'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In the wake of the recent power struggle between Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis and Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long, the WWE board of directors has ordered a role reversal for these two managers next week. According to their decision which was made public on WWE.com, next week, Theodore Long will serve as the Raw General Manager whereas John Laurinaitis would assume duties as the Smackdown General Manager. Further, their performances will be assessed and soon, we will have a single power authority for both shows. This is what the official website of the WWE, WWE.com has to say about this recent development:
“Both Raw and SmackDown are about to get extreme makeovers. In an effort to help determine which General Manager should control both shows, the WWE Board of Directors has decided to switch control of each show next week. SmackDown GM Theodore Long will take control of Monday night’s Raw while Raw GM John Laurinaitis takes the reins of next Friday’s SmackDown.”
It all started at the Elimination Chamber event a few weeks ago when Interim Raw GM, John Laurinaitis expressed his desire to manage both Raw and Smackdown. He got support from several beleaguered Smackdown stars like Christian, Alberto Del Rio and Mark Henry who expressed their desire to have Mr. John Laurinaitis as the General Manager of both Raw and Smackdown. This might have sent alarm bells ringing for Smackdown GM Teddy Long, who has held that post for several years. He started to act accordingly and used his authority to thwart Big Johnny’s attempts to get his desired results. Both men quarreled over the finish of the Champion vs Champion match at Super Smackdown. A similar brawl occurred at the rematch on the following Raw. The WWE Board of Directors have announced their decision regarding the fate of Long and Laurinaitis. Both men will now swap shows and prove their mettle in handling the talent and programming. It will be interesting to see till what extent both men will go in-order to get their desires be satisfied. What is the payoff for this feud? A match between Long’s team and Laurinaitis’ team at Wrestlemania 28 is a genuine possibility. If it does not happen, then we will in all probability get a one on one match between the two managers. We will have to wait till next week to know what the future holds for Long and Laurinaitis.
