WWE CEO Vince McMahon opened this week's episode of Smackdown and announced that Booker T is the new SmackDown General Manager.

WWE hinted at this development earlier this evening, issuing the following text alert: "Mr. McMahon will name the new General Manager of Smackdown at tonight's live event, and there is strong speculation it will be Booker T."

Our live SmackDown coverage will begin momentarily...

A. O'Connor contributed to this article.