WWE: Can Managers Ever Be Successful Again?

When I began watching wrestling in the '80s, there was a different feeling to the events than there is today.  Wrestlers used to walk down much more narrow ramps so they could easily interact with the fans on either side.  Announcers were ex-wrestlers, for the most part, and not broadcast journalism majors. 

And one huge difference: Managers were everywhere.

The lost art of the wrestling manager is one that could easily come back to prominence.  Back in the day they had guys like Paul Bearer, Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart, Albano, Cornette, Fuji, Hillbilly Jim, Tully Blanchard and women like Sensational Sherri, Elizabeth and later on, Sable and Sunny.  And no one could ever forget Brother Love.

Today the WWE has exactly one manager, Vickie, and she is no longer a manager, really, since she dumped her only client. 

Managers did something for wrestlers that some wrestlers couldn't do for themselves: talk. 

I don't count Natalya as a manager because she is an active wrestler. 

Managers were mouthpieces for guys who didn't have the best mic skills or simply had unintelligible accents.  Cornette put so many people on the map that he himself became a legend in the process.  The same can be said for so many managers that there are too many to list.

I remember when Jimmy Hart first joined up with Hogan.  It was great, because you had a guy who could cut a great promo being managed by a guy who could cut a better promo.  It worked so well.

Sensational Sherri will go down in history as the best female manager.  She led guys like Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and Randy Savage into some of their best matches.  On top of all that, she was an amazing women's wrestler, having won the WWE women's title from Mulah and holding it for 15 months.

There are simply too many great managers to name a greatest, but some are certainly better than others.  The WWE could bring back the manager character with guys who are already on their payroll.

If memory serves me correctly Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat, and Mike Rotunda all tour with the WWE as agents.

Why not throw them with some guys and see what happens? 

I also think some of the women in the current women's division would be better suited as valets and managers. 

The main women I speak of here are Jillian and Maryse.  While Maryse is decent in the ring, she is more eye candy than anyone else on the roster and could be a great valet for someone like The Miz or Jack Swagger.

I know the days where managers roamed the landscape of wrestling is probably over, but I think it could come back with some effort.

Who do you think is the greatest manager of all time?