One of the most shocking moments in wrestling historyBeing an on-air WWE General manager is not really the best role/job in the world. The concept as such was introduced in the 21st century with the brand extension and division between Smackdown and RAW taking precedence. Nobody has ever been able to live upto the days when this concept debuted. Since then it has been plagued by the memory of the Anonymous RAW GM. It isn’t the best way to remember a gimmick. But throughout history there have been a few general managers who did a great job at running the show. Most of them were heels but some worked as babyfaces as well.Here are the Top 5 General Managers in WWE History:
#1 Eric Bischoff
This was a shocker. Nobody, and I mean nobody could believe that Vince McMahon would hire the man who gave him one heck of a competition during the late 90s. WCW and WWE were involved in a ratings war and Bischoff was going all guns blazing at trampling Vince’s company. So, it was surprising to see Bischoff being a part of Raw in that capacity. During his time he introduced the successful concept of the Elimination Chamber and played a great heel. He certainly was a ratings magnet. he even got decimated by Stone Cold, the man he fired from WCW.
He was fired too later on, in the most humilitating fashion on television but his role as a GM still remains the best in that category.
#2 Stephanie McMahon
When Vince McMahon introduced his daughter as the first GM of Smackdown, nobody could have believed that the ‘Billion Dollar Princess’, the spoilt brat of the McMahon clan can ever go over as a babyface. But she did and convincingly so. During this time, storyline wise she divorced Triple H, went into cut throat competition with her Raw counterpart Eric Bischoff and hired one legged wrestler Zach Gowen. She took on Brock Lesnar, Sable and her own father in competitive matches.
She was a force to be reckoned with.
She wasn’t the lady you wanted to mess with and she played being a bayface authority figure quite well.
#3 John Lauranaitis
His voice wasn’t the first thing you’d want to hear when the show starts and neither do you want to pronounce his whole name and he is an infamous backstage personality about whom not many have kind words to say. But the thing is when it came to playing heel authority figures, Lauranaitis was quite effective. He even delivered in his match against John Cena in the main event of a PPV. And how accurate was Cena’s impersonation of the GM’s voice?!
The ‘People Power’ movement was hilarious and the pinnacle of his success as a heel manager.
#4 Theodore Long
Well, he wasn’t the greatest General manager of all time and his concept of turning everything into a tag match is an infamous concept that still lives on but Theodore Long was a great babyface. He was going all ‘Holla’ everywhere he went and was quite adorable when it came to dancing his way out to the ring.
He was a quintessential babyface. And till date remains one of the most memorable Smackdown general managers.
It was quite heartbreaking when Aksana broke his heart.That’s how much of a good babyface he was.
#5 Paul Heyman
The reason why Paul Heyman is last on this list is because his tenure was quite short. He was replaced by Kurt Angle soon after. The thing is he assumed the position after Stephanie Mcmahon lost to her father at No Mercy 2003. It was during his time that the draft lottery concept took place. And it was entertaining to the core. But that very night Heyman himself was drafted to Raw which led him to quit.
What also should be noted is that Heyman was the Head writer of Smackdown at the time and under his vision, Eddie and Chavo Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Edge, Rey Mysterio and Kurt Angle were all successful.
Heyman’s role is great for his backstage prowess as well.
