Eric Bischoff, the Evolution of WWE GMs and the Future of Authority Figures

On July 14, 2002, the WWE Universe saw the shocking and unexpected debut of Eric Bischoff as Raw's general manager, a role he would fill for the next three years.

Once the sworn enemy of Vince McMahon, the former President of WCW was asked to guide the flagship program of WWE. He flashed a toothy grin and basked in the boos of the fans whose favorite product he once attempted to destroy.

Perhaps that is why his influence on sports entertainment under the WWE umbrella is so intriguing. As the first general manager in company history, he was instrumental in changing the role of authority figures forever.

On the 14th anniversary of Bischoff's earth-shattering appointment to the position and with commissioners Stephanie and Shane McMahon poised to name their hand-picked choices for Raw and SmackDown general manager, respectively, let's relive the evolution of WWE GMs and forecast the future roles of the company's authority figures.

Who's the Boss?

Authority figures in wrestling used to be uptight, suit-wearing businessmen who appeared sporadically on WWE television, weighing in on some sort of on-screen controversy.

Jack Tunney remains one of the greatest men of authority the industry has ever seen, his presence during contract signings featuring Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and The Ultimate Warrior nostalgic for fans of that era.

It was not until The Chairman of the Board became the evil Mr. McMahon that authority figures saw their roles expanded. Whether it was the boss himself, his son, Shane, or his daughter, Stephanie, authority figures saw increased television time and expanded roles during the Attitude Era.

For years, the McMahon family dominated the airwaves, almost to the point of overexposure. The creation of the general manager position was designed to give fans a reprieve of the constant family melodrama that overwhelmed WWE programming at times.

Bischoff was an icon of the industry, a businessman who nearly did the unthinkable by putting WWE out of business. He nearly beat McMahon at a game he perfected and thus was the perfect choice to assume leadership of Raw.

He was a heel in the same vein as McMahon but was even more despised by fans, his status as the braggart head of WCW fresh in the minds of the WWE faithful.

Stephanie reigned over SmackDown, starting as a heel before segueing into a strong, confident female babyface.

Those two laid the groundwork for every general manager to come before them. They demonstrated a ton of authority but also, appropriately, understood that they answered to a boss who would strike with furious vengeance if they overstepped their boundaries.

Teddy Long, John Laurinaitis, Vickie Guerrero, Eve Torres and Booker T are just a few of the general managers who went onto success by following the examples set by Bischoff and Stephanie.

Are Authority Figures Played Out?

The birth of the Mr. McMahon character hampered storytelling in WWE. The arrival of that character brought authority figures to the forefront. It forced entire shows to revolve around them.

Somewhere along the line, though, WWE Creative forgot how to tell stories without the presence of a general manager, commissioner or maniacal owner hovering over the proceedings. It forgot that there was a time in the industry where feuds and angles captivated audiences without the need for someone to visibly direct the show.

Since the Attitude Era, there has been an ever-present cloud hanging over WWE productions, keeping them from advancing forward. The tired authority figure is a staple of days gone by, an antique that WWE continues to tout as one of its prized possessions.

Unfortunately, it is an old booking device that will continue into the future.

On top of their appointments as the commissioners of Raw and SmackDown, Stephanie and Shane McMahon will name general managers to run their respective brands. And do not forget about Vince, who rules over the company with an iron fist, poised and ready to undermine their decisions at any moment.

Some 19 years after Vinnie Mac stepped into the spotlight, leaving the announce position to take on a role as a lead villain and oppressive authority figure, that role is still integral to WWE programming.

Any hope fans may have had about the abolishment of that element is gone—at least for now.

Perhaps as the brand extension takes shape, Raw or SmackDown will head in a different direction, becoming a true alternative. Until then, the core formula of the shows will remain the same, proving detrimental to WWE's dreams of breaking out of its creative lull and advancing into the future.

Bischoff was great; McMahon was revolutionary. But now it is time to move on for the sake of both the product and creativity.