Loss Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 JJ Dillon ran a tight ship and did a great job managing egos and protecting his assets while acting as Executive Director of the Four Horsemen. He was happy to replace aging team members who wouldn't put business first with younger and more promising athletes, even if they had family members on the team. If those younger and more promising athletes started getting a big head, they were out the door. Anytime his premiere meal ticket, Ric Flair, dropped the title, he quickly got his client back on track and returned him to the throne. When Tully Blanchard lost the TV title after a record-breaking run, he formed a tag team with Arn Anderson and they were champions within weeks. After recruiting Barry Windham, he guided him to the U.S. title in less than a month. Three years of overwhelming success later, he lost half of his organization due to circumstances beyond his control and accepted a buyout from a Japanese corporation headed by Hiro Matsuda. The new company of course ran the Four Horsemen into the ground in record time, Windham -- JJ's most prized recruit less than a year earlier -- quickly bolted and Flair lost the title for a few months before regaining it back, only to be sidelined with a neck injury, something unthinkable under JJ's leadership. Future attempts to revive the group under different leadership consistently failed. If I was a wrestler, I know I wouldn't want anyone else managing me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Fuji brought Yokozuna the World Title and Demolition the Tag Titles, that's a pretty good record compared to most WWF guys. Hart, Heenan, Slick, Johnny V none of those won the big belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowBlowPodcast Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 I still say that Jimmy Hart is one of the most underrated managers. He was obviously amazing in Memphis, but in the WWF, he had a great title reign with Valentine, he garnered a record title reign for Honky, and another great tag reign for the Foundation... Then he goes to WCW, where we know it was a joke, but he was around for Hogan winning the world title. I just go back to the feud with Earthquake and Hogan and just how good he was... he was a slime ball and just awesome at getting it over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 For the WWF, it's hard to top Albano. What is it -- 17 tag team title reigns he's managed? Something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 I think to further support JJ, he had Ron Bass and Black Bart swimming in gold before the Horsemen as well. He also protected his clients by bringing in various outsiders to take out Dick Slater for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachchaos Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Paul Heyman has accomplished a lot for Brock Lesnar with his pull and managing CM Punk to the 434 day reign is certainly nothing to brush off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Isn't Heyman at this point in WWE more about latching onto guys that are already at the top and just getting some of that sweet main event money? Sure, he's a good mouthpiece for them but they already did all the work of getting to the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Paul Heyman has accomplished a lot for Brock Lesnar with his pull and managing CM Punk to the 434 day reign is certainly nothing to brush off. Plus, he's clearly secured an incredibly favorable work schedule for Brock. The man knows how to negotiate a work/life balance without compromising compensation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordi Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 The Grand Wizard. Led Fuji and Tanaka to two Tag Title reigns, Stan Staziak to the World Title, and then led Superstar Billy Graham to a nine and a half month reign as World Champion, which I believe still stands as the longest world title reign by a true heel in WWWF/WWF/WWE history. Helped Pat Patterson become the first-ever IC champ, then after Patterson left his stable, took on Ken Patera and led him to victory over Patterson and an IC Title reign. People associate Mr. Fuji with Don Muraco because of Fuji Vice... But can you guess who Muraco's manager was when he took the IC strap? If you guessed The Grand Wizard, you are right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Fuji brought Yokozuna the World Title and Demolition the Tag Titles, that's a pretty good record compared to most WWF guys. Hart, Heenan, Slick, Johnny V none of those won the big belt. Mr Fuji was arguably a detriment to most of his clients. He bungled Demolition when he decided to bail on them in favour of the Powers of Pain, then he inserted himself into the PoP's big Wrestlemania match which directly contributed to them losing their big shot. With Yoko, he immediately made a verbal contract with Hulk Hogan seconds after he won at Mania 9. Disasterous. Fuji was a calamity zone, awful decisions all over the place. ----------- As gordi, noted, Grand Wizard was "the manager of champions", and watching him I believe he really took care of his clients. Even helped them get undressed if they needed it. Full pampering. Jim Cornette was an extremely committed manager for the Midnight Express. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrzfn Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Heenan in AWA should get a nod. He was essential to Bockwinkel's near decade long reign (with a few brief interruptions) and always appeared to be vigorous in his backstage negotiations. He was also willing to take a hell of a beating with or for his clients if he had to and always pushed his guys to the forefront. I'd have to double check but I'm pretty sure he had some impressive tag team runs in there as well. In WWF he was less successful in terms of championships but AWA Heenan was where it's at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Fuji brought Yokozuna the World Title and Demolition the Tag Titles, that's a pretty good record compared to most WWF guys. Hart, Heenan, Slick, Johnny V none of those won the big belt. Mr Fuji was arguably a detriment to most of his clients. He bungled Demolition when he decided to bail on them in favour of the Powers of Pain, then he inserted himself into the PoP's big Wrestlemania match which directly contributed to them losing their big shot. With Yoko, he immediately made a verbal contract with Hulk Hogan seconds after he won at Mania 9. Disasterous. Fuji was a calamity zone, awful decisions all over the place. ----------- Letters from Kayface time line (84-97) General Adnan World Champion Paul Bearer World Champion Mr. Perfect 2x World Champion Mr. Fuji 2x World Champion 2x Tag Titles Jimmy Hart 3x IC Title 3x Tag Titles Bobby Heenan 3x IC Title 2x Tag Titles Freddie Blassie Tag Titles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 The numbers of belts for Fuji don't tell you he lost one of his clients the belt minutes after he'd won it. We did one segment on Letters from Kayfabe on the Crush / Smash era of Demolition, who went downhill RAPIDLY under Fuji's charge. Also, look at Don Muraco, a perrennial title contender and IC champ under Wizard, a laughing stock under Fuji. Fuji was the deathknell for many a career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 The numbers of belts for Fuji don't tell you he lost one of his clients the belt minutes after he'd won it. We did one segment on Letters from Kayfabe on the Crush / Smash era of Demolition, who went downhill RAPIDLY under Fuji's charge. Also, look at Don Muraco, a perrennial title contender and IC champ under Wizard, a laughing stock under Fuji. Fuji was the deathknell for many a career. Fuji got Muraco within seconds of winning the World Title from Hogan. A series of MSG matches including a cage match. That's not a laughing stock, he moved him up the card. Can you blame Fuji for dumping the old Demolition for the newer and improved Powers of Pain? Also he took back Demolition out of loyalty and pity. 2 world titles and 2 tag titles, Heenan would love to have had that record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Jim Cornette was an extremely committed manager for the Midnight Express. Go with Jim Cornette if you want someone exclusively focused on you and don't mind his hotheadedness occasionally getting you into trouble as baggage. Go with JJ Dillon if you don't mind splitting time with a team, but would rather have someone more level-headed steering the ship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Why would Fuji leave Demolition while they were the champs? He cost himself a lot of money doing that, and he went with the Powers of Pain, who never won the titles, so it was a gamble that never paid off. On top of that, he ended up having to get in the ring and take punishment, which was far beyond his job description. Edit to add: Do you blame the WM9 debacle where he actually got Yokozuna all the way to the title in just months and then couldn't quit while he was ahead and managed to make him an ex-champ within just a few minutes on Fuji being an idiot, or is that more typical Jack Tunney incompetence and bias? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Slick, God love him, never did a damn thing for any of his clients. Rick Martel was able to diversify his brand as soon as he severed ties, simultaneously becoming a star in both the worlds of fashion and sports entertainment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Tunney. Fuji said nothing about the title, nothing about right there and now. Was just seeking a big money title defense for his client. Add Paul Ellering. Mediocre in ring, but best for managing your travel and finances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Why would Fuji leave Demolition while they were the champs? He cost himself a lot of money doing that, and he went with the Powers of Pain, who never won the titles, so it was a gamble that never paid off. On top of that, he ended up having to get in the ring and take punishment, which was far beyond his job description. Edit to add: Do you blame the WM9 debacle where he actually got Yokozuna all the way to the title in just months and then couldn't quit while he was ahead and managed to make him an ex-champ within just a few minutes on Fuji being an idiot, or is that more typical Jack Tunney incompetence and bias? It was a sound move. Demo was the champions, but were losing steam and were not listening to him anymore. He found a younger and more powerful team that would listen to him to replace them. Demo starting getting cheered and that ego went to their heads and were going to dump Fuji anyways, so it was a pre-emptive strike. POP had the tools and Fuji knew all about Demos, so it was a risk that didn't pay off. However if he stuck with Demos, he may had had no tag teams. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. As for Hogan, he did retain the title and get rid of Hogan for almost a decade. Add that to his resume, he ended Hulkamania in the WWF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregor Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Fuji brought Yokozuna the World Title and Demolition the Tag Titles, that's a pretty good record compared to most WWF guys. Hart, Heenan, Slick, Johnny V none of those won the big belt. Hart and Heenan had success in other companies to solidify their reputations as great managers. Fuji's WWF success is all that he has. Heenan played a large role in bringing Ric Flair to the WWF, where he was able to add on a couple of world title reigns, and Jimmy Hart could arguably be credited with a world title under Hogan in 1993. It was interesting how different managers dealt with the Hulk Hogan problem. Heenan, by signing Andre the Giant, probably came the closest to beating prime Hogan. Fuji played the waiting game and was able to snag the title from a weaker champion. Hogan still posed him problems (not all of which Fuji handled deftly), but the Hulkster was no longer the wrestler he'd been in the 1980s, so Fuji was able to dispose of him in short order. Hart eventually recognized that Hogan, though no longer at his peak, was still a force in wrestling, and was able to sell him on the benefits of a manager. When Hart felt that Hogan was finally past it, he dumped him for a client who appeared to be the future of wrestling. This ended up being a fairly large miscalculation on Hart's part. Still, aligning with Hogan (and then destroying him from within) seems like something that Heenan never could have done. His ego was too large to allow him to take a back seat to his clients, and Hogan's was too large to take a back seat to his manager, so the two of them never could have worked together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KawadaSmile Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 About Heyman, wasn't he also manager for Curtis Axel and Cesaro? He didn't really help those two guys at all, so as much as his success managing Brock and Punk deserve to be praised, he has some pretty big failures in his record too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 Heyman has pretty much always favored one client over all others when he's tried to balance his services. I wouldn't mind Heyman managing me, but I would insist upon an exclusivity clause in the contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fando Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 I wouldn't trust anyone other than Sherri to jump off of steel cages and kill for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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