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At the end of NXT TakeOver: In Your House, NXT General Manager William Regal said he "thinks it's time for a change". While it hasn't been confirmed that Regal is leaving NXT, thinking of a potential replacement for Regal as NXT General Manager is exciting.
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Regal became the NXT GM in 2014 after it was felt that the role of NXT commentator should've been used as a way to groom announcers for their future in the WWE. Regal was instrumental in bringing wrestlers to NXT and was even a trainer at the performance center.
Apart from being one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, Regal has been a fan favorite of NXT fans ever since his role began. Let's look at 5 potential replacements for William Regal as General Manager.
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Former NXT Champion Samoa Joe
In April 2021, WWE released talent including Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Samoa Joe. Many speculated about where the Samoan Submission Machine would go after the release until reports came out that NXT was looking to bring Joe back.
Leading up to TakeOver, reports emerged that Joe was spotted at WWE's Performance Center, leading to speculation that an NXT return is imminent, if not certain.
While it was reported that Joe's role in NXT would be an in-ring role, he could be a very reputable General Manager. Not only is Samoe Joe one of the greatest NXT Champions of all time, but he is an extremely intimidating force. Joe is also a gifted wrestler on the microphone, which he showed while he was commentating on Raw.
Samoa Joe as NXT GM would be a serious shake-up, and could even help transition him into an in-ring role.
Former NXT Superstar Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan appeared on the inaugural episode of NXT back in 2010. This was when NXT wrestlers had mentors, and Bryan's mentor was none other than The Miz. These episodes of NXT (and a Talking Smack argument) would have wrestling fans talking about a Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz match for years until we got it at SummerSlam 2018.
Since returning from a career-threatening injury, Bryan became WWE Champion, SmackDown Tag Team Champion, and competed for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37. After losing to Roman Reigns in a championship vs. career match, Bryan has not been seen on WWE television.
While there are reports that Bryan is no longer under contract with WWE, WWE has yet to come out and officially say so. Bryan coming back as NXT GM would be a full circle story, as an original NXT competitor is back to being GM on the show. Bryan was also SmackDown GM after his injury, and did well with what he was given.
Daniel Bryan embodies the very essence of NXT, so having him as GM would be a very welcoming sight.
NXT Executive Producer and Founder Triple H
While Triple H already has a ton of work on his plate, having the actual boss of NXT serve as the GM would bring more authenticity to the brand.
NXT is what it is today because of Triple H. In its original format, NXT was seen as a sort of joke by many pro-wrestling fans, but Triple H has made the brand a place where performers can show their talent and get ready for RAW or SmackDown.
Somewhere along the way, Triple H began bringing in wrestlers that were huge on the indies, like Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and Bayley. These acquisitions (and countless others) made NXT a viable place for fantastic pro-wrestling.
In 2011, Triple H relieved Vince McMahon of his duties in storyline and became COO of the WWE. This storyline gave WWE fans many memorable moments, such as a great feud with CM Punk, the roster going on strike, and a feud with Brock Lesnar.
It also led to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's The Authority storyline. Triple H coming in as NXT GM would make the brand seem more realistic, as the actual boss would be controlling the brand on air.
Triple H loves NXT and is very passionate about it, and that would translate on screen.
NXT Commentator Wade Barrett
In August of 2020, Wade Barrett became the new color commentator for NXT after the release of Mauro Ranallo. The former Intercontinental Champion made his return to the WWE after a 4-year absence.
Barrett would later confirm that he signed a one-year deal to become a permanent member of the NXT broadcasting team. In the past few weeks, Barrett has criticized William Regal's job in controlling NXT on commentary, which could lead to him trying to take Regal's job.
One main reason Barrett is a great option is because of his history with the brand. Barrett participated in the first season of NXT with Chris Jericho as his mentor. This led to one of WWE's biggest booking blunders, The Nexus.
The Nexus became one of the most interesting storylines WWE had up to that point in 2010, but after Cena refused to lose to The Nexus at SummerSlam 2010 (according to Edge and Chris Jericho), the group lost momentum.
Barrett is also a no-nonsense guy and could be a viable option to take over the reins of NXT. His Bad News Barrett gimmick got over with the fans, so much so that one of the main reasons Barrett dropped the gimmick was because fans were cheering and chanting the catchphrase with him.
Moving Barrett into the role would be a full circle story, much like Daniel Bryan, that would make for very intriguing storylines in the future.
NXT Writer and Producer Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is currently a writer and producer for NXT, and is widely considered one of the greatest in-ring performers in wrestling history.
If Triple H is a good choice to replace Regal, Shawn Michaels is definitely a good choice as well. Michaels is one of the biggest cheerleaders for NXT, appearing with Triple H in many promos, and speaking on how much it means to him in interviews. He has been instrumental in the growth of NXT and NXT UK, and has been used in different angles since joining NXT in his backstage role.
Michaels said NXT is a "very big part" of his life and he sincerely feels like it is his purpose. He commands respect whenever he walks into a room, and placing him in the GN role makes that role respected.
Many superstars on the brand today, like Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole, and Tommaso Ciampa, say that Michaels is one of the reasons they have gotten into wrestling .
It would also be interesting to see if Michaels becoming General Manager over Triple H causes any tension between the two. While Michaels being named the new GM of NXT is a little far-fetched, it's something that could work if done right.
Who would you like to see replace William Regal as NXT General Manager? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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