Instead of choosing who I felt were the top five managers of all time, I gave the task to our Facebook followers. As the Facebook page admin, I made a post asking our readers to list their top five wrestling managers. I took the lists of 24 commenters and applied a point system in the following manner:
1st = 5 Points – 2nd = 4 Points – 3rd = 3 Points – 4th = 2 Points – 5th = 1 Point.
The results can be seen below. I did not include managers who received five points or less. Noticeably, names like Paul Ellering, J.J. Dillon, Trish Stratus, Slick and many others did not make the honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Mr Fuji – 6 points – Fuji managed many wrestlers, including Demolition, George Steele, The British Bulldog, Owen Hart and Yokozuna.
Dutch Mantel/Zeb Colter – 7 Points – Mantel is known for managing Sting and The Ultimate Warrior in their early years. He also gave Steve Austin his ring name, booked many shows, and continues to manage in todays WWE.
Freddie Blassie – 9 Points – Blassie was a charismatic manager and is often underrated. Among the men he managed were Nikolai Volkoff, Blackjack Mulligan, High Chief Peter Maivia, “The Crippler” Ray Stevens, Adrian Adonis, Jesse Ventura, Dick Murdoch, The Iron Sheik, Swede Hanson, Killer Khan, George ‘The Animal’ Steele, Professor Tanaka, Mr. Fuji, Victor Rivera and Hulk Hogan. Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki.
Captain Lou Albano – 10 Points – Lou can be credited with being one of the greatest managers ever, and should have received more votes. His role in helping to bring wrestling into the mainstream by collaborating with famous singer Cyndi Lauper (starring in the music video “Girls just want to have fun”.), as well as managing a vast list of names, ensures he will go down as one of the greatest. I won’t list all the wrestlers he managed, however, in his 42 year career, he managed 15 different tag teams and four singles wrestlers to championship gold.
Sherri Martel – 13 Points – She has a successful wrestling career, and after retiring from the ring, she continued to manage in the WWF. She managed wrestlers such as Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, and Shawn Michaels. She appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s. In the latter, Martel acted as the manager for the tag team Harlem Heat.
Remember, all of these choices were made by the Facebook followers, not myself. Counting down from #5.
#5 Jim Cornette – 37 Points
Jim Cornette managed a huge list of names, and is credited with being one of the best talkers in the industry. His most success was The Midnight Express, one of the grestest tag teams of the 1980’s.
#4 Paul Bearer/Percy Pringle – 38 Points
Managed The Assassin, Blackjack Mulligan, Buzz Sawyer, The Missing Link, Dingo Warrior, Don Jardine, Eric Embry, The Executioner, Great Kabuki, Jack Victory, Kane, Koko B. Ware, Kamala, Lex Luger. Mankind, Matt Borne, Sugar Bear Harris/Kamala, Ted Arcidi, Rick Rude, The Undertaker, Vader, Brian Cage, Shaun Ricker & Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Despite all the names he managed, the fans will always remember him as Paul Bearer, the keeper of The Undertaker’s urn.
#3 Jimmy Hart – 49 Points
When you see Jimmy Hart, you automatically think “manager”. He has managed many professional wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart (no relation) and Jim Neidhart (The Hart Foundation), Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Jerry “The King” Lawler, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, King Kong Bundy, Earthquake, Dino Bravo, the Nasty Boys, The Giant, and The Honky Tonk Man. Without a doubt, one of the greatest managers ever.
#2 Paul Heyman/Paul E. Dangerously – 59 Points
Wrestlers managed: Tommy Rich, Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose, Colonel DeBeers, Adrian Adonis, Mark Callous, Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Rey Mysterio, Larry Zbyszko, Bobby Eaton, Madusa, Don Muraco, Jimmy Snuka, Eddie Gilbert, Dark Patriot, Sabu, Taz/The Tazmaniac, 911, Brock Lesnar, Big Show, Kurt Angle, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, A-Train, Heidenreich, Rob Van Dam, Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones, Rhyno, Tommy Dreamer, Bob Orton, Test, Hardcore Holly, CM Punk, Curtis Axel, Ryback & Cesaro.
Tag Teams managed: Samoan Swat Team (Fatu and Samu), The Dangerous Alliance (Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, Larry Zbyszko, Bobby Eaton, Steve Austin, and Madusa), Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Big Show, Shelton Benjamin, and Charlie Haas),,, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von, and Spike Dudley) & Rybaxel (Curtis Axel and Ryback).
Can anyone doubt the king of extreme? He has managed so many legendary names and groups. He was there during CM Punk’s historic title reign, and did you know? His client … Brock Lesnar, conquered the Undertaker’s undefeated streak at Wrestlemania! He will always be the “The One Behind The One In 21 And 1”.
#1 Bobby “The Brain” Heenan – 91 Points
Best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was known for his skill in drawing heel heat for himself and his wrestlers, and for his on-screen repartee with Gorilla Monsoon as a color commentator. World Wrestling Entertainment described Heenan as “one of sports-entertainment’s best loved legends”.
Wrestlers managed:
Nick Bockwinkel, Ray “The Crippler” Stevens, Angelo Poffo, Bobby Duncum Sr., Blackjack Lanza, Blackjack Mulligan, Adrian Adonis, Big John Studd, Ken Patera, King Kong Bundy, André the Giant, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, Don Muraco (For one night against Hulk Hogan), Harley Race, The Islanders (Haku and Tama), Hercules Hernandez, The Barbarian, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, High Chief Sivi Afi, Red Rooster, Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, The Brooklyn Brawler, Ric Flair, Lex Luger, The Missing Link, Nikolai Volkoff, Colt Cabana, Jimmy Jacobs, Nigel McGuinness, CM Punk, Baron von Raschke, Ernie Ladd, Dick Warren, Killer Karl Kox & Masked Superstar.
Bobby Heenan redefined and continues to be the standard bearer for what a wrestling manager should be. Will anyone ever be able to capture the magic Bobby Heenan did? Only time will tell. Thanks for reading.
