The following editorial was written by Sean Mikhail and does not reflect the opinions of WrestleZone as a whole. We encourage you all to discuss Sean’s thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post and follow him on Twitter @seanrmikhail
Watch any major pro wrestling show from the 80’s. Then, watch something current. What sticks out? Guys are looking directly into the camera when they cut a promo, there seem to be fewer bumps on the ring apron… and oh yeah, where did all the managers go???
Managers are few and far between in professional wrestling nowadays, especially in the big leagues. While nearly every notable tag team of old had a fast-talking loudmouth in their corner, most go it alone nowadays. Today’s foreign heels either don’t speak or incorporate their accents into a comedy routine, because there is no sarcastic mouthpiece to talk them up.
Financially, it seems to make sense. If you have a team of writers who will script out every line of a promo, then why would you pay someone else, who is not going to wrestle, to say those lines?
That logic is perfectly fine until you realize that Hollywood is built on the idea that you don’t want just anyone to say those lines. You need someone who can connect with the audience, build rapport, and deliver that dialogue with passion and excitement.
Not Everyone Can Talk
For every Alexa Bliss, there is a Bayley. While trainers and coaches at the WWE Performance Center do their best with up-and-comers, some just don’t have that skill. Even a beautifully written promo can sound boring and completely uninspired if the delivery is off. And let’s be honest, for many WWE superstars, talking is easily their biggest pro wrestling weakness.
If WWE was presented realistically as sport, then it would make sense to have every single superstar talk for themselves. It would be in the style of a pre- or post-game interview that you might see on ESPN. But WWE is not presented in that way. It’s presented as entertainment. Therefore, it makes sense to make those talking segments better, even if it means hiring a non-wrestler to do it.
This is especially important in the three-hour RAW era, where matches are interspersed with dozens of backstage segments, backstage interviews, in-ring interviews, skits, and a variety of things that are obviously not wrestling, but should theoretically make an entertainment-based show better.
Next Page: Why Managers Matter Now More Than Ever (cont.)
