Nick Aldis debuts as WWE SmackDown general manager

mariah may

Former TNA and NWA World Champion Nick Aldis made his WWE TV as an on-screen authority figure during Friday’s season premiere episode of SmackDown. 

Aldis was introduced as the new general manager of SmackDown during an in-ring promo segment involving WWE chief content officer Triple H, and the newly-crowned general manager of Raw, Adam Pearce. 

Triple H noted that Pearce had done a thankless job overseeing both brands on-screen for years and said that he was being promoted to GM of Raw. Aldis was then introduced as SmackDown’s new GM. 

In his first act as GM, Aldis introduced Kevin Owens as the newest member of the SmackDown roster to complete the Jey Uso to Raw trade initiated last month at Payback. 

In a backstage segment later in the program, Aldis made and IYO SKY vs. Charlotte Flair WWE Women’s Championship match official for next week’s SmackDown. 

Aldis called his new role “The opportunity of a lifetime” in a social media post: 

The opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you @TripleH @WWE

Onwards and upwards for the blue brand! #SmackDown

Aldis’s wife Mickie James posted: 

Im’ma lookin… & Im’ma likin. @RealNickAldis

I love you! I’m so happy right now!!! Can we celebrate already?! Ps… Aldis Family Business just picked up!! 

Aldis joined WWE in an audition for a producer’s role in August of this year.

Aldis finished a run with Impact Wrestling in July after losing a World title match to Alex Shelley at Slammiversary. He had appeared on and off for the company since 2008 and held the promotion’s World title for four-plus months between December 2013 and April 2014. He also worked for NWA from 2017 to 2022 and held the promotion’s World title twice, including a 1000-plus day run from 2018 to 2021.