Next week, William Regal, appointed Raw GM by virtue of winning a battle royal (of all things) last month, should be back from his suspension. The storyline would have him turning back full heel to avenge himself upon WWE champion John Cena, giving challenger Randy Orton some help toward winning the title. That in truth is the wrong way to go. Raw has long needed a babyface running the show, as it has been dominated by a heel administration since the GM system was implemented in 2002. Installing Mick Foley and Steve Austin in face GM roles to offset Eric Bischoff didn't work for any number of reasons, but there's no reason to believe a strong babyface GM can run Raw now, rather than subject viewers to several more months of Vince McMahon and his pet assistant, Jonathan Carlton Waylon Leon Coachman. Both heel characters are staler than moldy bread, and the sooner they get through the Vince/Hornswoggle angle, the better.

On Friday, Smackdown GM Teddy Long was felled by a heart attack in the conclusion of what was supposed to have been a storyline wedding to Kristal Marshall. That opens the door for Vicki Guerrero to take over as GM on an interim basis. She's been used in small doses since returning, which is good, considering that she didn't make the most of the air time given her as a heel manager in feuds with Rey Mysterio and the late Chris Benoit several months ago, when she managed her nephew Chavo. By design, the GM should be neutral, but Vince McMahon doesn't operate that way. A 2nd chance to be a heel might be in the cards for Mrs. Guerrero, but I don't see it happening.

If in fact WWE Uncreative decides to go with a heel GM on Smackdown, they have two options, neither one of them named Vicki Guerrero.

The first option is moving Regal to Smackdown, from whence he'd been drafted to Raw back in June. The inner game show host we saw come out of Regal shortly after his appointment would work better with a pre-recorded program like Smackdown, because the game show skits fell apart on Raw because of the live format. Regal is more comfortable as a heel, but as I noted in a previous column, they could use him in more of a tweener role here, as more of a Simon Templar character (think of the hair). Would they go that route? I doubt it. Michael Hayes and his staff of idiots wouldn't know a good idea if it came out of the bottom of a bottle of Jack Daniels.

The other option is moving John Bradshaw Layfield out of the broadcast booth and into the GM's office. Consider the promo he cut on Rey Mysterio on Friday. Vintage JBL, if you consider 2004 vintage. It makes the most sense to have the xenophobic JBL using the GM's position to feud with Mysterio, and it would lead to a feud down the line with World champion Batista.

So what happens to the widow Guerrero? There really isn't anything else she can do. If they send her to Raw in exchange for Regal, they'd almost have to put her in the GM's chair to justify the switch. The only other option is to complete the purge of the GM's office and wish Mrs. Guerrero the best in her future endeavors. There are rumors that Kristal is headed to Raw herself to be with her real boyfriend du jour, Bobby Lashley (currently on the DL), and that would enable her to also get shots at the women's title, something she can't have on Smackdown.

If JBL does become GM, then the onus is on McMahon to find someone who could take over for Layfield in the broadcast booth. Regal's countryman David Taylor is currently working house shows, but getting next to no TV time. I'd try him and several others out as guest commentators until a full-time analyst is found. If JBL takes over as GM of Smackdown, then it would be a wise move to keep Regal at the least a tweener on Raw. ECW GM Armando Estrada is at best a tweener himself, and only gets 1-2 segments a week, so that concept can work.

Much was made of Vince McMahon's decision 4 years ago to bring in---and subsequently release---Zach Gowen, a one-legged wrestler. He just cut loose Nick Dinsmore, who's spent the last 3 years playing a "savant" character. Perhaps deep down he doesn't want to admit that the creative staff he has, made up mostly of failed Hollywood writers, is in effect the result of his hiring the handicapped already. Handicapped in terms of wrestling knowledge, that is. And it's his own fault. Now he may have to pay a steeper than usual price.