10 Best Options for RAW or SmackDown General Managers

As of this writing, WWE has no official General Manager's for RAW and SmackDown. Kurt Angle, Baron Corbin, Shane McMahon and Paige were all serving as authority figures on RAW and SmackDown this time last year, but when change was announced to be coming last December, they were all removed from those positions and it was seemingly hinted that the McMahon family would have more of a presence on TV instead of having General Managers.

While this was true to a certain extent for Shane McMahon, he would still take more of a step back from that role as he feuded with The Miz and Kevin Owens. As of now, it looks like no one will be taking charge of either of WWE's main brands. Reportedly, it was actually Paul Heyman who wanted the General Manager role to be off TV, as he allegedly feels it has been played out and over exposed throughout the years. However I still think General Managers are needed.

I really don't think the General Manager TV role has been played out, it just needs the right people to play them and the right ideas for them, because we have seen it work out so well in the past when the like of Paul Heyman, Eric Bischoff, Vickie Guerrero and even Stephanie McMahon, had TV authority. Hopefully, WWE will realize this to and if they do, these are who I feel are the top ten best candidates to be the TV General Managers of WWE RAW or SmackDown.

#10 Various WWE Legends As Guest Hosts

Back in 2009 when now U.S President Donald Trump 'purchased' WWE RAW from Vince McMahon, one of the changes he made was for a Celebrity to be a weekly one night only General Manager, as he was too busy to appear every week. When Vince McMahon bought RAW back from the future President, he decided to keep Trump's idea of a celebrity guest host.

While the gimmick was often loathed by fans, it was still often well received when the weekly guest host was a WWE legend from the past. I think a celebrity guest host angle would work as badly as it did back then, but I do believe a weekly guest host spot from a WWE legend would go over very well today.

WWE have a long list to choose from to, enough to work very well up until the point where they finally decide on a permanent idea for the General Manager position.

#9 The McMahon Family

With great and poor results from the past

The most common authority figures WWE has had over the years has been the McMahon family themselves, which has ranged from mediocre to great success in the past.

The late 90's and into early 2001 saw this at its most successful and popular with Vince McMahon embracing his character following Montreal and into his iconic feud with Steve Austin, up to the entertaining McMahon/Helmsley's regime. Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon would also keep up the great quality of their roles on Smackdown in 2002 - 2003, before most of them returned again from 2005 until 2009 with mixed results.

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon had a large presence on WWE TV from 2013 until 2016 as 'The Authority', which saw an epic feud with Daniel Bryan, as well as mediocre ones with the Big Show and Roman Reigns. From 2016 until earlier this month, Shane McMahon had served as the leading authority figure in WWE, which also brought in mixed results.

So overall, I guess you could look at the McMahon's as TV authority figures as having provided far more great entertainment, than bad. And this is why I think it could work again. I will easily admit that Shane O'Mac had become overbearing in his heel role and Stephanie McMahon always seems to place the spotlight on herself, but today is a new day in WWE and it could bring in more viewers with a McMahon family vs. Superstar(s) feud.

#8 Mick Foley

Mick Foley is another WWE legend who has served in this position on more than one occasion, with mixed results.

Following his first 'retirement' in 2000, Foley was appointed as the Commissionaire of the WWE that summer. This was an extremely entertaining run, with many comedic moments. He would go onto serve as Co-General Manager of RAW with Eric Bischoff in December 2003, although this was more so used as a promotional tool for his feud with Randy Orton, so no one really looks at it as being very good or bad.

Foley would join TNA Wrestling in 2008 and held an authority figure like position for the better part of a year and was generally entertaining. Upon the news of the second ever brand split back in 2016, Foley was appointed General Manager of RAW, serving under director Stephanie McMahon. The three month run is looked back on as being rather poor.

Despite his 2016 run not living up to fans hopes, Foley is still damn good at what he does and a very entertaining authority figure when given good material, and he could be again.

#7 Kurt Angle

At the time of writing, Kurt Angle was actually serving as WWE RAW General Manager this time last year, having been put in the position on the post-WrestleMania episode of RAW in 2017. Although he had technically been replaced by Baron Corbin in the position, the storyline was supposed to eventually see Angle take back control of the brand.

However all these plans were changed last December when Vince McMahon, Shane, Stephanie and Triple H took part in that bizarre segment where they apologized for WWE's lackluster programming and announced they were taking back control, with no General Manager's.

To be honest, I didn't really think Kurt Angle had lived up to everyone's expectations of him as GM, in fact many look back at his four month run as GM of SmackDown in 2004 as being better. However, I do think he deserves another chance. He wasn't the best GM ever, but he was far from the worst to. Angle is also still a hugely popular name that fans would still love to see on WWE TV in some kind of capacity and I think he would do a far better job this time around.

#6 Sting

The 'Icon' Sting is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. No one ever thought he would ever make it to WWE but he shocked the wrestling world in 2014 when he made his debut at Survivor Series. Sadly, Sting's run with WWE would be cut short as he was forced to retire just under a year later after suffering a neck injury in a match with Seth Rollins.

Following his Hall of Fame induction in 2016, Sting has almost been a ghost on WWE TV with only having made one official appearance since. I think Sting is someone who a lot of WWE fans would still love to see make regular appearances on WWE TV and I can't think of a better role for him than as a General manager. Although his feelings may have changed since, back in 2017 when Kurt angle was appointed RAW GM, the Stinger said during a Facebook Live Q&A that would accept a GM position on WWE TV if he was asked.

So if Sting is up for it, I know a large majority of fans would be up for it, then hopefully WWE will think of him, should the time come that they need a new one.

#5 Jeff Jarrett

Jeff Jarrett would be an interesting choice, but I think a good one to.

No one ever expected to see Jeff Jarrett ever make an appearance for WWE ever again, let alone working for them and being in the Hall of Fame, but here we are. I would love to see Jarrett as a WWE TV GM for a few reasons. When ol' Double J briefly returned to WWE TV last January, his appearances were well received by the fans, so I don't think the WWE faithful would have too much of an issue with seeing him back on a full time bases.

As the founder of TNA Impact Wrestling, Jarrett would eventually find himself serving in an authority figure style TV role for the company in 2008 and he did pretty well with it. I think he could do a great job as GM of RAW or SmackDown if given the opportunity and much like former GM Kurt Angle, he could even get physical once in a while, which would bring great entertainment.

#4 Stone Cold Steve Austin

The legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin went on a near two year drought on making appearances on TV for WWE. Following the 25 Anniversary episode of WWE RAW, Austin wouldn't appear on WWE TV again until the RAW Reunion special this past July.

No matter how long Austin is away for WWE TV, whether it be that near two years or when he appeared on RAW in Madison Square Garden a few weeks after RAW Reunion, he never fails to erect the biggest pop of the night and some impressive ratings for the show. So really, Austin seems like an extremely suitable candidate for this position. I will admit however that Austin's Stunning a heel star and beer drinking celebration would grow tiresome in consecutive weeks, but that doesn't mean their wouldn't be a solution.

Steve Austin served as the co-General Manager of RAW back in 2003 with Eric Bischoff. the partnership and feud between them was highly entertaining, and although Bischoff was a hell of a character, I think Austin could have a similar rapport with someone else, if given could material to work with. So as iconic as Austin is, if he was to ever return as GM, he would do best as a co-GM, and that result would have everyone win.

#3 Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan has been one of the most polarizing figures in wrestling history in recent years due to the controversies of his personal life.

Thankfully, today, Hogan is at piece with everything and everyone and has mended his relationship with Vince McMahon and WWE once again. The Hulkster is currently working for WWE under a Legends contract, which mostly has him make occasional appearances on TV, as well as projects for the WWE Network. Considering Hogan has reportedly a bigger contract than most other legends, they could be doing so much more with him, and that is being the General Manager of WWE RAW or SmackDown.

So, why should Hulk Hogan be a GM? Well, Hogan is still simply just that, Hulk Hogan. He may have had hos controversies but he is still incredibly popular. More that half a Million fans seemingly tuned into WWE RAW for his particular segment along with Ric Flair on RAW a few weeks ago, and his most recent appearance on SmackDown received a big pop, and that was only via Skype!

And we have also already seen Hulk Hogan excel in this role before when he was the General Manager of Impact Wrestling from 2010 until 2013. Hogan would seemingly do it and it looks like the fans want it to, so why not, Brother?

#2 Paul Heyman

This was is actually an ironic entrant because it is reportedly Paul Heyman himself who believes the TV General Manager role has been heavily played out over the years. Despite this, he is arguably the best fit.

Paul Heyman is arguably the best non-wrestler WWE TV character in history. The genius behind ECW, WWE creative in 2001 - 2003 and on RAW today, Heyman's TV presence is every bit as phenomenal as his work behind the scenes. Before, during and after his various times as Brock Lesnar's advocate, Paul Heyman had also served as the General Manager of SmackDown and the WWE ECW brand.

Heyman was a highly entertaining heel authority figure, taking over where Vince McMahon had left off when he departed TV as a regular. This is where I think he would still be best suited today. Yes, he does still serve as advocate for Brock Lesnar, but Heyman is such a remarkable presence on TV that we need more of him, and the most consistent would be returning to his former fabulous role as GM.

It would work well with real life to as everyone already knows his actual position with WWE as Executive Director of RAW. Everything about this just fits into place.

#1 Eric Bischoff

As of this writing, Eric Bischoff is less than a week removed as Executive Director of WWE SmackDown and replaced by Bruce Prichard.

WWE announced that Bischoff would be the new Executive Director of SmackDown this past June, and his role was to act as an intermediary between WWE and FOX, as well as overseeing creative and having some input of his own. According to FOX, Bischoff was released since "Significant promises were made that we don't feel were upheld".

While things didn't work out for Bischoff behind the scenes, I would love if WWE maintained his services for a different role, a TV role. Other than Vince McMahon as an overall authority figure for WWE, Eric Bischoff is the best WWE TV General Manager in history. His run from 2002 - 2005 as RAW GM was truly excellent. He was incredibly entertaining and had many memorable moments and feuds with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Stephanie McMahon, Paul Heyman, Theodore Long, John Cena and more.

And it isn't surprising how great he was on RAW as he had also been tremendous in the same authority figure role in WCW and after his WWE run in TNA. Eric Bischoff was just born to play that character. As a big fan of the Bisch, it is a major shame he is no longer with WWE, but if he was to ever return, I don't think anyone would have any problem with the best GM in history returning to that role.