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Authorities in WWE shape the foundation of their shows, such as RAW and SmackDown. An authority figure like Vince McMahon in 1998 boosted the ratings for RAW. In WWE, authority figures usually play the heel who torment the babyfaces. Whether it's Vince targeting top babyfaces Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, or John Cena, the WWE Universe is always up on their feet when watching the product. A heel figure would also side with the heels—for instance, Eric Bischoff siding with Triple H or Vickie Guerrero helping out on Edge's behalf.
Sometimes the authority figure can be a face who brings fairness to the brand. Former SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long is a prime example of an authority coming down on the heel wrestlers on his show, such as Kurt Angle, JBL, or Booker T.
Although authority figures have memorable moments, there are times where specific authority figures would last a short time in their role. A lot of these authority figures don't even stay a year on television. Here are five times where authority figures in WWE didn't last long on television.
#5 WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon as SmackDown General Manager
When the WWE decided to do their first brand extension, Vince McMahon decided to appoint General Managers for RAW and SmackDown. McMahon named Eric Bischoff as RAW General Manager and his daughter, Stephanie, as SmackDown's General Manager.
Stephanie McMahon made history in 2002 when she became the first General Manager of SmackDown. Stephanie's run lasted from mid 2002 until late 2003. Throughout her time as GM, Vince would often override Stephanie's decisions that affected the WWE Championship, which he wanted Brock Lesnar to hold. Stephanie's role as SmackDown General Manager would end after losing in an "I Quit Match" to her father.
#4 WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle as SmackDown General Manager
After WrestleMania 20, Mr. McMahon decided to initiate a second WWE draft to shake up RAW and SmackDown. SmackDown received a profound change to not only its roster but also for management. When then SmackDown GM Paul Heyman decided to quit after being drafted to RAW, SmackDown needed a new General Manager.
Mr. McMahon decided to hire Kurt Angle as the new General Manager of SmackDown. During Angle's first month as the boss, SmackDown would lose one of their top stars, Big Show. The night Big Show quit SmackDown, Show choke slammed Angle off of a balcony. This led to Angle being in a wheelchair for a few months.
Throughout Angle's run as GM, Angle had a vendetta against SmackDown's top babyfaces, such as Eddie Guerrero and John Cena. Angle would strip Cena of his United States Championship and cost Guerrero the WWE Championship.
After months of Angle's abuses of power, McMahon finally became so enraged that it led him to fire Angle as General Manager. McMahon would then reinstate Angle as a SmackDown competitor. Not only would McMahon reinstate Angle, but he also put Angle in a match with Eddie Guerrero at that year's SummerSlam.
#3 Retired WWE Wrestler Paige as SmackDown General Manager
Paige had a rough 2018 in WWE. She had no choice but to retire from in-ring competition due to her nagging neck injury. After having to retire the night after WrestleMania 34, Paige faced a life-changing moment for her WWE career.
The next night on SmackDown Live, Daniel Bryan decided to resign as SmackDown General Manager after deciding to come out of in-ring retirement. Bryan's in-ring return prompted SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon to hire a replacement. This replacement ended up being Paige, which was also the first time she became an authority figure in the WWE. Even on her first night, she created an epic main event that featured SmackDown's top talent: AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan.
Paige's run as GM lasted from mid-2018 until late 2019. Paige is also one of the few on-screen authority figures who did not get fired on television. Her dismissal as GM came after WWE decided to remove on-screen authority figures when SmackDown relocated to the FOX network.
#2 Retired WWE Wrestler AJ Lee as RAW General Manager
When AJ Lee was made the RAW General Manager in 2012, she didn't realize being General Manager would be so overwhelming. Some of the people that were opposing her o nair included CM Punk, Paul Heyman, and Vickie Guerrero. Punk and Heyman would always do whatever it took to get Punk out of a championship match. As for Vickie, she would constantly provoke AJ Lee with the goal of getting her removed from the GM position.
AJ dealt with multiple WWE Superstars leaving, such as Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho, and Jack Swagger. Other memorable moments AJ would have as GM included pairing Daniel Bryan and Kane as tag team partners, eventually becoming known as Team Hell No.
In the end, Vickie would get what she wanted. AJ eventually had to resign as RAW GM after Vickie reported to the Board of Directors about fraternizing with John Cena. AJ's resignation also led to Vince appointing Vickie as the Managing Supervisor for RAW.
#1 WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart as RAW General Manager
As WWE was fading away from having weekly guest hosts on RAW, Mr. McMahon decided to hire a new RAW general manager in 2010. McMahon would hire the man who defeated him at WrestleMania earlier that year, Bret Hart.
One of Hart's main duties as GM was to find three top contenders for the WWE Championship. Hart would have a short run as the RAW General Manager as it lasted for just about one month.
Though Hart was named the RAW General Manager, guest hosts and special episodes were still occurring. Ashton Kutcher would appear the week after Bret's debut as GM, while a viewer's choice episode took place the following week.
During the viewer's choice episode of RAW, Wade Barrett and the rest of the NXT rookies made a statement to the WWE locker room. Season one winner of NXT, Wade Barrett, demanded Hart sign the NXT rookies.
When Hart refused to sign the rookies and decided to fire Wade Barrett, he would get a massive beatdown from the NXT rookies in return. These men would eventually become known as The Nexus.
Due to Hart failing to maintain control of RAW, Vince decided to terminate Hart as the RAW GM and instead appointed an anonymous RAW General Manager.
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