Nick Aldis Recalls Meeting With Triple H About WWE SmackDown GM Role

Speaking to Kenny McIntosh of Inside The Ropes, Nick Aldis discussed his role as WWE SmackDown General Manager.

Prior to joining WWE as an agent, Aldis found success in TNA Wrestling and the NWA as a wrestler. Here are the highlights:

On knowing how to succeed: “I’ve always said I believe that one of the key qualities you have to have to succeed in this industry, not necessarily as a talent, but just to succeed in the industry period is self-awareness. In other words, you have to know what you do well, you have to know what you don’t do well, and you have to know where you stand as far as your status and everything. So I understood what it would mean to come out with music and entrance and everything like that, particularly in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That’s not a knock on Tulsa, Oklahoma, but there are certain markets where I would have gotten a stronger reaction like New York or Philly, the places that have a stronger concentration of fans that are following a lot more wrestling than just WWE.”

On his chat about the role with Triple H: “Hunter and I discussed it at length, and Paul was very honest about it. He goes, “Look, I know there is no ideal way to do this, we just feel like this is the best way, music and entrance doesn’t make any sense.” Because most of the WWE audience were not familiar with me. They are now, but at the time, it’s very out of the blue, and I’m using my real name. I think Hunter looked at it as, like, let’s rip the band-aid off. There’s no easy way to do this that’s not going to be a little bit awkward. So let’s get it out of the way. And then he just said, “I’m going to give you the mic right away, and you’ll get over. Once you talk you’ll be okay.” And that’s how I felt about it. I was like, the sooner I can get in the ring and forget that part the better, just give me the mic.”