Steve Carrier on March 28, 2025
SmackDown just got a new voice—and the move might have Nick Khan’s fingerprints all over it.
On March 27, Mark Shunock revealed via social media that he’s officially joining WWE as the new ring announcer for Friday Night SmackDown. But when fans hear his voice on TV, it’ll be under a different name—Mark Nash. “SmackDown, let’s do this!!!” he posted on X, hyping up his debut set for the March 28 episode.
Shunock is no stranger to big-time sports and high-energy crowds. He’s been the go-to ring announcer for Top Rank Boxing on ESPN and is currently the in-arena host for both the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders. His style is loud, dynamic, and all about the spectacle—perfect for the WWE stage.
While the hire itself already turned heads, a new report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter added more intrigue behind the scenes. Meltzer stated, “WWE decided to go with Mark Shunock, who was the ring announcer for Top Rank Boxing on ESPN, in the Smackdown slot starting with the 3/28 show.” He then pointed to the possible key player behind the move: “A hire from Las Vegas and a hire from real sports is a good bet to have been a Nick Khan hire.”
It makes sense. Khan, WWE’s President and Chief Revenue Officer, has deep roots in Las Vegas and sports business. Bringing in someone with Shunock’s background and ties to real sports aligns with the direction Khan has helped push—more crossover appeal and fresh energy from outside the traditional wrestling bubble.
Nash’s arrival comes just as longtime announcer Lilian Garcia steps away from her full-time role. WWE seems set on refreshing the SmackDown presentation, and bringing in a polished sports personality like Nash may be exactly the kind of pivot Khan had in mind.
With the March 28 episode kicking off this new era, fans won’t have to wait long to hear if Mark Nash can truly own the mic and bring something new to the table.
Do you think Mark Nash is the right choice for SmackDown’s new ring announcer? Will his sports background elevate the presentation, or should WWE have gone with a more traditional pick? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.
March 28, 2025 9:38 am
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