Our newest contributor Marco Sassen kicks off his Bright Side debut examining the lost art of professional wrestling managers.
Join him as he takes a walk down memory lane of the classic mouth pieces that left their mark in the sport and how two modern managers today could and should open the door for more.
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Wrestling managers and the lost art of it.
Most wrestling fans only know and remembered the famous wrestling managers of the 80’s and 90’s.
But before Bobby "The Brain Heenan" and "The Mouth of The South" Jimmy Hart, there was a man named Billy Sandow.
He was better known as the manager of Ed "Strangler" Lewis. With Billy Sandow by his side he won the first recognized world heavyweight wrestling championship.
As members of the Gold Dust Trio promotion they changed the face of the wrestling industry. It was a group of promoters who controlled the world of professional wrestling during the 1920s while also making several fundamental changes.
It's no secret that we have a lot to thank to this promotion.
This evolved to what many people call the golden age of professional wrestling with several managers at the forefront of the World Wrestling Federation (under both Vince McMahon Sr and Vince McMahon Jr) and The National Wrestling Alliance.
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Arnold Skaaland was one of the most successful managers in the early 60’s he managed Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund, with both men winning the WWF World Title and each enjoying multi-year reigns.
Bruno's first reign, a record 2.803 days, is one that will most likely never be broken.
The second longest reign? Backlund's at 2,135.
Hard to argue with that success rate Skaaland enjoyed.
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The Grand Wizard was a pioneer for the heel managers, but before he took that name he was Abdullah Farouk.
He was a man from the middle east who was sent by The Sheik's wealthy family to handle their son's affairs in the United States.
After establishing himself as one of the most hated managers he signed with the WWWF as the Grand Wizard of Wrestling.
Almost immediately after his arrival in 1972 he managed the tag team of Mr. Fuji and Professor Toru Tanaka. They won the tag team titles on 2 separate occasions.
He also led Stan Stasiak and "Superstar" Billy Graham to the World Wrestling Federation title in 1973 and 1977 respectively.
He wasn't done making history however. The first ever Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson and later the man who dethroned him for the title Ken Patera both enjoyed the guidance only the Wizard could provide.
His sudden death on October 12, 1983 ended an era some feel was never replicated.
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J.J. Dillon was the first man that managed a stable, the Four Horsemen formed in November 1985. Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Ole and Arn Anderson dominated the NWA for a very long time.
He was as devious as he was verbose and never above getting involved to lend his men a helping hand. He assisted the various members of the Horsemen from 1985-1989 to many championships.
When he left the NWA in 1989 and joined former Horsemen members Barry Windham, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard in the WWF, the legendary faction never reached the heights of its 88-89 era ever again.
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These where the more classical managers, but pro wrestling has seen many valets as well.
With Baby Doll and Miss Elizabeth managing the names of Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard and Ric Flair.
The women where used in storylines and often betrayed the men they were suppose to manage.
Baby Doll jumped back and forth, going from Tully Blanchard to beloved valet of Rhodes before betraying him to re-join the Horsemen and Ric Flair.
Liz turned on Savage twice in World Championship Wrestling; in 1996 to join Ric Flair and in 1998 to join nWo Hollywood and be at the side of Eric Bishoff.
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These are only a few examples of how managers were used in the past, from managing to the ring to actual participates in promo’s and storylines.
That is something that I miss in today’s wrestling, a promotion can benefit from a great manager.
While WWE has had various mouth pieces in recent history (Daivari, Armando Alejandro Estrada, A.W, and Zeb Colter to name a few), the consistent presence of an effective manager has never been equaled to the glory days and is severely missed.
And if they do use a manager it's for a heel, and I am not talking about a wrestler being ringside.
Paul Heyman is the only manager that can work both ways, he can draw heat and put you over as a face. His grandiose promos have effectively sold many a viewer on Brock Lesnar's battles with John Cena, Seth Rollins, The Undertaker, Roman Reigns, and most recently Bill Golberg.
From the 90’s to the present time the managers where often women who wrestled in the ring as well.
While she has had the infrequent match inside a ring, Lana is one of the first women since Baby Doll and Miss Elizabeth who is only managing a wrestler in Rusev.
Why can’t a women just being a valet anymore? It draws more attention to the storyline and gives the wrestler a character.
Either way I am a big supporter of a return of the classic managers in pro wrestling. I hope as Triple H builds the future of in-ring talent in NXT, he also eventually begins to cultivate the future for those who can do the talking and make you care.
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