Roman Reigns to be given major ultimatum? - 4 changes Nick Aldis could make as the General Manager of WWE SmackDown
WWE shook things up during the most recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The show featured the return of Carlito on the blue brand, Jade Cargill appearing for the first time on SmackDown, and the debut of a former world champion.
The former champion in question is Nick Aldis. Nick was previously a star of the National Wrestling Alliance, where he held the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship. He was also a star in TNA Wrestling, which was later re-branded to IMPACT Wrestling.
Aldis had been serving as a producer for many weeks on a trial basis, with some people wondering if he was going to end up in the role full-time and work behind the scenes for the biggest wrestling company in the world. The National Treasure clearly had bigger things in mind, as he is now an on-screen authority figure.
Triple H has made Nick the General Manager of Friday Night SmackDown. Nick immediately made a few interesting moves, but there are some big changes he could implement in the coming weeks. This article will look at a handful of more interesting options.
Below are four changes Nick Aldis could make as the new General Manager of WWE SmackDown.
#4. He could be the one to sign Jade Cargill
Perhaps the biggest immediate impact Nick Aldis could make as the new General Manager of Friday Night SmackDown is on the blue brand's roster. He already made one major change by bringing Kevin Owens over to the blue brand, but there is another star he could attempt to acquire.
Jade Cargill is WWE's biggest signing in quite some time. The former AEW TBS Champion has been getting a ton of exposure through various news outlets, but she has yet to officially debut on a specific brand. Instead, she has been appearing and meeting people backstage alongside Triple H.
If Nick could sign Jade to WWE SmackDown, it would immediately give him credibility as a boss to be reckoned with. While Adam Pearce on RAW losing out on signing the hottest free agent would be quite the blow, it would be a boon to Nick.
#3. Nick Aldis could force Roman Reigns to abide by the 30-day rule
Roman Reigns is the top dog of WWE. He has been the face of the company for the better part of the last decade, but it has especially been true for over three years now. Ever since he made his return in 2020 and won the Universal Championship, he has ruled the promotion.
Currently, The Tribal Chief is the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. While he has held the title for an ungodly amount of time, there is an asterisk next to his impressive accolade. He has been known to disappear for a month or two at a time.
In the past, a champion not defending their coveted belt within 30 days would be a ground for termination or for the star to be stripped of their prize. Nick Aldis could bring that rule back in an effort to force Roman to defend his world title on a more consistent basis. Reigns is a needle mover, so the more he is around, the better it is for WWE.
#2. He could bring Kairi Sane back to WWE
It appears as if WWE has opened the floodgates with new signings in recent weeks. Nia Jax and Carlito both returned to the promotion, meanwhile, Jade Cargill, Nick Aldis, and Brian Pillman Jr. have all joined the global sports entertainment juggernaut for the very first time.
Another former WWE Superstar is rumored to be on their way back to the promotion, too. Kairi Sane has wrapped up her association with STARDOM and is allegedly returning to the promotion and could do so at any time in the coming weeks and months.
Just like with Jade, Kairi will be sought after by all three active brands. If Aldis can be the one to successfully sign her, it would give the Women's division on SmackDown a major boost. It would also be bragging rights for the former world champion.
#1. Nick could order a new entrance set & graphics
While decisions such as championship rulings and talent acquisitions are certainly fun to discuss and consider, there are other practical elements that come with leading a television show. WWE is a televised promotion with a big budget. Much of that budget is spent on production.
The latest episode was the season premiere of SmackDown. In many ways, things felt different, courtesy of the new General Manager being revealed, select stars shaking things up, and beyond.
Nick Aldis could potentially convince WWE management to pony up the cash and change the appearance of the brand. This could mean an updated logo, accompanying graphics, and much more. The biggest cost could be a brand new HD stage, one that would differentiate SmackDown from RAW. Could Aldis pull it off? Only time will tell.
Do you think Nick Aldis could prove to be an efficient manager of WWE SmackDown? Sound off in the comments section below!