Exploring The Role of Managers In WWE: From Paul Heyman To Bobby Heenan

Professional wrestling has long been a world of larger-than-life personalities, epic rivalries, and unforgettable moments in the ring. While the spotlight often shines brightest on the wrestlers themselves, there’s an equally important role that has shaped the industry for decades: the manager. Whether developing stars or developing stories, some of the biggest mainstay staples throughout sports entertainment history have found a home behind their respective leaders/managers, if you may. For anyone knowledgeable regarding WWE managers, this should not come off as all that startling; after all, managers throughout World Wrestling Entertainment’s history have long played integral parts in the WWE and have arguably led to two of the largest elements of today: Paul Heyman and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

The Rise of the Manager

The concept of the wrestling manager really came into play during the 1950s, as the medium of television began to play a much larger role in promoting matches and storylines. It was during this period that managers became of incredible importance in adding color and personality to the product. They would accompany wrestlers to the ring, participate in interviews, and often interfere in matches to help their clients win.

In the early days of the World Wrestling Federation, now WWE, managers such as Bobby Davis and James Dudley pioneered what would become one of the staples of the industry. It was really, though, during the 1970s and 1980s that managers began to come into their own and add much to the entertainment value of professional wrestling.

The Golden Age of Managers

The 1980s are usually considered the heyday of wrestling managers in the WWF. During this period, a new generation of managers such as Captain Lou Albano, Freddie Blassie, and Jimmy Hart became household names, each with their own unique style and stable of talent.

Captain Lou Albano sported a crazy beard with rubber bands draped across his face while managing 15 different tag teams to the top. The “Hollywood Fashion Plate,” Freddie Blassie, specialized in foreign villains such as Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik, to huge success. “The Mouth of the South,” Jimmy Hart, was the manager with the megaphone and musical flair, managing talent across four decades.

These were managers who often developed characters, cut promos, and created heat for the wrestlers. They were fantastic foils to the heroic babyfaces and at times would draw more hatred from the crowd than a wrestler would.

Bobby “The Brain” Heenan: The Gold Standard

The name Bobby “The Brain” Heenan hardly brings much debate when debating on the definition of the great manager to set foot in the wrestling ring. Working over the microphone during over four decades, he redefined for at least 420 precisely what was the meaning behind the term management of professional wrestling.

Heenan’s career began in the 1960s, toiling as an in-ring performer and migrating his way up to a manager 16. Quick-witted with some of the best comedic timing and could draw heat with the best, his stable of wrestlers, “The Heenan Family,” would boast some of the biggest names in the sport, including Andre the Giant, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, and “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig.

What separated Heenan from the rest was his versatility: not only was he a great manager, but he was also an excellent color commentator. To this day, his on-screen chemistry with play-by-play announcer Gorilla Monsoon is remembered as one of the all-time great commentary teams in wrestling history.

Heenan’s power wasn’t restricted to his on-screen roles but extended to influential decisions: a great promoter of talent and feuds, probably most memorable being Andre the Giant during his legendary matchup against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III, cited by many fans as the single most famous wrestling match in United States history.

Paul Heyman: Modern-Day Mastermind

While Heenan may have set the bar in the 80s and 90s, Paul Heyman has been the carrier of that torch moving into the modern era of WWE. From his rise to one of the most powerful men in wrestling, Heyman’s story is one of adaptability and creative genius.

Heyman first gained notoriety in WCW as Paul E. Dangerously, managing a stable known as the Dangerous Alliance, which included future stars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Rick Rude. It was his role, though, as the owner and creative force behind Extreme Championship Wrestling, that truly set him apart. The innovative and edgy style of ECW would later go on to influence WWE’s “Attitude Era” in the late 90s.

Immediately upon arriving in the WWE, Heyman proved to be one of the more interesting people on the screen. His ability to cut intense, believable promos made him a perfect mouthpiece for his clients. Heyman’s most notable partnership has been with Brock Lesnar, whom he helped guide to multiple world championships.

What is different with Heyman, however, is how he managed to change and adapt along with the shifting landscape of professional wrestling. Whereas kayfabe—the notion of presenting fantasy as reality—is all but dead at this point, Heyman’s promos dance along that thin line separating reality and fiction, lending an air of realism to his performances.

The Evolution of the Role of the Managers

With wrestling continuing to evolve, so too has the function of the manager. Whereas once managers were primarily used to help wrestlers who lacked mic skills or to add heat to foreign villains, today, while these functions still exist, managers often play more nuanced roles.

This evolution is perfectly encapsulated in the current role of Paul Heyman as “special counsel” to Roman Reigns. Rather than simply being a mouthpiece, Heyman adds depth to the character of Reigns through his strategist and advisor role. It has been instrumental in establishing Reigns as the top star in the company.

The modern manager is often more involved in storylines and character development. They’re not just there to interfere in matches or cut promos; they’re integral parts of the narrative. This evolution has allowed for more complex storytelling and character dynamics.

Impact on the Career of Wrestlers

But one of the most important contributions that managers have made is the development of talent and launching of careers. In this regard, both Heenan and Heyman boast enviable records.

Heenan was integral to many WWE Hall of Famers, whether he was managing a legendary feud between Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan or helping establish “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig as one of the best.

Meanwhile, Heyman has been credited with launching or revitalizing the careers of several top stars. His work with CM Punk, particularly during Punk’s record-breaking WWE Championship reign, helped cement Punk as one of the top stars of his generation. More recently, Heyman’s association with Roman Reigns has been a key factor in Reigns’ transformation into the company’s top star.

The Art of the Promo

One area where both Heenan and Heyman excelled is in cutting promos. The ability to speak on the microphone and engage the audience is crucial in professional wrestling, and both men are considered among the best ever in this aspect.

Quick-witted and hilarious, Heenan could keep fans entertained when he was at his best—even when he played the bad guy. His repartee with color commentator Gorilla Monsoon remains some of the most entertaining exchanges fans had heard to this day.

On the other hand, Heyman is known for his intense and passionate promos, often more real than scripted. The ability to sell a match or a storyline through his words is second to none in modern wrestling. Heyman’s promos have often become viral moments, which further promotes WWE’s product.

Legacy and Influence

But the influence of managers like Heenan and Heyman hardly stops at the on-screen product; they’ve inspired generations of performers, both in and out of the ring.

Heenan is comedy gold; his comedic timing and playing off others have inspired countless managers and commentators. He helped establish the manager as a key component in wrestling storytelling.

The influence of Heyman could be felt in the more realistic, hard-hitting promos that have been prevalent in modern wrestling. His work in ECW also significantly contributed to the edgier style that characterized wrestling in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The Future of Managers within the WWE

While the role of managers has evolved over the years, their importance in professional wrestling remains significant. The success of Paul Heyman’s partnership with Roman Reigns demonstrates that there’s still a place for skilled managers in modern WWE.

Times, though, keep on changing for professional wrestling. With the development in social media and digital platforms, wrestlers have taken over with more direct ways of reaching fans and developing their characters. Because of that, the number of traditional managers within WWE has become few.

Despite this, the very skills that made Heenan and Heyman types so successful—the ability to talk, generate heat, and enhance storylines—remain worthwhile in the wrestling world. We are likely to continue seeing managers in WWE, though in somewhat changing roles as sports entertainment evolves.

Conclusion

From the golden age of the 1980s to today, managers have played a very important role in the success of WWE. Figures like Bobby Heenan and Paul Heyman have added much to the careers of thousands of wrestlers while becoming iconic personas themselves.

It was important that the evolution of the manager’s role was reflective of the broader changes that had taken place within professional wrestling during the decades, as the industry moved towards more complex storytelling and character development.

But even as the future may hold even more changes for what a manager does in the WWE, the work of figures like Heenan and Heyman will forever keep the art of management created at the surface of professional wrestling—a legacy testifying to the strong personality factor and storylines in sports entertainment.