WWE: Why Vickie Guerrero Is a Poor Excuse for a Manager

So, Vickie Guerrero.  Heel manger extraordinaire.  The mouthpiece for two hot young talents who were utterly lost without her influence and cannot hope to grow as performers without their continued association with her.

That, my friends, is what we refer to in the business as “sarcasm.”

I honestly do not understand the fascination that some fans have with Vickie in the role of manger in WWE.  She was, for all intents and purposes, a valet for Dolph Ziggler.  That was going okay, but then everything changed.  Why?

Because of Jack Swagger.  The moment that Vickie supposedly took him under her wing, she suddenly went from being a nuisance, to being the next Bobby Heenan.

Are we that desperate for the return of the classic heel manager, that we are ready to accept Vickie Guerrero as the rebirth of the concept?  

I’m not opposed to the idea of Guerrero playing that role, with a little work and some actual effort on WWE’s part, she might actually be successful at it.

But, right now?  Forget it, it’s not happening.

Here’s the thing.  A good heel manager is someone who is working to sell their wrestler to the crowd. Every spot, every promo, every word that comes out of his or her mouth, should be in support of the worker that they represent.

By the time the manger gets their point across, fans know that guy standing next to them is a force to be reckoned with.  The manager is at times a better talker than their client, which has always been a plus for a lot of workers who perhaps are not as good on the mic.

The manager does their talking for them, and does all they can to make you hate them.  Then, when the match happens, the manager provides an assist by breaking the rules when the referee’s back is turned.

Again, it’s all about making the worker look good, making them seem important, and relevant, in the eyes of the fans.  This is what being a good heel manager is all about.

It’s okay for a manager to be a character.  In fact, that is a good thing, if he or she gets over with the crowd, then that equals more attention, more spotlight, on not only that person, but the wrestler under them.  But, that manager should never distract from the wrestler that they are working with.

Many successful men have been mangers in the past, it’s a role that’s been heavily dominated over the years.  But, there have been women who have more than fit the bill.  A great example is Sherri Martel.

Sensational Sherri was of course, a wrestler herself, before becoming a manager.  She was a great manager, and had the reputation of being someone who could get a young wrestler over in a big way.

She was so trusted in her role, that when Shawn Michaels turned heel and became the Heartbreak Kid, Sherri was the one he was given to.  

While Shawn had all the skill and talent in the world, he was always viewed as a tag team wrestler. Being with Sherri changed all of that, and he became a top Superstar, thanks in large part to her work, and influence.

For me, there is no criteria listed above that Vickie Guerrero even remotely fits.

First off, is she really selling Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger?  She talks about them, as she is expected to, but be honest, is she really adding to their characters, or taking away?

Granted, neither Ziggler nor Swagger are the Heartbreak Kid.  But, the better a worker is, the easier it is for anyone associated with them to get over, and both of her wrestlers are very good.

So, here‘s the real question.  Is Vickie really over as a heel manager, or is the crowd just sick of her, like they have been since, oh, I don’t know, day one?

She gets a huge heel pop whenever she opens her mouth, which is every time WWE is on the air, but she was getting that before she became a manager.  Yes, the crowd hates her.  Yes, other guys in the back are likely in awe of the fact that while they are working hard to be relevant and get a reaction from fans, that all she has to do is show up.  She has instant heat every time.  No one can deny that.

But, again, as a manager, is she really adding anything to Ziggler and Swagger?  

I understand, it’s all in the booking.  She is only doing what she is told to do, and playing the role she is given.  But, I do not see that she is fully capable of being a successful manager based upon what she can bring to the table.  She seems very concerned, most likely under instruction, with addressing the crowd’s hatred of her, at every turn.

We are witnessing Dolph’s evolution into the next level as a WWE Superstar.  I believe that he is headed for bigger things in the company, and soon he will be poised to take the big step to main event status.

I also believe that he would have gotten there on his own.  For me, Vickie has been nothing short of a distraction for him, and has brought nothing to his career thus far.

Many of us love the heel manger concept, it’s a bit of nostalgia for us, and reminds us of the glory days of the industry.  Much like a solid tag team division, we desperately want the managers to return.

But, Vickie Guerrero is not the answer.  She is not a great heel manager, and until WWE finds a way to work her character into one that can be beneficial for the men that she manages, then she is a very bad fit in a very good role.

Excuse me!  But, that’s my take.