WCW had an interesting list of noteworthy managers on their roster at various points. Legendary names like Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart, Sensational Sherri, Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler had stints managing talented superstars. However, there were so many changes in the fast-paced WCW environment that wrestlers would get attached and lose their managers as the natural progression.
Some talents were able to continue finding success without their manager like Diamond Dallas Page, Randy Savage and Ric Flair. However, not every talent was afforded the same luxury of succeeding after such a dramatic change. WCW witnessed the following wrestlers suffering without their manager as part of the act.
10 Scott Steiner
WCW spent a few years making Scott Steiner a singles star before he reached that main event tier in the final year. Steiner adding the manager of Midajah added a new dynamic that he was missing before moving into a bigger role.
Midajah rarely cut promos or had a bigger involvement like other managers on this list, but she thrived interfering and adding an unfair advantage for Steiner. WCW tried to use Steiner without any valets after he had Midajah and Shakira, but he never felt right in this role until Midajah became his full-time manager.
9 Hugh Morrus
The signing of Jimmy Hart for WCW came after Hulk Hogan joined the company and wanted a lot of people he trusted in bigger roles. Hart contributed both backstage to important WCW details and on screen as a manager.
The big heel turn on Hogan led to Jimmy managing wrestlers from the Dungeon of Doom and later the First Family. Hugh Morrus was a lower mid-card name to join up with Hart and become bonded together. Unfortunately, the bigger face push for Hugh came without Hart and he flopped badly in the leader role of the Misfits in Action.
8 Steve "Mongo" McMichael
WCW introduced Steve "Mongo" McMichael with his then wife Debra at his side when joining the Four Horsemen. The act made sense since Debra joined fellow valets Miss Elizabeth and Woman as the managers for Ric Flair’s group.
Things changed Jeff Jarrett entered the picture and feuded with Mongo over the final Horsemen spot. Even though McMichael won that Horsemen presence, Debra left him for Jarrett moving forward. Mongo suffered without having a manager since he was a limited new performer needing the extra help of others getting involved in his matches.
7 Wrath
James Mitchell is considered one of the most underrated managers in wrestling history following stints in WCW, ECW and TNA. Most fans associate Mitchell with TNA or ECW since those companies gave him a bigger role in their product.
Bryan Clark portraying the Wrath character warranted a manager doing the talking for him. Mitchell did well in the role, but he was never valued properly by WCW. Wrath could barely cut promos on his own and fell off quickly without Mitchell at his side until forming the Kronik tag team.
6 Billy Kidman
WCW hiring Torrie Wilson found them one of their premiere managers for the final few years. Wilson made the WWE Hall of Fame for her contributions that mostly involved managing wrestlers in WCW and WWE.
Billy Kidman becoming a love interest and wrestler to manage created compelling moments for Torrie moving forward in the Filthy Animals faction. Unfortunately, things trended downward for Kidman after losing Wilson as his manager during the failed heel turn against Hulk Hogan.
5 Kevin Sullivan
One of the more underrated manager/wrestler pairings featured Jacqueline appearing at ringside for Kevin Sullivan. The real-life love triangle gone wrong of Woman leaving Sullivan for Chris Benoit became a storyline on the show to make money off the conflict.
Jacqueline joined Sullivan to even the odds against his ex-wife trying to get involved. The duo remained together until Jacqueline left WCW. Sullivan was at his best in WCW when having Jacqueline involved in his matches as a credible and intimidating presence.
4 Meng
The reputation of Meng sees fans aware of him being the toughest man in the history of the business. No one had anything bad to say about Meng since it would increase the risks of having a confrontation with the last wrestler anyone wanted to fight.
Jimmy Hart becoming the manager of Meng in both singles and tag team action added the voice needed for the soft-spoken badass. Meng never felt right without Hart at his side after that since that pairing highlighted his strengths and hid the weaknesses.
3 Ultimo Dragon
Sonny Onoo was an underrated WCW manager after getting hired by his close friend Eric Bischoff. A few international cruiserweights were managed by Onoo, but the most successful of them all was Ultimo Dragon.
WCW pushed Dragon as an international star since he held over a dozen titles from promotions all over the world. Onoo made up for Dragon not being able to cut promos since his character work was over the top. Dragon eventually getting sick of Onoo’s heel tactics ended their time together, but his lack of promos became a bigger flaw.
2 David Flair
WCW tried to find the ideal role for David Flair in a few different storylines and partnerships. David forming a team with Daffney and Crowbar ended up being his best role on the show. Daffney had stronger chemistry with David than the more heavily pushed Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson.
The odd couple trio team of David, Crowbar and Daffney became a rare fun act for WCW in the company’s final year. WCW having David turn heel to date Stacy caused him to fall back down in the pecking order again.
1 Vader
The dominant heel run of Vader saw him thriving as the WCW Champion with the legendary Harley Race as his manager. Race was outstanding in the role to help add to feuds with Ric Flair and Sting as some of the best WCW moments before the Hulk Hogan era.
Vader struggled immensely in the Hogan era for multiple reasons, but the worst was losing Race as his manager. Hogan beat Vader in every match, and it felt off due to the change in Vader’s presentation. Neither WCW nor WWE ever used Vader as well without Race at ringside with him.