Extinct Wrestling Concepts (That need to be resurrected)
Chapter Two: The Evil Manager Behind the New Heel
#PWHS #Article #ExtinctWrestlingConcepts #EWC #Evil #Manager
Wrestling during the territorial era had a clear line of division between heel and face. Not only was the concept of a "tweener" relatively unknown (save for the touring National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Champion, who might be the face, or a quasi-heel depending on his opponent), but if the concept had existed at that point in time-it would have failed. Fans knew that there were only good guys and bad guys-period.
That is why the existence of a conniving manager was so crucial to help heel turns succeed. In today's version of wrestling, wrestlers turn heel or face for little reason and they rarely stay turned. The shocking heel turn or the amazing face turn in today's business is practically dead. After numerous turns, nobody cared whether Lex Luger, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, etc. were a face or a heel-it simply became meaningless.
In the territorial era, roles were clearly and rigidly defined. Babyfaces never cheated unless provoked. Heels always cheated and were implied to have less natural ability than babyfaces (hence the need to cheat to win). Thus when it was time for a babyface to make a heel turn, it rarely was done abruptly and it was almost always done due to the influence of an evil manager. Fans would not accept a turn without a plausible reason, and NO reason would have been plausible if it had come from within the character of the babyface-because babyfaces were not evil.
That is where the manager became essential to the angle being played out. At first, there were subtle signs of discord: missed tags, small arguments in the ring, dissatisfaction on the part of one person (these usually happened in tag team situations). Fans would wonder what the problem may have been, but they still believed in the sanctity of their heroes.
When the turn would eventually happen, it would be shocking, out-of-character, and brutal. The former, clean-cut, smiling babyface was now a snarling, bitter, angry man. How in the world could this have happened?!!
Enter the smiling, evil manager.
That is why the existence of a conniving manager was so crucial to help heel turns succeed. In today's version of wrestling, wrestlers turn heel or face for little reason and they rarely stay turned. The shocking heel turn or the amazing face turn in today's business is practically dead. After numerous turns, nobody cared whether Lex Luger, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, etc. were a face or a heel-it simply became meaningless.
In the territorial era, roles were clearly and rigidly defined. Babyfaces never cheated unless provoked. Heels always cheated and were implied to have less natural ability than babyfaces (hence the need to cheat to win). Thus when it was time for a babyface to make a heel turn, it rarely was done abruptly and it was almost always done due to the influence of an evil manager. Fans would not accept a turn without a plausible reason, and NO reason would have been plausible if it had come from within the character of the babyface-because babyfaces were not evil.
That is where the manager became essential to the angle being played out. At first, there were subtle signs of discord: missed tags, small arguments in the ring, dissatisfaction on the part of one person (these usually happened in tag team situations). Fans would wonder what the problem may have been, but they still believed in the sanctity of their heroes.
When the turn would eventually happen, it would be shocking, out-of-character, and brutal. The former, clean-cut, smiling babyface was now a snarling, bitter, angry man. How in the world could this have happened?!!
Enter the smiling, evil manager.
Of course!! This wrestler wasn't acting on his own accord. He had been unduly influenced and seduced by the lies and deceit of a man whom the fans already identified as the epitome of evil and dishonesty. This wrestler had believed the evil words of this evil man, and now the worst had happened.
Some managers were known for their ability to turn former heroes into villains. Fred Blassie, 'Playboy' Gary Hart, The Grand Wizard, Eddie Creatchman, and Lord Alfred Hayes were just some of the managers who were known for changing wrestlers to the darkside. Having this reputation helped their new charges to get over as heels in a far quicker fashion that if the wrestler had done so independently.
Having the evil manager whispering in the former face's ear also helped set up the eventual return to being a babyface. Remember-the fans believed that down deep, the newly-turned heel was still good at heart, and had only been fooled by the empty promises of the evil manager. When the heel eventually was switched back to being a babyface (and this took longer than two months, as it happens often today. Often it took years for the re-switch to occur), he had a built-in reason to switch back: He had been deceived by the manager and would never make that mistake again (at least in THAT territory).
Admittedly, some wrestling turns were so strong that a manager was not needed. Ernie Ladd, Johnny Valentine and Larry Zbyszko had enough heat/enough talent to be able to make the switch without the need for an excuse. But for most babyfaces, a face turn without a manager rarely proved to turn out well.
Is this a lament for something totally extinct? Not exactly. Look at the endless rumors on the Internet of who will be the next 'Paul Heyman Guy'. Heyman is a throwback to the manipulative, scheming manager of a different era. Fans today speculate as to who will be the next wrestler that falls under his influence. Heyman's success alone proves that there is still room in this generation's wrestling for evil masterminds.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Extinct Wrestling Concepts: Chapter Two.
Author: Harry Grover.
Published: April 23, 2018.
Article: #191.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Extinct Wrestling Concepts: Chapter Two.
Author: Harry Grover.
Published: April 23, 2018.
Article: #191.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Extinct Wrestling Concepts: Chapter One - Read Here.
Other articles by Harry can be Read Here.