TPWW Greatest Manager of All Time Tournament: First Round

[hb2k]

So, let's have some fun and break this down

Match 1: Paul Heyman Vs. Johnny Valiant

There are some guys that are so lucky to make it this far, and Valiant is one of them. There are few in this tournament I have less regard for than Luscious Johnny V. Heyman tap-dances all over him without breaking a sweat.

Match 2: Miss Elizabeth Vs. Luna Vachon

Interesting battle, two women that are less their own act so much as extensions of the guys they managed. Elizabath was higher up the card, a bigger star, and was responsible for WCW drawing big on house shows for the first time in the 90s when she turned heel, so she gets the nod.

Match 3: Bobby Heenan Vs. Arnold Skaaland

I can't fucking believe Skaaland won. I actually set up a second account to try and vote twice to prevent him getting through, such is my disregard for this useless buffoon. Going against the odds-on favourite, this is a squash. Hit the bricks, humanoid.

Match 4: Jimmy Hart Vs. James Mitchell

This is a fun one. Mitchell will always be one of those guys that really came along too late - he had the ability to be an all-time great, awesome look, brilliant promo, but unfortunately the most prominent he was ever used was TNA. In terms of natural born talent, this is close. Jimmy Hart, however, not only had the WWF run to make him more high profile, but was absolutely sensational in Memphis and makes this a fairly open and shut case for me.

Match 5: Paul Bearer Vs. Missy Hyatt

I liked Missy and thought more could have been done with her as a bitchy heel manager, but this is the end of the line for her. Bearer had this won based on his pre-WWF career alone, let alone being a staple of one the most iconic acts of the 90s with Undertaker. A guy that was actually a successful babyface manager, which is ridiculously rare when you think about it.

Match 6: Jim Cornette Vs. Sonny Onoo

Nephew, please. I can't remember who Onoo beat, but they must have sucked. Cornette was a major player and is an all-time great. Sonny Onoo was the shits.

Match 7: Paul Ellering Vs. Gary Hart

I'm not a big Ellering fan, in truth. Was with a great act, but I never felt like they needed him, and I don't think he added a whole lot. Gary Hart was superb, and may not get as far as he probably deserves in this tournament, but this is a win for him in my eyes.

Match 8: Col. Robert Parker Vs. Classy Freddie Blassie

It's Blassie all the way. The Hollywood Fashion Plate, manager of every turncoat in the WWWF against Bruno and helped do great business for years. I liked Parker, but he's not getting my vote here.

Match 9: Captain Lou Albano Vs. Vickie Guerrero

Albano may have drawn as much money as any manager ever did, and was an iconic character for the ages. I liked Vickie a lot, she got great heat and he was a focal point with Edge for a good couple of years there, but it doesn't compare to the Captain.

Match 10: Sir Oliver Humperdink Vs. Sunny

I hated Humperdink. In fairness, I've always been under the impression that his best work was with Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts as the original Hollywood Blonds, but I haven't seen it, and nothing I've seen from him would be considered special. Sunny wasn't the most prominent and didn't have a prolonged run, but she was awesome in her role.

Match 11: JJ Dillon Vs. Harley Race

I'm not as big a fan of JJ as some, so this is actually a bit closer that it might be for most in terms of my opinion. I loved Harley with Vader, but Dillon was a part of a lot of greatness in the Horsemen, and that's getting the nod.

Match 12: Mr. Fuji Vs. Harvey Wippleman

FUCKING HELL. Two bums. Fuji managed Demolition. That's all I've got here.

Match 13: Zeb Colter Vs. The Genius

Genius was shown to be useless as soon as Heenan took Perfect and did his job far better. The Beverlys run was trash. Colter, while never a top flight manager, was a better promo.

Match 14: Ted DiBiase Vs. The Grand Wizard

DiBiase shouldn't have made it this far. Wizard was effective as garnish for guys like Superstar Billy Graham, Sgt. Slaughter and Ernie Ladd, and while he was never the guy that was needed to elevate guys, he was great in his role and was a bigger star as a manager than Ted.

Match 15: Joel Gertner Vs. Terri Runnels

Gertner was far better without the Dudleyz, and Terri with Goldust was good, and part of some extremely memorable angles, which is more than I can say for Joel.

Match 16: Ric Flair Vs. Sensational Sherri

What is Ric on the list for? Charlotte? Managing Trips? He was great as HHH's shadow in Evolution, but I never saw him as a manager because he was active at the same time and never cut HHH's promos for him. Sherri added to every act she was ever with, and being in the more traditional role, I think she deserves to go through here.