At its core, WWE is a variety show that needs talent of all shapes, sizes and talents to engage a wide array of viewers. These days, non-wrestling performers such as managers, valets, announcers and commentators are often overlooked, undervalued and underused. It’s high time we give them their due.
On Sunday Sept 17th, Bobby Heenan – the consensus choice for greatest manager in wrestling history – passed away at the age of 72. The news understandably shook the sports entertainment world, but it also gave fans young and old a chance to reminisce on the brilliance that was “The Brain”.
Whether it was being the symbolic force behind Andre The Giant’s pre-WrestleMania 3 heel turn, bickering with Gorilla Monsoon on WWF Prime Time Wrestling or shamelessly cheering on Ric Flair in the 1992 Royal Rumble match like a unabashed father cheering on his kid in a Little League game, Bobby Heenan was the quintessential representation of performer who prospered in a role outside of the ring.
Heenan’s legacy is one of pure entertainment and consistency. His career is a blueprint for non-wrestling talents and he should be an inspiration on how to accentuate product and get others over by association.
The following performers are currently active exclusively in an outside-the-ring capacity. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so their talents should be recognized and appreciated in the overall scope of the spectacle that is sports entertainment