WWE's Top 25 managers

[Loser troll. Please ban me]

Search function yeilded no results (but if there is a thread I apologise)

www.wwe.com/inside/top25/top-25-managers

[Crappler El 0 M]

It's better than the last list of top 25 managers posted on WWE.com as last time they didn't include Cornette or Heyman.

The list only considers managers who managed in WWE, but they do not make it clear if they consider what the manager did outside of WWE.

Arnold Skaaland is ranked too high. Jim Cornette, Paul Heyman, and Marlena are ranked too low.

Michael Hayes does not deserve it over General Adnan in my opinion. What did Hayes do as a manager? General Adnan was a major part of getting heat for Sgt. Slaughter and was part of the main event of WrestleMania VII. You could make a case for Tennessee Lee and Debra as well.

I would go into more details on my thoughts, but I will at least admit WWE did a better job than they usually do.

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

Hayes turned the Hardys from jobbers into stars and led them to their first tag title (I think).

[Deleted]

Somewhere, Tyson Kidd wonders how the hell he's supposed to get Miss Elizabeth, Arnold Skaaland, the Grand Wizard, Sensational Sherri, Lou Albano, and Freddie Blassie.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Jun 16, 2011 21:52:42 GMT -5 01010010 01101001 01100011 said:

Hayes turned the Hardys from jobbers into stars and led them to their first tag title (I think).

I think that's revisionist history or hyperbole. He was with them very briefly and they became bigger stars after they left him. I don't think most fans of the era consider his managing the Hardys to be that memorable.

[Citizen Zero]

Jun 16, 2011 21:55:18 GMT -5 Crappler El 0 M said:

Jun 16, 2011 21:52:42 GMT -5 01010010 01101001 01100011 said:

Hayes turned the Hardys from jobbers into stars and led them to their first tag title (I think).

I think that's revisionist history or hyperbole. He was with them very briefly and they became bigger stars after they left him. I don't think most fans of the era consider his managing the Hardys to be that memorable.

While he wasn't with them for very long I do remember that's about when they started being regarded as serious business. It's also when they got the look they're most remembered for.

[Cronant]

They were serious business after that ladder match. I don't even remember Hayes being there for that.

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2011 22:21:40 GMT -5 Cronant said:

They were serious business after that ladder match. I don't even remember Hayes being there for that.

Yeah, by then they were with the New Brood. Most forgetable stable ever?

[The Heenan Family]

25. The Genius
24. Marlena
23. Michael P.S. Hayes
22. Armando Alejandro Estrada
21. Teddy Long
20. Sir Oliver Humperdink
19. Stephanie McMahon
18. Harvey Whippleman
17. The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBase
16. Slick
15. Vickie Guerrero
14. Paul Ellering
13. Miss Elizabeth
12. Paul Heyman
11. Sunny
10. Mr Fuji
9. James E Cornette
8. Arnold Skaaland
7. Paul Bearer
6. The Grand Wizard
5. Sensational Sherri
4. Captain Lou Albano
3. Classy Freddie Blassie
2. Jimmy Hart
1. Bobby the Brain Heenan



I would have picked Wild Red Berry, Afa, General Adnan, Frenchy Martin, Bobby Davis, or Luna Vachon over Michael Hayes.

Paul Ellering's WWE runs in comparison to Slicks are a world apart. Slick should be higher.

EDIT: Ha. Just noticed James Dudley isn't on the list. WWE usually loves to flaunt his "managerial" work of Bobo Brazil to help support his Hall of Fame induction.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Jun 17, 2011 10:47:46 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

25. The Genius
24. Marlena
23. Michael P.S. Hayes
22. Armando Alejandro Estrada
21. Teddy Long
20. Sir Oliver Humperdink
19. Stephanie McMahon
18. Harvey Whippleman
17. The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBase
16. Slick
15. Vickie Guerrero
14. Paul Ellering
13. Miss Elizabeth
12. Paul Heyman
11. Sunny
10. Mr Fuji
9. James E Cornette
8. Arnold Skaaland
7. Paul Bearer
6. The Grand Wizard
5. Sensational Sherri
4. Captain Lou Albano
3. Classy Freddie Blassie
2. Jimmy Hart
1. Bobby the Brain Heenan



I would have picked Wild Red Berry, Afa, General Adnan, Frenchy Martin, Bobby Davis, or Luna Vachon over Michael Hayes.

Paul Ellering's WWE runs in comparison to Slicks are a world apart. Slick should be higher.

EDIT: Ha. Just noticed James Dudley isn't on the list. WWE usually loves to flaunt his "managerial" work of Bobo Brazil to help support his Hall of Fame induction.

At least Ellering had LOD. As huge of a Slick fan I am, he did not have that mega name that is LOD. He had The Twin towers, and not much else. Yes they were hot in the late 80s, but never LOD hot. Hell, the picture they use for his is with Herc & Jerk.

[MolotovMocktail]

I would have switched Albano and Blassie, but otherwise, can't really complain.

[Sajoa Moe]

A "Burger Time" reference? Wow.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Jun 16, 2011 22:20:27 GMT -5 Citizen Zero said:

Jun 16, 2011 21:55:18 GMT -5 Crappler El 0 M said:

I think that's revisionist history or hyperbole. He was with them very briefly and they became bigger stars after they left him. I don't think most fans of the era consider his managing the Hardys to be that memorable.

While he wasn't with them for very long I do remember that's about when they started being regarded as serious business. It's also when they got the look they're most remembered for.

It sounds a little kayfabe to say Hayes made them serious. I don't think they got really over with the fans until the tag team ladder match in the T.I.T. and the TLCs. Hayes wasn't really with them then (nor was he with them for that long). If we can use kayfabe, then General Adnan managed Sgt. Slaughter to the WWE Championship and was alongside him for a WrestleMania main event against Hogan. Surely this (in kayfabe) is more impressive than "helping to make people take the Hardys seriously." I don't put any stock in WWE-produced lists, but that's my opinion on Hayes being on there.

[Hit Girl]

My list...

1. Bobby the Brain Heenan
2. Jimmy Hart
3. Classy Freddie Blassie
4. Captain Lou Albano
5. The Grand Wizard
6. James E Cornette
7. Paul Heyman
8. Sensational Sherri
9. Miss Elizabeth
10. Paul Bearer

[Crappler El 0 M]

Jun 17, 2011 14:01:36 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

My list...

1. Bobby the Brain Heenan
2. Jimmy Hart
3. Classy Freddie Blassie
4. Captain Lou Albano
5. The Grand Wizard
6. James E Cornette
7. Paul Heyman
8. Sensational Sherri
9. Miss Elizabeth
10. Paul Bearer

That's a really good list. On another forum I had an argument about Miss Elizabeth. I agree with you that she deserves a high spot on any WWE-manager list because of how much she captivated the audience. They fell in love with her. She was part of one of the biggest storylines ever, the year long Mega Powers storyline that lasted from WrestleMania IV to WrestleMania V. Then there is the reunion with Savage and the on-air wedding. She may not meet some people's definition of a good manager. No, she didn't do the talking for her wrestlers. No, she didn't help draw heat for her wrestlers in their matches.

Did she add to Macho Man's act in WWF? Yes. Did the fans fall in love with her? Largely, yes. She was a constant good, classy lady. Did fans view her as a tag-along for Savage and later for the Mega Powers. No. She stands out as one of the most important managers in WWE history, though she didn't do the typical things a manager does in terms of a role in wrestling.

["Playboy" Don Douglas]

Just to make sure I'm clear, this is JUST covering WWE, right? It's not WWE's take on the best managers of all time, just the best in the history of the company, correct?

[BigWill]

Whoever writes some of these Top 25's seems to have quite a bit of leeway with some of the things they write. I'm surprised that Vince would give such free reign on WWE's official website.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Jun 17, 2011 14:20:31 GMT -5 "Playboy" Don Douglas said:

Just to make sure I'm clear, this is JUST covering WWE, right? It's not WWE's take on the best managers of all time, just the best in the history of the company, correct?

Correct. I think they even say that J.J. Dillon, Gary Hart, and Skandar Akbar didn't qualify for this list as it was WWE-only. It's not clear if Paul Ellering and Oliver Humperdink's non-WWE careers were considered. As much as I like Hump, he is not one of the greatest WWE managers. Same for Ellering. Ellering's time with LOD in WWE was not memorable. Nor was his time with D.O.A. very memorable.

["Playboy" Don Douglas]

Jun 17, 2011 14:30:58 GMT -5 Crappler El 0 M said:

Jun 17, 2011 14:20:31 GMT -5 "Playboy" Don Douglas said:

Just to make sure I'm clear, this is JUST covering WWE, right? It's not WWE's take on the best managers of all time, just the best in the history of the company, correct?

Correct. I think they even say that J.J. Dillon, Gary Hart, and Skandar Akbar didn't qualify for this list as it was WWE-only. It's not clear if Paul Ellering and Oliver Humperdink's non-WWE careers were considered. As much as I like Hump, he is not one of the greatest WWE managers. Same for Ellering. Ellering's time with LOD in WWE was not memorable. Nor was his time with D.O.A. very memorable.

Okay, that makes sense. I don't completely agree with the list, but under those circumstances, I don't despise it.

It is true that the best part of Humperdink's career was outside the WWF.

[The Heenan Family]

Jun 17, 2011 11:23:49 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Jun 17, 2011 10:47:46 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

25. The Genius
24. Marlena
23. Michael P.S. Hayes
22. Armando Alejandro Estrada
21. Teddy Long
20. Sir Oliver Humperdink
19. Stephanie McMahon
18. Harvey Whippleman
17. The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBase
16. Slick
15. Vickie Guerrero
14. Paul Ellering
13. Miss Elizabeth
12. Paul Heyman
11. Sunny
10. Mr Fuji
9. James E Cornette
8. Arnold Skaaland
7. Paul Bearer
6. The Grand Wizard
5. Sensational Sherri
4. Captain Lou Albano
3. Classy Freddie Blassie
2. Jimmy Hart
1. Bobby the Brain Heenan



I would have picked Wild Red Berry, Afa, General Adnan, Frenchy Martin, Bobby Davis, or Luna Vachon over Michael Hayes.

Paul Ellering's WWE runs in comparison to Slicks are a world apart. Slick should be higher.

EDIT: Ha. Just noticed James Dudley isn't on the list. WWE usually loves to flaunt his "managerial" work of Bobo Brazil to help support his Hall of Fame induction.

At least Ellering had LOD. As huge of a Slick fan I am, he did not have that mega name that is LOD. He had The Twin towers, and not much else. Yes they were hot in the late 80s, but never LOD hot. Hell, the picture they use for his is with Herc & Jerk.

Yes but Ellering didn't join the LOD in the WWE until 1992. He spent a few months over the summer with them but their first WWE stint went largely without him. Then when he returned in 98 (I think it was 98) he turned on LOD and join DOA for a fraction of a second. I don't think that compares with Slick's 7 year run in the WWE. Ellering's career outside the WWE with the Road Warriors was good, but if we're just counting WWE time Slick beats him easily.

Also, what difference does the picture make? For Jimmy Hart they used the Fabulous Rougeaus and not Money Inc, Greg the Hammer Valentine, Honky Tonk Man, or Hulk Hogan. For Harvey Whippleman they used Mr Hughes who he managed for a month or two.



I just noticed that Luscious Johnny V didn't make the list. He managed the Dream Team for quite a bit. Valentine, Beefcake, and Dino Bravo. His impact was greater than Michael Hayes.