20 Greatest WCW Managers
Who said managers were dead in the ’90s?
In honor of World Championship Wrestling signing off 20 years ago, here’s a countdown of the 20 greatest managers in WCW. For the purposes of this list, WCW began on Nov. 21, 1988, when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions and launched WCW.
20. Sonny Onoo
Eric Bischoff’s best buddy is only on this list of greatest WCW managers for his longevity. From 1995 until 1999, Sonny Onoo frequently appeared on WCW TV, often clutching his camera like a stereotypical tourist. He managed international talent, such as Ultimo Dragon, Bull Nakano, Psychosis and La Parka, as well as Ernest “The Cat” Miller. But he was really nothing more than comedic relief.
19. Kimberly Page
Before leading The Nitro Girls, Kimberly Page served as eye candy for both her then-husband Diamond Dallas Page and Brutus “The Fucking Barber” Beefcake. As The Diamond Doll, she played the role of Miss Elizabeth by sticking with the abusive Page. After she was freed by Johnny B. Badd, she became The Booty Girl for The Booty Man. A valet rather than a manager, she belongs on this list for adding some sex appeal to otherwise bland characters.
18. James Vandenberg
Better known as the “Sinister Minister” Father James Mitchell, James Vandenberg was his big break on national TV. The voice of the “Blood Runs Cold” storyline, Vandenberg managed oddities like Mortis and Wrath in their feud with Glacier. Unfortunately, his run in WCW was brief because Eric Bischoff was apparently not a big fan.
17. Diamond Dallas Page
Although his run was shorter than most WCW managers, Diamond Dallas Page quickly made an impact, leading the Fabulous Freebirds to the Tag Team Titles. Of course, he had some help from “road boss” Big Daddy Dink. Obviously, DDP went on to have a hall of fame career, but the flashy talker could have ended up as the manager of the ‘90s, too.
16. Alexandra York
From doing Larry King’s makeup to being one of the most prominent WCW managers to “directing” Goldust, Terri Runnels has had quite the career. She entered pro wrestling in the early ‘90s as Alexandra York, a tech geek hired as Michael Wallstreet’s financial consultant who used her trusty computer to analyze his opponents. When Wallstreet left for WWE, she launched the York Foundation, recruiting Terrence Taylor, Richard Morton and Thomas Rich. They have the distinction of being the final WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Champions.
15. Missy Hyatt
While her tenure concluded with a sexual harassment lawsuit, Missy Hyatt was truly the “First Lady of WCW.” In between announcer roles, she managed both the Steiner Brothers and the Nasty Boys, leading the latter to the Tag Team Titles. Hyatt also played a role in Nancy Benoit’s transformation from innocent Robin Green to the diabolical Woman.
14. Sir William
When Lord Steven Regal graced the United States with his presence in the summer of 1993, he was accompanied by Sir William. Regal certainly didn’t need a mouthpiece, but the former Bill Dundee played the part of unappreciated servant so well that it really enhanced Regal’s snobby royal character. Although Sir William’s run lasted only a little over a year, he was an integral component to Regal’s successful career.
13. Daffney
The “Scream Queen” came into WCW at the tail end of 1999 as the deranged girlfriend of David Flair. Inspired by Harley Quinn and Mallory Knox, Daffney was totally different than any other woman in wrestling history. She could go in the ring, too, even winning the Cruiserweight Championship. She brought some much-needed personality to the son of Ric Flair and was a match made in hell for Crowbar. It’s a shame that WWE didn’t scoop her up in the acquisition.
12. Debra McMichael
Steve “Mongo” McMichael’s contribution to pro wrestling: Debra. His then-wife was a natural heat magnet, dressed as a beauty queen and sniping about the wrestlers, their women and the fans. Poor Mongo had to deal with infidelity, as she betrayed him at Bash at the Beach 1997 to help Jeff Jarrett (sparking an alliance that would continue in WWE). Debra would have been perfectly cast in The Help.
11. Paul Ellering
Perhaps the only true manager on this list, Paul Ellering handled travel arrangements, contract negotiations and other business affairs of the Road Warriors. Not that Animal or especially Hawk needed a mouthpiece, but Ellering’s doom and gloom promos meshed well with his charges’ penchant for mayhem. A former wrestler, he wasn’t afraid to get rough in the ring, either.
10. Elizabeth
Certainly not known for promos or getting physical, but Elizabeth found her second act in WCW. Turning heel for the first time, she betrayed Randy Savage at SuperBrawl VI, helping Ric Flair win the World Heavyweight Championship. Throughout the first half of 1996, she would flaunt the alimony from Savage while sipping champagne and carousing with the Four Horsemen. Eventually, she reunited with Macho Man in the NWO before accompanying Eric Bischoff and finally Lex Luger during his rebranding as “The Total Package.”
9. Gary Hart
1989 was Gary Hart’s year. In addition to managing Abdullah the Butcher and “Cowboy” Bob Orton, the devious mastermind unveiled Great Muta to the American audience. In the summer, he added Terry Funk to his clients while the madman pursued Flair’s World Heavyweight Championship. By the end of the year, Hart had established the J-Tex Corporation, which also included heavy hitters Dick Slater, Buzz Sawyer and The Dragonmaster.
8. Jim Cornette
It’s well documented that Jim Cornette didn’t last long in Turner-owned WCW. While he was there, he managed The Midnight Express and had a hot feud with Paul E. Dangerously’s incarnation of the team: Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose. Of course, Corny still delivered on the mic and was named Manager of the Year by the Wrestling Observer in both 1989 and 1990.
7. Woman
When Dark Side of the Ring kicked off its second season with the Benoit episode, there was plenty of debate about whether Nancy Benoit deserved to be in the WWE Hall of Fame. Not to mention her time in the territories with Kevin Sullivan and her ECW tenure with Sandman, Nancy contributed plenty to WCW.
She debuted as Rick Steiner’s adorning fan before stabbing him in the back and introducing the wrestling world to Doom. Years later, she returned to WCW at Ric Flair’s side, accompanying the Horsemen with Elizabeth and often interfering in their matches with her dreaded shoe. And then there’s her run with Chris Benoit, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
6. Theodore R. Long
Disgraced referee turned manager, Teddy Long had a lengthy run as one of the most hated WCW managers. The WWE Hall of Famer paired Sid Vicious with Danny Spivey to form The Skyscrapers, and when Vicious was sidelined with injuries, Long replaced him with “Mean” Mark Callous. (Maybe that’s why he loves booking The Undertaker.) Long also led Doom, unmasked and no longer with Woman, to the Tag Team Titles at Capitol Combat. A year later, he introduced the wrestling world to Johnny B. Badd. Unfortunately, in the mid-90s, he was saddled with scrubs like Craig Pittman and Ice Train.
5. Col. Robert Parker
Colonel Sanders wishes he looked as good as Col. Robert Parker. A member of the legendary Fuller family, Robert Fuller came to WCW as the colonel in 1993, bringing Sid Vicious back after two years away. Parker joined forces with Harley Race to present Vicious and Vader as the Masters of the Powerbomb, wreaking havoc on the company for the rest of the year.
After Vicious was released in the fall, Parker set his sights on “Stunning” Steve Austin, guiding him to the United States Championship at Starrcade. The Stud Stable, his creation in the Southern territories during the 1980s, was resurrected in 1994 with Terry Funk, Bunkhouse Buck, Meng, Dick Slater and Arn Anderson. In 1995, Parker was smitten with Sherri Martel, and ended up joining Harlem Heat as their promoter.
4. Sherri Martel
Blazing the trail for Daffney, Lita and other valets who could bump, “Sensuous” Sherri made her mark as one of the greatest WCW managers. First, she tricked Sting and aided Flair in unifying the World Heavyweight Championship and International World Heavyweight Championship. Then, she assisted the Nature Boy in his war with Hulk Hogan, but ultimately ended up with her derriere up high for an atomic drop. After the Flair alliance, she became Sister Sherri and quickly led Harlem Heat to the Tag Team Titles – a feat they’d repeat six more times. Both Booker T and Stevie Ray credit Sherri for helping them find their groove and instilling confidence in the Texas brothers.
3. Jimmy Hart
Was anyone a bigger victim of the New World Order? He debuted in WCW with Hulk Hogan, and by default, was instantly managing the World Heavyweight Champion. Even though babyface managers traditionally seem unnecessary, Hart came across as a true cheerleader of the most famous wrestler in the world with his colorful jackets, high energy and ever-present megaphone. And then at Halloween Havoc 1995, Hart betrayed the Hulkster and joined the Dungeon of Doom, primarily managing The Giant.
When the NWO was formed, though, Hart’s tension with Hogan evaporated. Even The Giant who Hart screwed Hogan for ended up as a member of the NWO! The Dungeon splintered and Hart was left managing midcarders and B-show names like Jerry Flynn and Hugh Morrus.
2. Paul E. Dangerously
Before he was the mad scientist of ECW, Brock Lesnar’s advocate and the royal subject of the Tribal Chief, Paul Heyman was Paul E. Dangerously, the psycho yuppie. He came into WCW igniting a war between all members of the Midnight Express and then managed “Mean” Mark Callous. After a commentary role, he returned to ringside as the leader of The Dangerous Alliance – an all-star villain lineup of Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Larry Zbyszko, Bobby Eaton and Madusa.
From the fall of 1991 until May 1992, The Dangerous Alliance ran roughshod over WCW. Rude won the U.S. Championship, Anderson and Zbyszko and then Anderson and Eaton held the Tag Team Titles and Austin held the Television Championship. The Alliance disintegrated after War Games at WrestleWar 1992, and Dangerously left the company by the fall of 1992.
1. Harley Race
Harley Race probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind for WCW managers, but the eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion was a guiding force in the early ‘90s.
At Great American Bash 1991, he was revealed as Lex Luger’s manager, instructing the “Total Package” to piledrive Barry Windham to win the vacated World Heavyweight Championship. Even though fans weren’t ready to boo Luger, Race did an admirable job presenting the champion as an arrogant, elite athlete. When Luger left WCW in February 1992, Race primarily managed Vader, providing cagey experience to the monster.
Race again led his charge to the World Heavyweight Championship, as Vader defeated Sting at Great American Bash 92. For most of the next 18 months, Vader and Race ruled the wrestling world, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Sadly, Race was involved in a car wreck in early 1995 that prevented him from appearing on a regular basis.
Always dressed to the nines, promising carnage in his gravelly voice and occasionally dropping a headbutt off the top rope, Race was exactly who you wanted in your corner.
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