The 411 Wrestling Top 5 7.28.10: Week 85 – On Air Authority Figures

Posted by Michael Bauer on 07.28.2010

From Paul Heyman, William Regal and Mick Foley to Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff and Jack Tunney, the 411 Staff breaks down their top 5 on-air authority figures in the latest edition of the 411 Wrestling Top 5! Check out the full article to see who made the list and why!

Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling's Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. Most of our topics will be based on recent events in the Wrestling World, looking at those events that make us think of times past.

So, on to this week's topic…

Top 5 On Air Authority Figures

They may just be part of the script and the story, but the on air authority figure makes everything fit together and give the rosters the stable head it needs.

So what did our group of writers select? Let's find out…



Chad Nevett

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Mick Foley (TNA Majority Shareholder) - Only for his reign as TNA World Heavyweight Champion where he threatened to change the rules so the championship only had to be defended once a year. That made me laugh.

Jack Tunney (WWF President) - The on-air WWF authority figure that I grew up with. Not memorable for much more than that.

Vickie Guerrero (Smackdown General Manager/Official Consultant to the GM) - She's a heat magnet, but I find her a little too annoying to rank higher.

5. Teddy Long (Smackdown General Manager, Smackdown Assistant GM, ECW GM) - Teddy Long has been the steady rock of authority in the WWE for the past six years, spending most of his time as the General Manager of Smackdown, but also acting as assistant to Vickie Guerrero and as ECW GM for a period of time. He's got style and swagger, most often playing to the crowd and making fair rulings. He's had a few bad stories, but he's been a solid performer in the role, suffering under the weight of demands from above and threats from wrestlers. While Raw has tended to have GMs that shake things up, Long has helped make Smackdown more steady and focused.

4. Gorilla Monsoon (WWF President) - Unlike Jack Tunney, I remember Gorilla Monsoon taking a more active role on-screen in his role as WWF President, primarily because of Monday Night Raw beginning. He wasn't the first active on-air authority figure in wrestling, but he was the first one I remember as he jumped from the announce table to President, making decisions that impacted stories right in the moment and feuding with the likes of Bobby Heenan and Vader. He made the decision to send the Iron Man match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels into overtime. He set the standard for being an on-air authority figure in the era of weekly cable shows and did so by being the good guy.

3. Eric Bischoff (WCW President, Raw General Manager, TNA Executive Producer) - Just when you think Bischoff is gone, he comes back again. He began with the AWA, moved to WCW, was instrumental in the formation of the nWo during his reign as WCW President. His switch to nWo from WCW was big and he became the mouthpiece of the group, using his power to make sure things went the nWo's way. Later, after WCW was bought by the WWE, his return to wrestling as the Raw General Manager was shocking since no one saw him working for Vince McMahon. Again, he played the heel and did so very well. Recently, he's worked for TNA, walking a fine line between heel and face. He's naturally smug and charming and a little bit sleezy, a perfect heel authority figure.

2. William Regal (Raw General Manager) - I know that Regal has had more roles through the years than just Raw GM, but it's his brief run as Raw General Manager that still makes me wish that he would return to the role right where he left off. His run wasn't too memorable until he stacked the deck in his favour in the 2008 King of the Ring tournament with his only real threat being CM Punk in the finals after Punk had won his spot. As King William, he demanded respect from both the wrestlers and the fans, and, when he didn't get it, he struck back against the audience. At the end of the April 28, 2008 episode of Raw, during the Randy Orton/Triple H championship match, Regal entered the production truck, harassing a member of the production team about how they disrespected him out there and that they didn't deserve to see the rest of the match. He then had Raw shut down with the episode ending on a black screen and Jim Ross's commentary. In the following weeks, he would threaten to shut down the show, turning off the lights, and demanding respect. Unfortunately, this wonderful mad king story was cut short by a wellness policy violation. Still, it remains one of my favourite stories in recent years and one I wish they'd just jump back into as if nothing had happened in between.



1. Mr. McMahon (WWF/WWE Owner, Chairman of the Board, President) - It's hard to top Mr. McMahon when it comes to on-air authority figures. While he began on the air as an announcer/commentator, I think that helped him in his transition to owner and Chairman of the Board in his heelish ways. At first, there was something compelling about watching a benign figure turn into something so evil and cartoonish. He was the main nemesis of Stone Cold Steve Austin, formed the Corporation, feuded with members of his own family, feuded with Mick Foley, feuded with just about everyone. He'll disappear for a while and then return to make people's lives hell again. He's the consistent figure in the WWE when it comes to authority and has pretty much defined how to be the heel authority figure.



Larry Csonka

5. Bob Saget (CHIKARA) - Yeah, he only appeared via video screen, but the fact that DANNY FN TANNER appeared for CHIKARA after everyone thought it was just a joke earns the spot here.

4. Jack Tunney (WWF) - Jack Tunney gets some love because he was the on screen boss during my childhood. Back then he wasn't on every show but when Jack Tunney showed up, you knew that shit was about to get real. Certainly not the most charismatic man on the earth, but at the time, he was perfect for the role.

3. Eric Bischoff (WCW/WWE) - I think that Eric Bicshoff has to be on the list. His WWE run was fun and a great indication of how good a performer he was under someone else's direction, but as the dick head corporate leader of the nWo, he was someone you instantly hated. Good promos, good performances, and a natural at the job.

2. Paul Heyman (ECW) - Paul Heyman WAS ECW. The fact of the matter is that any ECW TV could be instantly improved by an appearance by Paul E. He wasn't the traditional on air authority figure, but he could talk, his passion for the company was always there, and when Paul appeared, you never groaned and hated it, it was an anticipated moment.



1. Mr. McMahon (WWF) - As much as I hate to go with a stock and easy answer, but Vince McMahon is so great in his character of Mr. McMahon. Mr. McMahon is gloriously over the top, he dishes out the punishment, but also always takes his comeuppance when the time comes. He is evil, he is a Keystone cop; he can do it all. The bottom line is that Vince always delivered, his feud with Austin was MAD MONEY and they got YEARS out of that. While I am glad not to see him weekly these days, Vince was truly a great on air authority figure.



Stephen Randle

5. Gorilla Monsoon (WWF Commissioner) - Really the first extremely visible Commissioner in WWF history, following in the footsteps of Jack Tunney, who maybe appeared once or twice a year. Monsoon did not have an extraordinarily long career, but what I remember him for is when he was tested early on in his stint, forced to face down the newly-arrived monster Vader, who responded by destroying Monsoon in the ring in a moment that has stuck with me for years.

4. Eric Bischoff (WCW President) - Obviously, I'm talking about the original nWO Bischoff, before he became totally drunk with power and went a little nuts. Bischoff had all sorts of power and was part of the hottest thing in wrestling, and boy, did he let you know it. His heat was off the charts, and anyone who could finally put a hurt on his would be beloved by fans anywhere. The only problem was, getting to him was nearly impossible, given who he was never far away from.

3. Paul Heyman (ECW Owner, Smackdown GM) - Whether it was in the bingo hall in Philly or as master of the blue brand when it was putting on some of the best wrestling on TV, Paul Heyman got you invested in what he was putting out there. He would say anything, do anything, and he didn't care who was offended or whose toes he stepped on. He (mostly) knew what would make fans interested, and he made sure to put it in front of you. A shame those qualities also led to bankruptcy in ECW, and a quick dismissal from Smackdown.

2. Vince McMahon (WWE Owner) - There's really one reason why Vince has been so effective in his role as guy in charge: he's the guy in charge. Sure, he's probably not quite as much of an out-of control, over-sexed, angry megalomaniac in real life (probably), but on TV, he's the perfect heel for any other wrestler. You want to know someone's alignment? Trot out Vince and see where he sides. It's that simple. Plus, now that everyone except Steph has separated themselves from the product, nobody can usurp him unless he allows it. I'd go a little drunk with power myself if I were him.

1. Mick Foley (WWF Commissioner) - I'm sorry, but while Vince is the greatest heel authority figure of all time and blah, blah, blah, Mick was much more enjoyable to watch. He had fun, he made bad jokes and did silly sketches with Edge, Christian, and Kurt Angle, he made his decisions based on what fans would like to see, and he always, always went for the cheap pop. In a world full of angry guys, Mick was a big teddy bear. With ultimate authority. And a gavel. And that, my friends, is FINAL!





Ronnie LaFianza

Theodore Long - Teddy Long is the WWE's longest running general manager to date. Although he's never really done anything that has set the world on fire, the man is consistent in his role and has the respect of the fans.

Mike Adamle - Alright, so this may be a controversial pick, but I loved to hate this guy. Maybe it was because he knew nothing about wrestling, or maybe it was because he just came across as a guy who was in over his head. Whatever it was, I just loved to hate him.

5. Vickie Guerrero - Did anyone ever expect Vickie to work as a GM? She was pretty much given the job out of pity, and has made the most of it since. The crowd loves to hate her, and she gets a ridiculous amount of heat every time she utters those infamous two words of hers.

4. Paul Heyman - Heyman is a straight up badass. Not the tough guy kind of badass, but the badass that is not only willing to break the rules, but encourages it. His character worked so well for him because he was really just went out there and said it like it was, no bullshit. He was basically his true self. Without Heyman, ECW wouldn't have the same reputation that it has today.

3. William Regal - Regal has been an on-air authority multiple times in his career, which each time being a resounding success. Whenever Regal is an active competitor during his time within WWE, he has been nothing more than a midcarder, but as an on-air commissioner, he's always been involved in the main event scene. Whether his run as commissioner back in 00-01, to his run as GM from 07-08, the man has always made his presence known. His run in 08 was awesome, with him turning out the lights and threatening to stop the show if he didn't get respect. It's a shame that it ended so soon due to his wellness violation, because Regal was being slated as a legitimate main event player.

2. Eric Bischoff - Bischoff has always been known as one of the most important on-air authority figures of all time. WCW, WWE, and even TNA have all had him in control of the show, and he's made an huge impact every time. We all know of the Bischoff in WCW, the mouthpiece of the NWO, making sure that they got what they needed. When he debuted on Raw as the GM it was one of wrestling's most shocking moments. Bischoff is one of the biggest assholes of GM's. He caused Steve Austin to leave the WWE at Survivor Series of ‘03 and made life hell for John Cena in ‘05, ironically having that lead to the end of his reign as GM. He's now working in TNA, and while he really isn't the same as he used to be (partly because he's a face now), he's still known as one of the greatest on-air authority figures of all time.

1. Mr. McMahon - It's really hard to argue that there's been a bigger dick of an authority figure than Mr. McMahon. While some people enjoy him as a face, he is absolutely phenomenal as a heel GM. The man is the definition of pure evil. He's only in it for himself and will do whatever to punish those who oppose him, while those who side with him will be given all the opportunities they could ask for. He'll even take out his own family if he feels they oppose him. And the best part about all of this is that he loves it. He takes in every savoring moment of the demise of his opponents. We've seen him face his daughter in an I Quit match, put his wife on medication, start his own religion and taunt God in the process, and he's cheated on his wife multiple times. Bottom line, Vince would do whatever it took to make people hate him as an authority figure, no matter what.