For better or for worse, the WWE have stripped away several elements that were once considered essential to the presentation of professional wrestling in North America, but none of them is more sorely missed than the manager.
There was once a time when the likes of the Grand Wizard, Captain Lou Albano and Freddy Blassie added their own unique flavour to the WWE’s galaxy of stars. However, those days are long gone, and with the exception of the legendary Paul Heyman, there isn’t a single elite manager under contract to the world’s largest wrestling promotion.
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It is no exaggeration to say that Vince McMahon and co. have missed a trick here because several of today's Superstars desperately need a Jim Cornette or a Bobby Heenan to help them elevate their level of work.
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While managers usually add a great deal to the presentation of their clients, they can easily fly under the radar, and we are gathered here to pay our respects to five loveable weasels who aren’t showered with the adulation they deserve.
Without any further ado, here is our list of 5 the most underrated managers in WWE history:
#1 Ric Flair
Ric Flair is rightfully known as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, and his body of his work is well documented. However, it is very seldom that anybody talks about the Nature Boy's exploits as a manager, and it's nothing short of a travesty.
During his time with Evolution, the 16-time World Champion primarily mentored his younger comrades; consequently, he was in their corner every time one of them had a match. And to nobody’s surprise, Flair excelled at it.
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Every aspect of his performances, from the underhanded tactics to the facial expressions, was masterful. The Dirtiest Player in the Game managed to draw heel heat and combine it with his signature dose of comedy, showing a jaded audience his mastery of the nuances that once defined professional wrestling. It’s truly a pity that Flair didn’t manage more young Superstars and take them under his wing.
#2 Stephanie McMahon
The WWE’s resident ice princess is easily the most effective heel at their disposal. In fact, Stephanie McMahon is so adept at antagonising the fans that even the most grizzled smarks won’t acknowledge her brilliance as a performer.
Since Triple H puts over an up and coming babyface every year at WrestleMania, the Commissioner of Monday Night Raw is invaluable as a manager. She not only presents an additional obstacle for The Game’s opponent to overcome, but her annual bump at the Show of Shows is also guaranteed to generate one of the loudest reactions of the night.
Although several naysayers will declare that Stephanie is merely the recipient of X-Pac heat, we’ve long since established that she is the quintessential heel manager for an age of professional wrestling that lacks a real zeitgeist.
#3 Lita
In the early stages of his career, Edge was regarded as nothing more than a tag team wrestler who was bound to spend his days in mid-card purgatory. However, things changed in 2005 when he won the inaugural Money in the Bank match, and Lita was assigned as his manager.
Aside from the dynamic she brought to the Matt Hardy feud, which was instrumental in establishing the Rated-R Superstar as a main eventer, the four-time Women’s Champion also brought a certain je ne sais quoi to ringside that connected with the fans.
The couple’s box office appeal was so strong that their live sex celebration on the night after Edge’s maiden WWE Championship victory was one of Raw’s most watched segments in 2006.
#4 Chyna
Chyna and vaulted into the limelight when she joined Triple H and Shawn Michaels to form D-Generation X; in fact, she stayed on as the group’s bodyguard even after HBK temporarily retired and the Cerebral Assasin took over the reigns.
The Ninth Wonder of the World was so unique because she managed to stay true to herself while her stablemates wreaked havoc and acted like juvenile delinquents. Chyna’s stone-faced expression and dour delivery often provided the perfect contrast to her churlish companions.
D-Generation X was one of the Attitude Era's best acts, and it wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without one Joan Marie Laurer.
#5 Donald Trump
The marquee attraction at WrestleMania 23 was the Battle of the Billionaires – a proxy hair vs. hair match between Vince McMahon and Donald Trump with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the Special Guest Referee. The build-up to the clash, with Umaga and Bobby Lashley representing the contestants, spared no expense and crossed over into the mainstream.
The prospect of seeing the man from the Apprentice lose his hair was so appealing that WrestleMania 23 had a buy rate of around 1.2 million, making it one of the two biggest pay-per-views in WWE history.
Sure, some of Trump's performances were ludicrous, and he appeared to have the attention span of a poodle, but he drew more money in one night than most other managers did in their entire careers.
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