The Manager...
 

Was thinking about this topic while watching Raw, and realising how much I am enjoying Zeb Coulter. His reactions to things that are happening around him are great and he carries himself as this harmless older guy, even down to the way he walks and looks around nervously. That is, until it's time for a cheap shot. Think he deserves great credit for making Swagger look so much more legitimate just by being his mouthpiece and giving him a purpose.

Obv we can also talk about Heyman with both Punk and Lesnar and how he has helped them.

I am liking the posse round Dolph as well because it gives legitimate obstacles that people need to get past to beat him. I know people suggest that it makes him look weaker, but I think it makes for a unique chracter and situation.

Ricardo Rodriguez def helps ADR as a face too because he is so likeable and humorous.

My thoughts on this were really about managers in general though. I really see other opportunities for managers enhancing other talents and bringing them to the next level. I remember Bobby Heenan in the past and Jim Cornette and they really knew how to cover for weaknesses and add both heat to their guys and tension to big matches.

Who do you think, in today's landscape, could really do with a manager, and who would you stick with him and why? Any interesting characters you see potential for?

Can anyone think of any agents or anything that could come in like Zeb and make a difference to anyone?

Would anyone add any superstars to either Zeb or Heyman to give them the rub that they needed?

I thought the posse was alright until Dolph could not beat Cena no matter how much help he got from Big E.

One thing I thought of was putting Zack Ryder with Zeb. Have him get beat by a few foreign wrestlers and give him that chip on his shoulder about wrestlers coming from outside of the US and stealing his opportunities. Zeb could give him a more serious edge to his character and some direction and his new found anger and aggression in the ring could build him up again.

Could easily build into a story where he is used as Swagger and Zeb's sacrifice lackey, where he is always left to take the RKO's and Brogue Kicks while the other two get away. Tease resentment over time and you could have a nice feud with a nice story behind it for Summerslam.

Yeah, I think they just need to find the right balance with it, but it does make for unique situations and allows Dolph to get out of situations with the belt without hurting top faces.

Would be nice to see him get a few stronger wins though, but that could still come, especially if Big E has his own matches to think about.

Personally, I feel that managers can add a lot and I'm happy to see the Ziggler Crew, Ricardo, and Zeb stepping up and being entertaining and adding rather than detracting from their respective wrestlers.

I like the concept especially with so many guys in the company currently without the chops to be their own mouth piece. Barrett, Jericho, Cena, Sandow and Punk all have the ability, but guys like Ryder, Kofi, Tons of Funk, Darren Young(fuck he's terrible), and even Cesaro or Fandango could use that extra "umph" to help get them over more. Swagger was the perfect candidate for something like this and it has worked wonders, just think about what it could do for the other guys. Female or veteran male, I think anything would spice up the drudgery and treadmill of mediocrity that some of the guys seem to be stuck on character-wise.

Zeb Coulter has been doing a really nice job. So has Heyman, but he's always had a good rep for that sort of thing. I've said it in another thread, but Fandango could really use a manager. His dance thing and mannerisms are enough to draw some heat, but if they insist on giving him promo time, someone else needs to pick up the mic. The crowd is flat from the time his music shuts off to the time it starts back up. He should be cutting the arrogant cocky promos similar to Mr. Perfect or Rick Rude instead of this tired schtick about no no no it's FanDANgo.

I'd love to see more managers in wrestling. Hell WWE could throw some of the girls with guys who can't really cut it on the mic to help the guys get over and let the girls get more screen time.

Dolph's posse is great as well though I'd have preferred they give him someone who didn't have as much potential to be his bodyguard. Big E just has so much potential and I feel like Dolph's holding him back a bit.

Zeb and Swagger are perfect together. It's just like something out of the old school. Del Rio and Ricardo are the same way, just feels right.

I'd love to see more managers implemented. There's just so much talent on the roster not being used because WWE seems to think that everyone has to be the total package. Guys like Cesaro could be main eventers with the right mouthpiece, and guys like Slater who are just floating around in the jobber pool could really become something special as managers.

Cesaro needs the right mouthpiece... hmm... Who could possibly work well with someone as European as Antonio Cesar... Oh!

Yeah, I'd love like a "United Nations" group under Regal. Cesaro, McIntyre, Barrett.

I'd throw Pac in with that list.

Or Adrian Neville I think he's going by, him and his tag partner actually.

Sure, why not. Take Barrett out though.

I dunno, I think Cesaro is a bit forced in this situation as the other guys are all British. Although a British stable would be a great way to get McIntyre taken seriously again. Have always enjoyed his agression in the ring.

Think Cesaro can look so strong, powerful and athletic by himself that he doesn't need to be in a group like that to seem like a threat, just a mouthpiece like people have been saying...

A new character like Zeb, accept with (fake) European roots might be the way to go...

I'd keep him in as the 'crown jewel' of the group, I know but I couldn't think of a better phrase, even have the group act some what informally like early DX/NAO where it's more an alliance of convenience and common interest than a fully fledged stable. I think Barrett needs to be treated as being above being roped into multi man feuds but if he's pushed as a World Title contender it adds credibility to the group in a way.

Hate those "we hate America and like each other because we are foreign" serious heel stables. It was fairly amusing when Lance Storm had a load of Americans pretending they were Canadian in a stable though.

I'm not saying a full stable, just Regal is impressed with Cesaro and takes him in as a mentor.

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Stick him with anyone, I don't give a shit. I just want to see more promos