Ranking every SmackDown GM from worst to best 

The on-screen authority figure role is a staple of modern WWE story-telling. Whether it's a fair and equal babyface GM, or a cruel and manipulative heel GM, the role is never too far away from one of the WWE's biggest storylines.

Since 2001, SmackDown has had a total of nine general managers, all of which brought something totally different to the table.

Follow Sportskeeda for the latest WWE news, rumors and all other wrestling news.

Of course, the GM doesn't actually possess any power within the WWE but from a Kayfabe perspective, the role is one of the most important in the company.

With SmackDown gearing up for its 1000th episode in a few short weeks, let's take a look back at all nine previous SmackDown GMs, and rank them from worst to best.

---

#9 John Laurinaitis

Laurinaitis was one of the least popular authority figures in WWE history

Remember when a team of wrestlers led by John Laurinaitis defeated a team led by Teddy Long at WrestleMania 28 to give Laurinaitis control of SmackDown? No, of course, you don't, you've probably done your best to forget it over the last six years.

Laurinaitis is best remembered for his run as Raw GM, but he also had a brief run in charge of SmackDown for three months in 2012 as well.

Laurinaitis did absolutely nothing of note during his run on SmackDown and was removed from his position at No Way Out when John Cena defeated The Big show in a cage match.

#8 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle had a brief run as SmackDown GM in 2004

You can be forgiven if you have forgotten about Kurt Angle's run as SmackDown GM in mid-2004.

The former WWE champion only held the position for a total of four months, taking charge of the brand between March and July.

Angle's key mission as GM was to make sure that Eddie Guerrero lost his WWE title belt, and he succeeded, helping JBL win the title from his nemesis at The Great American Bash 2004.

A few weeks later, Angle would interfere in a rematch between the two men dressed in full lucha gear.

Angle was swiftly removed from his position by Vince McMahon a few weeks later and would go on to face Guerrero at SummerSlam a month later.

#7 Booker T

Booker T took charge of SmackDown in 2012

Booker T is one of the amusing personalities in wrestling. Whether he's hitting spinaroonies in the ring, or making ridiculous commentary calls from the commentator's table, things are never boring when Booker is around.

Booker T's reign as SmackDown GM came at an unfortunate time. The brand split was dead and buried and SmackDown was stuck in a creative rut.

Booker did the best he could in his position, and he made for an amusing on-screen presence. Tension started to brew for Booker when his assistant, former SmackDown GM, Teddy Long started going above his head and while the storyline never really blossomed in the way it could have done, it still made for several amusing segments.

Booker was removed from his role in 2013 and replaced by former GM, Vickie Guerrero.

#6 Paul Heyman

Paul Heyman was perfectly cast in the authority figure role

Paul Heyman is one of the best talkers in all of wrestling, so while his run as SmackDown GM may not have been too memorable for its storylines and feuds, it still featured some of the most entertaining segments and promos delivered by a WWE authority figure.

Heyman's run as GM lasted for six months between October 2003 and April 2004 and focused largely on his partnership with Brock Lesnar.

At Survivor Series 2003, Heyman led Team Lesnar into a match with Team Angle and continued to push the superstars involved in that match ahead of the brand's faces in the months that followed.

Heyman quit his role as SmackDown GM when he was drafted to Raw after WrestleMania XX.

#5 Paige

Paige has been a success so far as SmackDown GM

It's still early days in Paige's run as SmackDown General Manager but the early signs are looking very good indeed for the former women's champion.

Paige was appointed GM after announcing her retirement from in-ring competition in April and instantly set about making her mark on Tuesday nights, booking a dream match-up between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan on her very first night.

At only 26, Paige is the youngest GM in SmackDown history, but she has done an excellent job at steadying the ship on Tuesday nights after the show was dominated by commissioner, Shane McMahon for so long.

Paige's SmackDown is currently leaps and bounds ahead of its Monday night counterpart, Raw from an in-ring perspective, and if she carries on, Paige could easily go down as one of the best GMs in SmackDown history.

#4 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan was still massively over as general manager of SmackDown

Fans were devastated when Daniel Bryan announced his retirement from in-ring action in 2016, but they were delighted to see him return to screens a few months later as SmackDown GM.

Bryan's run is fondly remembered by WWE fans, and there has never been a GM on either Raw or SmackDown who has been able to generate the kind of reaction Bryan got every time he stepped through the curtain.

The latter stages of his run were, sadly, ruined by a confusing program featuring Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn but thankfully, the storyline didn't do Bryan too much damage.

His run as SmackDown GM came to an end earlier this year when Bryan made his triumphant return to the ring after being cleared by WWE doctors.

#3 Stephanie McMahon

Stephanie McMahon helped SmackDown make a name for itself during the original brand-split

During the original days of the brand split, the company really tried to get over the idea of the two brands consistently being at war with one another. Eric Bischoff was perfectly cast as the Machiavellian style GM of Monday nights, and Stephanie McMahon was the perfect foil for him over on SmackDown.

Her run as SmackDown GM saw the US title reinstated to the brand and also saw some of the best performers in SmackDown history rise to the top of the pile.

McMahon was in charge of the brand for two years, and her reign was brought to an end by her father following their infamous I Quit match at No Mercy 2003.

#2 Vickie Guerrero

Vickie Guerrero perfected the heel authority figure role as SmackDown GM

When it comes to annoying heel authority figures, there are few who can compete with Vickie Guerrero.

Guerrero had two stints as SmackDown general manager, but it was her first run, where she did everything in her power to help her boyfriend, Edge that really cemented her place as one of the best GMs in SmackDown history.

Vickie's screeching 'excuse me' shout quickly become a staple of Tuesday nights, and even managed to earn one of the biggest pops of the night when she made her return at this year's Royal Rumble.

#1 Teddy Long

Teddy Long is the best GM in SmackDown history

Holla holla, playa! Was there ever going to be anybody else at the top of this list? Teddy Long's two runs as SmackDown GM between 2004 and 2007, and then between 2009 and 2012 are two of the most iconic authority figure stints in wrestling history.

Long, who had started his career as a WWE referee, is still one of the most lovable on-air personalities in wrestling and the company managed to tap into that perfectly during his runs as SmackDown GM.

His 'one on one with The Undertaker' and 'a tag team match' are the exact kind of things memes were made for, and there isn't a wrestling fan on the planet who doesn't look back on Long's time in the WWE fondly.

---

Send us news tips at [email protected].