Andy Kaufman's WWF manager?

[horsemen4ever]

I had this thought yesterday, and the what Randy Savage mangager thread inspired me to actully address this. Some of you may or may not know before Andy Kaufman worked in Memphus, he actully talked about coming to the WWF and that fell though. If that happened, who would be his manager?

You had three choices, the Grand Wizzard, Freedie Blassie, and Lou Albano.

I don't think Albano was a good match for him, he at the time managed wild men, monsters, savages, etc., Freedie Blassie could have workd them, but I think the Grand Wizzard would have been the best choice. He managed two WWWF champions, and he would be closest thing to being Jimmy Hart. He had that manager of stars that could work the "I am a big star" gimmick.

Now the biggest problem could be who would play the Jerry Lawler role, Bruno was retired, Backland, no I just don't see it, Paterson, na. So there was no real babyface that had enough charasmatic to be his rival, so I think they would have no choice but to bring Bruno out of retirement. Maybe get Dusty Rhodes to come back to New York for this.

[Digital Witness]

Since Jimmy Hart worked with Kaufman in Memphis, its possible that Hart would have made his way to New York sooner as part of the deal.

As for a babyface to work with Kaufman, Sgt. Slaughter might have been a good call. I can't really see Big Dust back in New York working that program. Would Piper have been available around that time? Would Lawler have been interested in going up north back then to work with him?

[horsemen4ever]

Sgt. Slaughter wasn't a face until 1984. Remember Kaufman's Memphus was 1981-83. By 84 he was on death's door already.

[Deleted]

If you want a face to go up against Kaufman, I'd pick Tito Santana.

[Joe Neglia]

Absolutely Blassie. They did stuff together already, only makes sense.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Freddie Blassie was my thought. As Madison mentioned, Kaufman worked with him on My Breakfast with Blassie, a parody of My Dinner with Andre. Blassie was also the 'Hollywood Fashion Plate' and Kaufman was the 'man from Hollywood.'

I think he could have worked with the Grand Wizard as well, though Ernie Roth would die in 1983 so it wouldn't have lasted long.

[Deleted]

A big part of what makes Kaufman's work in Memphis great is that it happened in Memphis with those old school Southern fans. While I have no doubt it would have played well in New York, those fans + the King's god-like status in Memphis really puts it over the top.

As for the question definitely Blassie or the Grand Wizard, I'd probably go with the Wizard though.

[horsemen4ever]

Kaufman was forced to "retire" from wrestling after Thanksgiving weekend when his family noticed something, and he got digonosed with cancer, so he wouldn't have anything late 83 and 84. And the Grand Wizzard died in October 1983, which was not long before Kaufman was diognosed with cancer and his career was effectively over.

Anyway Blassie would have worked great, I forgot that they worked together in My Breakfest With Blassie, as for weather it would have worked in New York, just as much as in the south.

Kaufman was one of the stars of Taxi, a show set in New York city, that was filmed on the west coast, he could have used that fact to antagonise the fans. "I am the star of Taxi, a show that is set in New York city, but we don't shoot there, we shoot it in Hollywood, because New York is a crime polluded ugly garbage sezpool that I or anyone in Hollywood want to work there." He could have even put in some anti Tony Danza in his promos, because Danza was from New York, I think Danny Devitto was also from New York. He could have mentioned them in his anti New York promos.

One thing Memphus had the WWF lacked and would have made it less enjoyable, they didn't have an announcer as good as Lance Russell to really sell this. Lance really helped make the Lawler / Kaufman feud even better, I don't think Vince McMahon or Gorilla Monsoon could have matched that.

If this happened in the WWF, Kaufman would have been in the WWE Hall Of Fame long ago. I don't know why he isn't in the celebirty hall of fame, maybe something to do with the Memphis library, or just the family won't agree to it.

[Todd Pettengill]

The Kaufman-Blassie thing was so well remembered that REM put it in a song.
I think Lou could've also worked well as Andy's manager as well. Lou was great at selling ridiculous angles & he also worked the "I'm from NY," gimmick.

[Digital Witness]

I'm thinking around the time Slaughter had his feud with Patterson. If Kaufman was interested at that time, it might have worked.

[andrew8798]

Always Wonder if Vince Sr would have said yes how well would have Andy had done

[Todd Pettengill]

Sept 28, 2013 20:33:30 GMT -5 andrew8798 said:

Always Wonder if Vince Sr would have said yes how well would have Andy had done

It's weird when you think about it. WWWF/WWF under Vince Sr. was already all about over the top booking... But, an actor? Heck no!

[horsemen4ever]

I am not sure if he could have done the intergender matches with the rules of the New York stare athletic commison. Vince Jr. did take control in June 1982 so who knows if that would have mattered.

[Deleted]

Sept 27, 2013 13:56:57 GMT -5 @akeem said:

A big part of what makes Kaufman's work in Memphis great is that it happened in Memphis with those old school Southern fans. While I have no doubt it would have played well in New York, those fans + the King's god-like status in Memphis really puts it over the top.

This.

I don't think, in any other time, or any other place, it goes over as well as it did in Memphis.

[Todd Pettengill]

Sept 29, 2013 11:07:20 GMT -5 horsemen4ever said:

I am not sure if he could have done the intergender matches with the rules of the New York stare athletic commison. Vince Jr. did take control in June 1982 so who knows if that would have mattered.

He probably could've continued to do it in the bars, but probably not an arena.