Celebrities have been getting more and more involved with WWE in recent years and this year especially. Pat McAfee, Jelly Roll, IShowSpeed and Lil Yachty have all played a role on WWE programming throughout WrestleMania season, and it sounds like WWE also wanted to bring in another familiar name.
During Monday’s episode of ESPN First Take, Joe Tessitore talked about who he would pair Stephen A. Smith with if Smith were to become a manager in WWE. Tessitore suggested that Stephen A. Smith would be a good fit for Gunther, and is the only person who could go toe to toe with Paul Heyman as a manager.
Stephen A. Smith then chimed in and said that he wouldn’t mind doing it, but would rather work with someone like Roman Reigns as opposed to Gunther. Smith also claimed that Nick Khan talked to him about taking on an on screen role with WWE.
“I love it. I love it, and I want to applaud Pat McAfee for that. Because let me tell you something, they were talking to—I go back to the old days of Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan and people like that. I actually wanted to do that. Your man Nick Khan talked to me about that. See, the difference is, I’m not as courageous as Pat McAfee. I ain’t trying to get hit by one of them big boys, at all! I want no part of it, but I love that stuff because I think the sport needs it.”
If @stephenasmith were a WWE manager, who would he be paired with?! 👀
Stream both nights of #WrestleMania on April 18–19 on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan. pic.twitter.com/stnVkaRgfF
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 13, 2026
Do you think Stephen A. Smith would be a good fit for WWE? Sound off in the comments below.