5 WWE Superstars who became influential behind the scenes

#2. Gorilla Monsoon: One of WWE's earliest backstage leaders

When Vince McMahon began his takeover of the WWE in the 80s, he had no intention of sticking to the traditions set by his father. However, he did make one promise. He would look after the wrestlers who had been good to his father in the past. One of these wrestlers was Gorilla Monsoon.

Monsoon worked under the elder McMahon and became a shareholder in WWF. Having been loyal to his father and seeking to end his in-ring career, the wily veteran sold his shares in the company to Vince McMahon in exchange for a lifetime contract of employment.

Monsoon became one of WWE's greatest play-by-play commentators and was made their on-screen president in 1995. Although this was just a storyline title, the WWF "President" had considerable influence backstage over both the wrestlers and management.

Having worked alongside Vince's father, Monsoon served as a mentor and confidante to the chairman. He also made it a point to wait right behind the curtain after matches and give his feedback to the wrestlers. So revered was Gorilla Monsoon backstage that he was selected as the man who would run the company had Vince McMahon been convicted in the steroid trial of 1993.

Health problems forced the longtime fixture of WWE off the road in 1997 and he passed away two years later. Despite that, his legacy continues to live on in various ways. The title of WWF President was retired in honor of him and wrestler Santino Marella was named as a tribute to Monsoon whose real name was Robert James (Gino) Marella.

Perhaps Gorilla Monsoon's most enduring impact on the business is the place that is known today as the Gorilla Position. Named after Monsoon's habit of waiting just behind the curtain to critique wrestlers after their matches, the Gorilla Position is essentially the main production area of any wrestling show. It was a fitting tribute to a man who was held in such high regard by his peers.

#1. Pat Patterson: The greatest backstage mind in wrestling

To put it simply, WWE wouldn't be where it is today without Pat Patterson. An accomplished wrestler in his own right, Patterson is best known for being the first Intercontinental Champion and for his role in the 90s as one of Vince McMahon's stooges.

Behind the scenes, however, Pat was far different from the yes-man he played on screen. Patterson was Vince McMahon's right hand man for many years and was one of the few employees who had a close personal friendship with the chairman. This closeness allowed Patterson to advise, disagree with and even overrule McMahon on certain creative decisions.

For the wrestlers, Patterson's knowledge was invaluable. The likes of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, John Cena, Steve Austin, The Undertaker and many other all-time greats were all personally mentored by Pat Patterson at some point.

Patterson was able to help the wrestlers and map out their entire match with them. He knew exactly what a wrestler should do to illicit a certain response from the audience and was a master of using the matches to tell a story. Due to this talent, he was widely sought out by the wrestlers. He was unafraid to push for a certain wrestler if he felt strongly enough about their talent.

The Hall of Famer is also responsible for creating many of WWE's most memorable moments, including but certainly not limited to the character of The Undertaker, various WrestleMania main-events and, of course, the Royal Rumble match.

Patterson's passing in 2019 not only marked the death of a brilliant and talented mind but also the loss of a constant presence behind the scenes. Many generations of wrestlers owe a lot to the wisdom of Pat Patterson and his contributions to the WWE can never be understated.