A theme I'm picking up on here is that many of you are assuming the "big announcement" will be the identity of the GM and that they will be required to be on air this coming Monday. While it's possibly, I'd have to put that in the ridiculously unlikely category. Even if Bret leaving wasn't planned, there's no need to rush things now. With the "Anonymous" GM using Vintage as his (or her) live mouthpiece, the 'E' can take some time on this decision. So...who could the new GM be?
How about...
The Rock? While Dwayne apparently wanted to work with the WWE this summer in something beyond a Guest Host role, we have to realize that the summer (which I'm taking as June-August) is 1/3 over. With the change being unexpected, WWE and Dwayne would have to work out a deal quickly to maximize his on screen time (which is something you want to do if you're bringing in The Most Electrifying Man in Sports and Entertainment). While it would be awesome, I can't see it.
Good Ol' J.R. This has a much greater possibility in my book. With the time that WWE has to make this decision, the could work out a modified deal with J.R., bringing him on TV once a week. J.R. might not be too hot for the travel, but he could do satellite appearances once or twice a month to reduce his travel schedule. This would be a favorite choice by many, myself included.
HBK Using the same idea as above with satellite appearances, HBK could come back to entertain us...but I doubt it. I sincerely doubt he's tired of the time he's had with his family since WM, and I can't really see him wanting to travel to RAW at least twice a month...yet. Depending on how relevant Shawn stays (or doesn't), he could be a useful future GM if the next man on my list is chosen...
HHH So he's injured worse than we thought, and might not even make it back for SummerFest (burn in hell, Jeremy Piven). This would be a way to get him back on TV, and let him work that heel turn everyone is reporting he wants to do. He could explain the decision to have the WWE Title match last night as his problems with Sheamus, not out of respect for Cena. Hiring the NXT guys would be a good move for a heel GM. We know eventually HHH will get back in the ring though, so he would be, at best, a transitional GM (but probably lasting in the role longer than Bret, seeing as he knows the company is the WWE, not WWF
) This could lead to Shawn coming back as GM to thwart his wayward buddy. This, to me, would be an entertaining series of events if pulled off right, and would keep the fans and smarks happy. Well, maybe the smarks. They are rather snarky and immediately hate whatever they were rooting for as soon as they get it, so...
Personally, I'm hoping for the HHH into HBK scenario I laid out above. Any of these four men would make excellent on air characters. So, of course, I expect to have to deal with GM Vintage by the end of July.