A few managers that could make a splash in today's WWE with some wrestlers:
1. Armando Alejandro Estrada
Armando Alejandro Estrada was one of the best recent managers ever. Not only was he great at getting Umaga over, but he was funny, had great mannerisms, and was decent every time he had to get in the ring. Very few people took the FU as good as Armando did. His gimmick was creative and his catchphrase was over with the crowd. He was great even when he was GM of ECW. Things went downhill when he signed himself to a contract, because let's face it, he was a more entertaining mouthpiece than a wrestler.
When he came back as an American businessman on Superstar, I was very disappointed. WWE needs to remember what made him so great in the first place. The gimmick, the accent, the facial expressions! I think if he came back with a new monster wrestler he can get him over just like he did Umaga. I bet if Husky Harris returns to WWE with Armando in his corner, he will be in the main event in no time.
2. Michael Cole
He was at his best when he managed Jack Swagger before WrestleMania 28. The promos he cut on Lawler were boring, his announcing was (read: is) terrible and his wrestling was even worse. But when he was in Swagger's corner, it was GOLD. He really garners serious heat when he's in someone's corner and knows how to rile up the crowd. The way he screamed at the opponent and then backed away in fear was priceless. I think he can be a top manager if only they keep him off the announce desk. Jack Swagger would have had a great year had he had Michael Cole in his corner the whole time.
3. Vince McMahon
The problem with Vince McMahon is that if he starts regularly managing someone, the spotlight will be taken off the wrestler because Vince attracts attention to himself. But it isn't his fault. He's so good at what he does as a performer that the audience always eats out of his hand wether he is a face or a heel. Vince has been in the corner of guys like Rock, Mankind and Steve Austin before and he was great at it. Imagine if he started accompanying The Chosen One Drew McIntyre to the ring giving him all sorts of opportunities? It would raise Drew's stock tenfold.
4. Arn Anderson
It's odd that they have one of the best managers/enforcers in the company and never use him. I could definitely see Anderson accompanying someone like Tyson Kidd or Joe Hennig to the ring. I think he could really work as a face mouthpiece. Sure he's most famous for being a heel, but I think he could get it done as a face to combat strong heel managers like the aforementioned Cole, Estrada and McMahon. Hopefully he can still bump as I'd like to see him slap the taste out of cocky young heels just to get in a brawl.
5. William Regal
Regal's days as a full-time wrestler are numbered. There were times were I thought he would have been a great World Champion, but sadly it never came to be. Nevertheless, he is still far away from retiring. He is so good on the microphone, it would be a waste to keep him off TV for so long. I think that if he started accompanying fellow Brit Mason Ryan to the ring, it would do wonders for Ryan's career. The great thing is that Regal has proven himself as a face and a heel, and can be perfect in any role. And we all know he's still great at bumping, so playing scapegoat for his clients would be something we would see him do regularly.
6. Scott Stanford
Scott is a great commentator, but he is also a great character as we have seen on Z! True Long Island Story. What if Scott started accompanying Zack Ryder to the ring every chance he got? Not only would he an awesome presence at ringside, but his legit chemistry with Zack make them one of the most entertaining duos on TV. I'd like to see him manage a whole Zack Pack of guys like Hawkins, Beretta and JTG following Ryder around. It would be entertaining to say the least. Plus imagine Scott getting attacked by Kane? Hilarious!
7. Vickie Guerrero
She has done so much for the careers of Dolph Ziggler and Edge, imagine how much good she will do for the next guy. Of course, she did nothing for Eric Escobar, but that's just a speck on an otherwise immaculate record for awesome managing. She even made Chavo Guerrero relevant when she managed him against Rey Mysterio. I'd like to see her stray away from Dolph and look for new clients such as Derrick Bateman or Johnny Curtis. It's a winning formula that gets instant heat and turns young up-and-coming wrestlers into main events.
8. Teddy Long
Now that we are probably saying Bye-Bye to his GM role, Teddy still has a lot to offer in other departments. He has too much personality and backstory to go back to refereeing, but people tend to forget he was a pretty good manager when he managed Mark Henry and Rodney Mack. He was a heel at the time, but he has showed some babyface fire in his feuds with Eric Bischoff, Drew McIntyre, John Laurinitis and a few others. I can see Long returning to manage someone like Santino. Santino is a goofy character, so it will be hard to see him be serious if he is entrenched in a feud with someone. But if he has Long in his corner, Long can act as the straight-man counterpart to Santino's clowny-self. I think it could be a great move if done right.
9. Edge
Everyone knows how great a talent Edge is so I don't have to defend why he should be back on our TVs. But the guy I really want to see him manage is CHRISTIAN. It would be different than the typical manager-wrestler relationship. He wouldn't even be a manager really, he'd just be Christian's best friend who is looking out for his best interests. They would play up the heel promos just like they did in their Edge & Christian days and will cheat just as much as well. I can see Edge distracting referees, throwing chairs in the ring and freaking out every time Christian is hit with a finisher. Edge could be a really great presence at ringside that will only elevate Christian's standing in the WWE.
10. Valets!
Not only does WWE need more managers, but they need valets too. We've seen a resurgence recently with Eve accompanying Ryder before her heel turn and Rosa Mendes accompanying Primo and Epico. The best example would most definitely be AJ being in Daniel Bryan's corner. AJ and Bryan have amazing chemistry and have one of the best angles going on in a long time. They're building up to AJ turning on Bryan and that will be an amazing moment when it comes. Or what if it doesn't? Imagine if AJ goes full-heel and starts being just as cocky as Bryan is? That would be even better!
They could use more valets. Natalya could start accompanying Tyson, her real-life boyfriend to the ring. Tamina can join The Usos again so they can even the numbers when they feud with Primo, Epico and Rosa. Layla can team up with Cody Rhodes in what I think will be all sorts of awesomeness. If The Miz stays heel, I think he could really use a gorgeous woman by his side. Someone like Michelle McCool.
Women like Miss Elisabeth, Sensational Sherri, Stephanie McMahon, Trish Stratus and others have proven that valets can be great assets to the business. Hopefully, this AJ angle will mark the return of valets on programming.
If WWE takes all these ideas, we'd have a WWE filled with managers which isn't a bad thing. WWE thinks it will take away from the wrestler, but I just can't disagree enough. It's not as if Vickie is stealing the spotlight from Dolph Ziggler. I can see many wrestlers getting the extra help they need by having a strong manager at ringside. Once the manager does his/her job, the wrestler can take it from there and get over on his own.
