Best and Worst Valet/ Managers
 

So in your opinions, what makes a valet or manager (I guess you can lump bodyguard in there too) good? Who have been some of the best, and who have been some of the worst in pro wrestling?

Some of the worse I can think of were the Honky Tonk Man (just too much of a personality to be just a manger), Bam Neely and the Main Event Mafia Security (no point in having non threatening looking security)

Jenna Morasca (don't care enough to look up how to spell her name) was completly worthless, Sakamoto did nothing for Tensai (never cut a promo, never worked a televised match either I think) and I always had a love/ hate relationship with Bill Alfonzo....

Captain Lou Albano was the complete opposite of what a good manager should be. Spent way too much time getting himself over instead of his guys.

Heenan was the best ever. He was a compliment to his guys and helped make guys who weren't interesting, into interesting guys. Andre's heel turn couldn't have went as well without him.

lol, Bam Neely

here's a few of what I'd call the worst

Downtown Bruno aka Harvey Wippleman
JD Costello
Arnold Skaaland
The Cosmic Commander
Paul Jones - great wrestler, awful manager.
The Coach John Tolos
Mama Benjamin
Luscious Johnny V

Mama Benjamin was hilarious

Sapphire.

I'll just throw that name in there and let you all decide which end of the spectrum she belongs on.

Was coming here to say pretty much this. Also, the fact that Heenan became not only synonymous with what a manager should be, he, at times, had a stable without actually having a stable... that is to say, every person or team was an island unto themselves most of the time, unlike, say, The 4 Horsemen, who pretty much always appeared together in one way or another. However, anyone in the Heenan Family could potentially enter into a feud (read: be given something to do) for no other reason than his affiliation with Bobby. You didn't have to see his clients every week to remain familiar with the fact that he was their cornerman, sort of like how Heyman is with Punk, Lesnar, and Henning* right now. We know they're all "Paul Heyman guys", but Punk didn't run in on Lesnar/HHH or have Brock come down and destroy Hunter on RAW for Curtis to pick up the scraps instead of Ringbellgate. It was totally possible, and even feisable, but not neccessary. They all are their own guys with their own agendas who all happen to have the same manager...

I got off track. Heenan was a god.

As far as bad managers, I can't think of anyone offhand. If they sucked so hard, there is no reason to remember them...

Oh, wait! I just thought of a shitty one: Master P. How are you supposed to be a manager of a stable, then dissappear from TV forever to count your money and try to play for what used to be the Charlotte Hornets?



*I bet y'all forgot why I did this, didn't you?

She would have been moreso if I weren't previously aware of Thea being a comedian. It would be like if they tried to bring in T-Money from that old Battledome show as a legit new talent and pretend nobody would recognize it was President Camacho without a wig.

Here's my best managers list

Gary Hart - simply put a damn good heel in Texas
Skandor Akbar - another manager who was great at getting heat in Texas/Mid South
The Grand Wizard
Sir Oliver Humperdink - damn good manager in Florida in the 70s and early 80s
Jimmy Hart - this guy was tremendous in Memphis at getting heat - the fans HATED him.
Bobby Heenan - was tremendous in WWA Indianapolis/AWA - he was funny in the WWF but wasn't the same at all
Jim Cornette - tremendous at getting heat in the south
JJ Dillon - great manager in Florida before 4 Horsemen stuff
Paul E. Dangerously
Larry Sweeney

his work in WWA Indianapolis is considered his best by a lot of folks.

I'm lucky enough to have a tape containing a few episodes of tv with him on it from 1972-1973.

Him and Bockwinkel were amazing in the AWA.

Miss Elizabeth

Who. I want names.

I don't think Sherri gets enough credit. She elevated everyone she worked with, and was more than willing to get physically involved. Her promos were great, and she never worked just to get herself over. I'd put her in Top 5 Managers easily.

I'd mention Bobby Heenan, but that's like making a list of Most Delicious Soups and saying Cream of Potato. It's so obvious, it doesn't need to be said.

Sunny was fantastic. Had a deep knowledge and understanding for the business, sexy as all hell, and bled charisma. If she were to get her shit together, she could have a spot in WWE now. If not on camera, then backstage training others.

Jim Cornette was an annoying mama's-boy pipsqueak who fans couldn't wait to see get knocked around. His gift for gab could get nearly anyone over (sorry, Mantaur).

If James Mitchell had been born about 20-30 years earlier, I think he'd be considered one of the greatest of all time. Fantastic character with great promo work. Sadly, though, he was the best at a time when managers were being phased out.

As far as worst? The Coach was pretty awful (92 with Mr. Perfect version). Go from being managed by Heenan to being flanked by some generic nobody with the personality of a death moth.

Nicole Bass was the shits. Face like a subway fire and negative-numbers charsima.

:y: :y:

Oh and I hated Alfonzo to

Best - Heenan
Worst - Jackson Andrews

For me, some bad ones where Luna Vachon, Jackal/Cyrus, Michael PS Hayes, "Armandooooo, Alejandrooooo, Estraaadaaa", etc.

I qualify them as "bad" because I dont remember them doing anything to help the people they managed, AND they got no reaction whatsoever from me.

Some of the better ones I thought were good, were Sinister Minister, Paul Heyman, Joel Gertner, etc.

I found them to be entertaining, and they helped the people they managed in some way

I took the samples off here:

http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/managers/

Was always a fan of Sign Guy Dudley and Joel Gertner. As for worst, I don't remember the Disciple wrestling more than 4 matches but he always was with Hogan so him.

sure he was funny, but that was it.

I did appreciate his work with The Brainbusters though.

myself and many other fans of old school wrestling.

Hated Don Baylor.

You might think he did better work outside the WWE.

There's no way you really think he was only good for comic relief in WWE though. The man was masterful at hyping his guys up.

Anyone like Truth Martini?

Cyrus was awesome. He just was a huge dickhead backstage and people hated him. Luna and Goldust were awesome together.

Best: Heyman

Worst: The dude who was with Billy and Chuck.

He had better overall work and success as a manager in AWA, but in the WWF his overall work as a manager, TV host, and commentator was his best work overall. He managed all the top guys in AWA, whereas in the WWF after Wrestlemania three his biggest guys were Rude and Perfect, IC guys, until his work with Flair which was mostly commentary-based anyways.

Bobby also used to be more physically involved in the AWA.

Nick Bockwinkel once talked about how good Bobby was

"Bobby could do what Ray and I did and be a slight notch below us, but Ray couldn't do what Bobby did and I couldn't do what Bobby did"

Bobby used to take some entertaing pratfalls.

It also didn't help that The Truth Commission sucked. Nobody would have gotten those clowns over as a stable as it was in wrestling back then. Maybe now, with a SHIELD-like push, but no ammount of talking from Don Callus was going to polish that turd.

I thought Luna suited Bam Bam Bigelow quite well, too.

Seth, shut up about Heenan. You're being silly.

Luna was a valet who needs to be with a certain kind of wrestler as opposed to Heenan who could go with anybody. Didn't like Luna and Shawn, but Luna and Goldust and Luna and Bam Bam, Gangrel worked.

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I guess that would count to someone like The Wizard/ The Master. I couldn't exactly see him being a good manager for a team like the Smoking Gunns

Lita w/ The Hardys.

Joel Gertner is the GOAT tho.

I'm being silly? I know what I am talking about when it comes to the history of this sport.

some here have agreed with me about his AWA work.

Loved the whole Stacy/Lita thing during the Dudley's and Hardy's feud.

I'm the Pulse of Rasslin. Don't be silly.

You also tend to go with "because it's old, it's better" theory which is correct about 25% of the time.

Blue Blood Triple h was better cause he could perform a spinning heel kick.