Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, theater kids of all ages—Friday Night SmackDown is getting a new voice, and he’s got more flair than a WrestleMania entrance and more vocal cords than a Broadway revival of Les Mis.
Mark Shunock, the man who has hosted hockey, football, boxing, and possibly your cousin’s bar mitzvah, is now stepping into the squared circle as the official ring announcer for SmackDown, replacing the legendary Lillian Garcia.
And he broke the news like a true wrestling fan with a mic and a dream:
“Stepping into a new ring with @WWE. Thrilled to join Friday Night SmackDown. Mark ‘Nash’ will see you tomorrow night @TheO2.” – @MarkShunock on X (formerly known as a place for blue checks to yell)
Shunock’s resume reads like a crossover episode of ESPN and Broadway:
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Former Canadian Hockey League player (meaning he probably knows how to hip-check a heel mid-promo)
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Theater performer on Broadway (this man has range and dramatic pauses)
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In-arena host for the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders
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Voice of Top Rank Boxing (so he’s already shouted “Let’s Get Ready to RUMBLE… adjacent”)
Now, he’s trading the gloves and pucks for pyrotechnics and pop-up powerbombs as SmackDown’s new hype man.
🎤 Exit, Stage Left: Lillian Garcia
Lillian Garcia, who rejoined WWE late last year and held down the fort for Raw and then SmackDown as of January 3, will now pass the torch—or the mic—to Shunock. As always, she exits with grace, dignity, and a vibrato that could stun a midcarder.
🎬 Meanwhile on Tomorrow’s SmackDown in London:
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LA Knight defends the U.S. Title against Braun Strowman (Let him YEAH!)
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The Street Profits defend the Tag Titles vs. Pretty Deadly (Yes boy!)
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CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins will sign their WrestleMania 41 Triple Threat Contract, which in wrestling means yelling, tossing furniture, and possibly breaking a pen over someone’s head.
Mark Shunock’s vocal cords are in for a baptism by fire. Or steel chairs.