January 2012

If you were a kid who grew up watching pro wrestling in the 80’s, there’s a high probability that you wanted to be Hulk Hogan. He was the biggest name in the industry (still is, as far as Pop Culture goes) and seemed larger than life. If not Hogan, maybe Dusty Rhodes, Ultimate Warrior or Kerry Von Erich was more your cup of tea. Whomever it was you idolized, they likely all had one thing in common: They were a ‘star’.For every Hogan, however, there were countless guys you never gave a second thought. Many of these guys were extremely talented in their own right, but perhaps due to bad luck, wrong place/wrong time, bad body, poor promo, or a lack of the ever-elusive “it”, found themselves relegated to a life of staring straight up at the ceilings of every VFW, armory, theater and arena all across the nation, 3 seconds at a time.

When used properly, a pro wrestling manager can be one of the biggest draws in the business. For whatever reason, this indisputable fact has been lost on much of today’s wrestling world. Whether it’s budget issues, talent issues, or some other factors at play, the wrestling manager is little used, and when employed, rarely worked to maximum potential.

There was a time when some of the very best entertainers in the business were managers. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, some of the top managers in the history of the industry could be seen on television each week. each with their own unique style. Whether it was Capt. Lou Albano’s over-the-top ramblings, Jim Cornette’s rich brat gimmick, or James J. Dillon’s professional, suit and tie approach, the overwhelming majority of managers employed by the larger territories during that time all had one thing in common: they all drew money for their respective Promotions.