Has Teddy Long Overstayed His Welcome as SmackDown General Manager?

Stop me if you’ve heard this one.

Two guys have a match.  About three minutes into it, another heel comes down, interrupts the bout, and the baby face is beat down.  Then, another face slides in to make the save.  The two heels retreat up the ramp, while the two fan favorites are left in the ring, ready to fight it out.

Then, it happens.  Teddy Long’s music hits, and he comes out, complete with oversized suit, and delivers the following.

“It ain’t going down like that, playa.  Since you two want to get involved, then tonight, it’s going to be a tag team match.  You two against you two, and that match is next!  Holla holla!”

Oh my God, how many times has that happened?  Hundreds?  Thousands?  So often, that at this point, it’s expected.  In fact, when Teddy doesn’t come down, I am shocked, and so too are the SmackDown fans, who are all staring at the top of the ramp in anticipation.

More overused than the Dusty finish in the NWA, the Teddy booking, as I affectionately call it, has more than run its course, and is one of the many reasons why some fans have begun asking a painful question.

Has Teddy Long overstayed his welcome as SmackDown general manager?

It’s a painful question because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like Teddy?  Not just because he’s a face.  The guy is a veteran, someone who is very at ease in front of the crowd, and very rarely ever screws up a promo. 

His small stature and likeability make him a sympathetic figure, though he’s not often asked to mix it up physically in the ring.  It’s a little surprising, to be honest, look at how many times Jim Ross, another sympathetic figure, and real fan favorite, is attacked, and taken advantage of.  At times, it seems like Teddy is untouchable.

It’s almost as if he’s being kept safe to physically remain in his GM role, providing a consistent voice of authority on the program.  If so, then why?

Why is Monday Night Raw not afforded the luxury of a full time general manager who is there every week, doing what needs to be done to keep the show afloat?  Does WWE feel that the flagship program is more exciting, more suspenseful, with the GM position in a constant state of flux?

If so, are they right?

Teddy has been the GM since April of 2009, and while it seems crazy that it has been that long, in many ways it feels like it has been much longer. 

To sum it all up: Teddy has become extremely repetitive.  Maybe his critics are right.  Maybe it is time for a change.

Shake it up, throw someone else in the role, a heel this time, or maybe someone who rides the fence, a “tweener” who has to make the tough calls when necessary.  Reinvent the role for the program.

Imagine Mark Henry actually being encouraged to maul his opponents.  Or, Cody Rhodes being supported in a World Title push should Henry lose the belt at some point.  What about Christian?  With a heel at the head of SmackDown, he would most certainly get “one more match.”

Okay, I know, don’t say it.  Do we really need both programs being run on the air by two power hungry heels?  Yes, I see your point.

But, face it, isn’t the show much more compelling with a self serving jerk at the helm?  Isn’t there more potential for drama when the faces are at a huge disadvantage and have to fight the odds to overcome? 

I believe the real problem does not lie with Teddy himself, but rather in the booking.  He tends to do the same things, say the same words, week in and week out, without fail.  Who exactly is writing his spots?  Is there no possibility of doing anything new for his character?  For that matter, why not turn Teddy heel?

The thing is, I like Teddy.  I remember when he still had hair, and was a referee in the NWA.  He’s put in a lot of time, has excelled in every role he’s taken, and will likely always have a spot in the business as long as he wants to work.  No one is suggesting that he be thrown out, or forced behind the curtain.

I just believe that Friday Night SmackDown gets stale at times, and the GM role is one of the areas that could use improving.  Teddy Long was the right man for the job, but is he now?