
While many of these concepts are gone for good, there is one that is sorely missed and could easily be brought back under the right conditions. That concept is the wrestling manager.
While there have been a few throwbacks in recent years with names such as Armando Estrada and Tony Atlas, there was a time in the business when a manager could be the hottest name in a promotion.
Territories like Florida with Sir Oliver Humperdink, AWA with Bobby Heenan, and the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" (Lou Albano, Fred Blassie, & The Grand Wizard) were nearly defined by these men and their stables of wrestlers. These men were so devious and calculating that fans filled

The modern definition of wrestling manager seems to first come about when wrestling first hit television in the 1950s. Men like "Wild" Red Berry and Bobby Davis led such champions as Gorilla Monsoon and Buddy Rogers, respectively, to greater heights thanks to their charisma and gifts for gab. Joined in the 1960s by names such as Gary Hart, Bobby Heenan, and Ernie "Grand Wizard" Roth (under various aliases), it seemed that each territory, as mentioned above, had their own choice managers.

With the first two major wrestling action figure lines finding their way into stores in the 1980s, the managers came along for the ride. LJN's WWF line featured a whole subset of managers including Heenan, Albano, Blassie, Jimmy Hart, Slick, Mr. Fuji, Johnny V,

Cards, magazines, figures, and even record albums prove that managers were among the most marketable characters in wrestling. After all, the managers were essentially pop culture celebrities kicked up a notch. Bobby Heenan? Johnny Carson. Jimmy Hart? Dick Clark. Miss Elizabeth? Princess Diana. Slick? Well, you get the picture.
Many fans of today's wrestling product feel that there's just something missing. Maybe it's the crazy character at ringside with bleached blonde hair, face paint, a tennis

For more great photos of wrestling memorabilia celebrating the legendary managers, please visit and join our Facebook Fanpage.
1 comment:
Hi Josh - I've really been enjoying your blog (which I only recently discovered). I've been a fan of WWF/WWE since 1987 and have watched faithfully ever since. I, too, have some cool photos with WWE superstars (Mick Foley, Jim Ross, and Big Show). I also have lots of old program inserts from the Toronto (Ontario) shows at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Anyway, I collect wrestling figures - not so much after the change from Jakks... I was really into their classics line.
My question is: what's the size/scale difference between Mattel's Defining Moments series and their Legends figures??? Some are looking great and I might have to start back into it!!
Thanks for your great work on the blog!
Blair
Post a Comment