commissioner of SmackDown but effectively adopted the responsibilities of General Manager after Paige was removed from the role. Shortly after, Shane turned heel, leading to extended, frustrating feuds with popular face wrestlers, most notably The Miz and Kevin Owens. His time in power involved leveraging his authority to hold down faces he had issues with while overtly aiding his heel allies like Elias, Drew McIntyre, and The Revival. Shane’s negative impact on the show eventually ended when Kevin Owens defeated him in a high-stakes loser-gets-fired ladder match.

8- Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle's 2004 run as SmackDown General Manager was surprising, following a storyline where he was purportedly injured and forced to use a wheelchair. Working as a heel authority figure, Angle used his position to control the show, with his personality consistently delivering high-quality entertainment. The stint was highly successful due to Angle’s commitment to the role. It famously concluded when he was exposed for faking his injury, having attempted to cost Eddie Guerrero the WWE Championship by secretly attacking him while wearing a mask.

7- Vickie Guerrero

Vickie Guerrero had multiple stints as a heel General Manager of SmackDown, consistently drawing immense heat from the crowd. She became one of the most hated characters on the show, largely due to her signature shouting of “Excuse Me!” to silence the massive jeers. WWE continually brought her back because the act generated such a strong reaction. Her run was defined by prominent storylines where she aligned with top heels like Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Big Show, and Dolph Ziggler. While the act was effective, it eventually grew repetitive, as the one-dimensional heel authority figure role can easily run its course.

6- Paul Heyman

Paul Heyman served as the second General Manager of SmackDown in 2003, quickly bringing his natural charisma and heel persona to the forefront. His tenure saw him use his power to make life difficult for his enemies while protecting his allies, notably reuniting with the newly heel Brock Lesnar. Heyman's influential run included assembling a memorable Survivor Series team of Lesnar, Big Show, A-Train, Matt Morgan, and Nathan Jones. Despite his natural success in the authoritative role, his time as GM was abruptly cut short after just five months due to him being drafted over to the Raw brand.

5- Paige

Following her unexpected retirement from in-ring competition, Paige became the SmackDown General Manager in early 2019, replacing Daniel Bryan. Her time was praised for being a refreshing return to a face authority figure who genuinely focused on enhancing the show rather than dominating it. Paige primarily used short, impactful backstage segments and only delivered long promos for major, important storylines. She was positioned to announce decisions that fans generally wanted, making the show better without unnecessary theatricality or silly bells and whistles, earning her high marks for her straightforward approach.

4- Nick Aldis

Nick Aldis was appointed as the SmackDown General Manager by Triple H on 13th October 2023 and has currently serving as of December 2025. Bringing a commanding, no-nonsense presence to the "blue brand," Aldis quickly established his authority. He made an immediate impact by orchestrating the trade that brought Kevin Owens to SmackDown. Aldis's notable moments include his intense confrontations with The Bloodline's Roman Reigns over the control of the show and being on the receiving end of an RKO from Randy Orton. His decisive actions, such as suspending Drew McIntyre after a referee assault, highlight his commitment to upholding the rules and setting a new, respected standard for the GM role.

3- Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan transitioned into the General Manager role for SmackDown during his injury-related retirement, coinciding with the 2016 brand split alongside Commissioner Shane McMahon. His tenure was immensely popular, with SmackDown quickly earning praise as the superior show for its distinct dynamic. As a face authority figure universally loved and respected by the fans, Bryan was the perfect fit to lay down the law while genuinely attempting to give the audience what they wanted. He made the brand feel authentic and exciting during this period of resurgence before his eventual return to the ring.

2- Stephanie McMahon

Stephanie McMahon was the inaugural SmackDown General Manager, introduced as a face character by Vince McMahon to compete directly against Eric Bischoff's Raw brand during the first brand split in 2002. This tenure was crucial in establishing her as a credible and effective authority figure, moving past her earlier characterization as a bratty personality. Stephanie successfully helped steer the SmackDown show for over a year, portraying an ideal figure who was strong but fair in her decisions. Her run gave the blue brand a distinct identity, driving the early success of the brand vs. brand battle, and setting a high standard for future GMs.

1- Teddy Long

Teddy Long is arguably the person most synonymous with the role, serving as SmackDown General Manager for the better part of an eight-year period starting in 2004. He successfully transitioned from a manager to a respected GM, embodying a simple face character with a unique and famous affinity for tag team matches—Holla! SmackDown became known for his opening promos, which often led to multiple wrestlers in conflict being forced into a tag match. His memorable character, defined by his signature catchphrases and infectious dance, made him an integral and entertaining part of the show's identity.